In the UK, what is the difference between "Leave to Enter" and a visa?
In most countries that I have traveled to, a visa is a document / attestation that allows you to travel to the country's borders in order to request temporary entry, because you are not normally entitled to enter the country.
The visa may state the nature and purpose of your visit (for example, F1 is a student visa in the US) or it may not (for example, my Schengen visa just states "Schengen Visa" type "C").
Visas usually also have a validity period and sometimes contain other restrictions (for example, my Saudi visit visa only allows one entry, the Schengen visa allows multiple entries).
However, for the UK it seems things are a bit different. According to Wikipedia:
Leave to Enter is the technical term for someone granted entry to the United Kingdom by British immigration officers.
Is this a separate document / stamp? How is it related to the visa (if one needs to apply for to begin with).
Also, curiously, why is called "Leave to Enter" - "leave" where? Presumably you are already "in" the UK when you get this permission?
Nevermind, @fkraiem explained that one.
Pictures about "In the UK, what is the difference between "Leave to Enter" and a visa?"
Is leave to remain the same as visa?
Leave to remain means you have permission to stay in the UK for a specific period of time and your activities are limited to the restrictions of your visa. Indefinite leave to remain is where you have permanent lawful status in the UK as a settled person, and you are no longer subject to immigration control.What is the difference between leave to enter and leave to remain UK?
What is the difference between leave to enter and leave to remain? Leave to enter is granted to a person who is outside of the UK. Leave to remain is granted to a person who is present in the UK.What does leave to enter mean in UK visa?
Leave to enter is permission for entry to the United Kingdom granted by British immigration officers. According to the Immigration Rules, a person who is not a British citizen, an Irish citizen or a Commonwealth citizen with the right of abode in the UK, requires leave to enter the United Kingdom.What tier is a leave to remain visa?
Individuals on Tier 2 General visa can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) to settle in the UK.LEAVE TO ENTER | UK SPOUSE VISA| MY EXPERIENCE
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska