Leaving the UK If you don't leave voluntarily within 30 days of your visa or leave expiring, you could be deported. Check what to do if you're going to be deported. If you leave after 30 days, you could be banned from re-entering the UK for between 1 and 10 years.

As of 2026, the UK Home Office has implemented a much stricter "Electronic Permission" system that makes overstaying more difficult to hide and more consequential. The new "Digital Status" monitoring allows the government to track entry and exit dates in real-time. If you overstay your visa or your 6-month "standard visitor" period by even one day, you are considered an "overstayer," which can trigger a mandatory 1-year ban from re-entering the UK if the overstay exceeds 30 days. For 2026, the Home Office has also increased the fines for those caught working illegally while overstayed. However, there remains a "14-day grace period" for those who can prove "extraordinary circumstances" (such as a sudden hospitalization or an act of God) that prevented their departure. It is essential to apply for an extension before your current leave expires, as the act of having a "pending application" (Section 3C leave) legally protects your status while the Home Office processes your case.