UK Visa

The United Kingdom is a unique amalgamation of history, culture, and natural beauty. It also has some of the finest and oldest universities, including the prestigious Oxford University. Indians need a valid UK visa if they wish to travel, study, or work in the United Kingdom. If you, too, are planning a trip to the United Kingdom, you will need to prepare your passport, get a visa for the UK, and buy travel insurance to secure your trip.

Individuals
Sr. Citizens
Students

Plans for an individual of 30 years age travelling to USA for 15 days

What is UK Visa?

A UK visa is an official document allowing non-Britishers to enter the United Kingdom. It is a permit issued by the British Embassies or Consulates that allows a foreign national to travel & stay in the UK for a specified time.

The visa for the United Kingdom also grants permission to people from outside the country to transit through the international transit areas of the airports in the UK. Some people also refer to the UK visa as the London visa, as London is among the most popular places to visit in the UK.

Look at some essential features of the UK Visa for Indians:

Categories	Specification
UK Visa Price*	Starting INR 3786for transit visa
UK Travel Insurance Visa Requirement	Strongly advised
UK Visa Processing Time	3 weeks, can be faster
Priority Visa UK	Faster processing by paying an additional GBP 500
UK Visa on Arrival for Indians	Not Available

*Values will vary depending on the category of the visa applied

All Indians travelling to the United Kingdom are strongly advised to buy UK travel insurance before they commence their trip. A travel insurance policy for the United Kingdom will protect you from sudden eventualities and cover unaccounted expenses that may arise during your trip to the UK.

Documents for UK Visa from India

Documents required for UK visas will vary according to the category. However, some general documents need to be provided for all UK visas. The following documents should be submitted along with your UK visa application:

Current valid Indian passport along with previous passports, if any
Travel booking confirmation (Flight tickets, hotel bookings, etc.)
Financial documents showing your financial standing and funds available. This may include:
- Bank statements
- Letter from the employer confirming details of employment
- Building society book
- Sponsor's financial standing
Certificate of criminal record
Sponsor's financial reports, in case another person is providing financial support for your travel
Employment or academic details for applicants who either work or study in India.
Documents of business registration stating the owner's name and the date of commencement of business operations (in case of Self-employed applicants)
A letter from the employer along with other documents supporting your business engagements in the UK (in case travelling for business purposes)
Confirmation of legal residential address (if applied by non-Indian nationals staying in India)
Health certificates (Tuberculosis test report, COVID-19 vaccination certificate, etc.)

For students, workers and other long-term residents, proof of knowledge of the English language is also required. Some additional documents required for different UK visas are given below:

Additional Documents Required for UK Visa

Different kinds of travellers need to submit a few additional UK visa documents. Refer the table below to check the list of additional documents:

Types of Travelers	Additional Documents Required
Minors	1. Birth certificate or other legal document proving the relationship between the minor and the parent/ guardian 2. Letter from the parents confirming the person accompanying the child and mentioning accommodation details (if minor is travelling with a guardian) 3. Photocopy of parents' passport stating the passport number and signature (if minor is travelling with a guardian)
Private Medical Treatment	1. Letter from the doctor confirming the medical condition and consultation as well as duration, cost and place of treatment/ consultation
Academicians travelling for research purposes	1. A letter from the current employer confirming the period of sabbatical and defining the topic of research 2. A letter of invitation from the host organisation in the UK sponsoring your research
People travelling to participate in an event	1. A letter of invitation from the event organisers in the UK
People travelling for marriage	1. Document proof to show that you are free to marry anyone 2. Document proof to confirm arrangements for your marriage in the UK
People travelling for a permitted paid engagement	1. A letter of invitation from a UK based organisation 2. Proof of work recognition in the form of publications, awards, recent coverage, media coverage, etc. (For professional experts)
Prospective Entrepreneurs	1. Letter of support from one or more UK government departments/ entrepreneurial seed funding competitions/ registered venture capitalist organisations regulated by FCA
Sportsperson	1. Letter of Endorsement from the Sports governing body
Innovation visa applicants	1. Proof of investment funds
Ancestry visa applicants	1. Birth Certificate 2. Birth Certificate of parents or grandparents on whom your ancestry claim rests 3. Marriage certificates of parents and grandparents 4. Legal adoption certificate, in case you or your parents were adopted 5. Proof of perspective plan of working in the US 6. Marriage certificate (if your spouse, partner or fiancé(e) wants to join you)
Domestic workers' applicants	1. Letter from your employer confirming that you were working with them for a minimum of 1 year and he'll pay the national minimum wage 2. Any one document during the period you were working with the same employer, including payslips, income tax returns, health insurance, employment contract, work visa and visa entry stamps on your passport.

Features of UK Visa

One visa to travel to 4 European countries
Available for both short-stay and permanent residency
Standard Visitor visa for the UK is available for 6 months or 11 months
Long-term Standard Visitor visa available for 2 years, 5 years and 10 years
Pay the additional amount (as of now GBP 500) to get a faster decision on UK visa application India i.e. within one or five working days

Types of UK Visa for Indians

Types of UK Visa

All Indian citizens must apply for a UK visa to travel to or transit through the United Kingdom. Moreover, all UK visa applicants should be above 18 years of age. Underage applicants need to apply for a minor visa.

Whether you are an adult or a minor, both adults and minors can buy travel insurance for their UK trip to protect themselves from any unpredictable adversities. It is also strongly recommended as the UK is a costly place, and any kind of emergency can cost you thousands of pounds

A UK visa for Indians is easily granted, provided you meet all their requirements. Financial ability plays a huge role, so make sure you have sufficient funds to sustain your stay in the UK.

The United Kingdom offers four UK visa types to foreigners wishing to come here for various purposes. All foreign nationals need to apply for the right type of UK visa as per the UK visas & immigration requirements. Moreover, you should buy travel insurance for the UK no matter which type of visa you apply for. Make sure to choose a suitable type of UK visa based on the purpose of your travel. Take a look at the various UK visa types offered by the British Embassy:

UK Transit Visa
Foreign nationals transiting through the international transit areas of the UK airports can apply for this visa. A UK transit visa is of two types –
- UK Direct Airside Transit Visa or DATV: a foreign national who will not pass through the UK border control should apply for this type of UK transit visa.
- Visitor in Transit visa: To be applied by a foreign national who will pass through the UK border control but leave the country within 48 hours.
UK Standard Visitor Visa
A Standard UK Visitor visa or UK Tourist visa from India is issued for up to 6 months, allowing non-British nationals to enter, stay, and transit through the UK. People travelling to the United Kingdom for vacation, to meet family or friends, to receive private medical treatment, and to conduct business, including participation in sports, entertainment, and cultural activities, can apply for this type of UK visa. People travelling to the UK for marriage or an academic visit can also apply.

While academicians visiting for research purposes can get a visa valid for up to 11 months, people travelling to receive private medical treatment can get a UK visitor visa for up to 12 months.

People who wish to stay on a UK visitor visa for more than 6 months should also apply for a biometric residence permit. Frequent flyers can apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa for the UK, which is issued for 2 years, 5 years or 10 years. However, you can stay for a maximum of 6 months on each trip under a long-term UK visitor visa from India.

Standard Visitor Visa also includes the following UK visas:
- UK Marriage Visitor Visa
- Visiting Academic Visa
- Permitted Paid Engagement Visa
- Private Medical Treatment Visa (6-11 months)
UK Parent of a Tier 4 Child Visa

This type of UK Visit visa can be applied by people whose child studies in an independent day school in the UK on payment of regular fees. The child should be below 12 years of age to be able to apply for this UK visa type.
UK Study Visa
Non-British citizens can study in the UK on an appropriate UK study visa. Children and adults who want to study in a school or university in the UK for a short or long course can apply for this UK student visa. It also allows students to conduct research in their course curriculum. These are of the following types:
- UK Study Visa (Regular): Can be applied by students for various graduate, postgraduate and research programmes.
- UK Study Visa (Regular): Students can apply for this visa for various graduate, postgraduate, and research programmes.
- UK Short-term Study Visa: This type of UK visa is usually granted for 6 months to applicants over 16 years old. However, it can be granted for 11 months if you study an English language course.
- UK Child Student Visa: Minor students between 4 and 17 years of age who wish to study at a school or educational institution in the UK should apply for this type of UK Study visa. Holders of this visa can also work part-time or full-time under specific conditions and can be extended.
UK Work Visa
A non-British national who wants to work in an organisation located in the UK can apply for a UK work visa. Most UK work visas for Indians also require payment of a healthcare surcharge to obtain the visa. Take a look at the various UK work visa types:
- UK Long-term Work visas
  This type of UK visa includes a General Work visa, a Minister of Religion visa, an Intra-company Transfer visa, and a Sportsperson visa.
- UK Short-term Work visa
  It is a Tier 5 UK visa for temporary workers and includes a Charity Worker visa, a government-authorised exchange visa, a Creative and Sporting visa, an International Agreement visa, a Seasonal Worker visa, a Religious Worker visa, and a Youth Mobility Scheme visa.
- UK Investor, Business Development & Talent visa
  This type of UK work visa allows its holder to set up, run or invest in an organisation or business in the UK. It is a Tier 1 UK visa that includes an Innovator visa, Exceptional Talent visa, Start-up visa and Investor visa.
Other Work visas for UK

This type of UK work visa allows its holder to work in the UK even if they do not fall into any other UK visa category. It includes an Ancestry visa, a Representative of an Overseas Business visa, Domestic Workers in a Private Household visa and an Exempt Vignette.
UK Family Visa

This UK visa can be applied for by a non-British citizen who wants to live with one of their family members and has settled in the UK for over 6 months. Family members include spouse, partner, child, parents, fiancé/ fiancée or relative needing long-term care.

You will have to pay a health surcharge when applying for this UK visa. Family visa applicants must also prove their knowledge of the English language unless the applicant is a child or a dependent adult relative.

You can use this type of UK visa to join your family members only if they are existing British citizens, settled in the UK, or have humanitarian protection or refugee status in the UK. You can also use this UK visa to join your parents if they have lived in the United Kingdom for seven consecutive years.

Visa Guide

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Validity for Different Types of UK Visa

To find out the validity of different types of UK visas, refer to the table given below:

UK Visa Types		Duration
UK Visit visa	Standard Visitor visa	Up to 6 months 11 months (if travelling to receive medical treatment) 12 months (for academicians) 2 years, 5 years or 10 years (for applicants of Long-Term Standard Visitor Visa)
	Transit visa	24 hours to 48 hours
	Marriage Visitor visa	Up to 6 months
	Permitted Paid Engagement visa	Up to 1 month
	Parent of a Tier 4 child visa	6 to 12 months
Study Visa	Short-term Study visa	6 to 11 months
	General Student visa	6 months (can be extended)
	Child Student visa	6 years (if the student's age is below 16 years) 3 years (if the student is 16 or 17 years old)
Work Visa	Long term work visa	12 months (Graduate Trainee) Up to 3 years (Minister of Religion visa, Sportsperson visa) Up to 5 years (General work visa) 5 years, 9 years (Long-term staff)
	Short-term Work visa	Up to 6 months (Seasonal Worker visa) Up to 12 months (Charity Worker visa, Creative and Sporting visa) Up to 12 or 24 months (Government Authorised Exchange visa) Up to 24 months (Youth Mobility Scheme visa, Religious Worker visa) 2 years (International Agreement visa)
	Investor, Business Development & Talent visa	2 years (Start-up visa) Up to 3 years (Investor visa) 3 years (Innovator visa) Up to 5 years (Exceptional Talent visa)
	Other Work visas	Up to 6 months (Domestic Workers in a Private Household visa) 3 years (Representative of an Overseas Business visa) 5 years (Ancestry visa)
Family Visa		6 months (Spouse/ partner) 2.5 years (Fiance/ fiancée, parents) Unlimited (Adult Dependent Relative)

UK Visa Fees

The UK visa fees vary according to the types of visas available for travelling to the United Kingdom. Take a look at the table below to know the visa fees for UK visa application:

UK Visa Types			UK Visa Cost from India(INR)
Visit Visa	Standard Visitor visa	6 months	12441
		Medical Treatment	21637
		Academicians	21637
	Long-Term Standard Visitor Visa	2 years	46735
		5 years	83410
		10 years	104181
	Transit visa	Visitor in Transit visa	6924
	Transit visa	Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV)	3786
	Marriage Visitor visa		12441
	Permitted Paid Engagement visa		12441
	Parent of a Tier 4 child visa		68913
Study Visa	Short-term Study visa	6 months	21637
	General Student visa*		53010
	Child Student visa		53010
Work Visa	Tier 1 (Investor)	For main applicant and dependants	203819
	Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)	For dependants only	128847
	Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)	Main applicant	77460
	Skilled Worker	With a certificate of sponsorship	77784- 153621
	Skilled Worker	For shortage occupation	59609-117271
	Skilled Worker	Health and Care Visa	30724-59609
	Global Business Mobility - main applicant and dependants	Graduate Trainee, Service Supplier, UK Expansion Worker, Secondment Worker	32239

*Applicants of general student visas for the UK must also pay a health surcharge as part of their UK visa online application. Please note that UK visa fees India are subject to change.

Exceptions on UK Visa Fee Payment

While all applicants need to bear the UK visa costs, some people applying for UK visa can get exempted from paying the UK visa fees on the following conditions:

No place of residence or means to afford it
Have a place of residence but cannot afford the costs of living, including food
Earn very low and visa fee payment can affect your child's well-being

However, you must meet the eligibility criteria for getting a UK visa fee waiver. You can read more about UK visa waiver eligibility on their official website.

When to Apply for a UK Visa?

Apply for UK Visa

Indians can file their UK visa application not before 3 months from the date of departure from India. This time period is valid for all UK visa types, including visit, work, family, and study visas. It is advisable to apply for a travel insurance policy for your UK trip before you apply for a UK visa. It usually takes around 3 weeks to process a UK visa for Indians, but there may be delays depending on different situations.

In case of urgency, the visa can also be processed faster by paying GBP 500 additionally. However, you should always apply for it as soon as your plans are finalised so that you have enough time before departure.

How to Apply for a UK Visa?

You can easily file a UK visa application online by visiting the official website handling UK visas and immigration. You can also apply by visiting the VFS Global UK Visa Application Centre. The UK Government has appointed VFS Global as the partner for Visas and Immigration. If you want to file a UK visa application yourself, you can follow the steps given below to apply for UK visa:

Determine the type of UK visa that you need to apply for according to the purpose of your travel
Visit the official website of the government of the UK (GOV.UK)
Go to 'Visas and Immigration' page
Select your UK visa category and apply for the right type of UK visa
Arrange all the required documents
Fill up the UK visa application form
Pay for your UK visa fees online
Book an appointment at the UK Visa Application Centre
Attend your UK visa appointment and give your biometric information
The UK visa will be granted to the applicants who clear the visa interview

You can track your UK visa status using the UK visa tracking GWF number you provided.

Travel Insurance for the UK

Planning a trip to the United Kingdom and finally getting your UK visa is fantastic. Everyone wants their trip to be perfect and memorable, but even a tiny eventuality can cause a massive dent to your travel plans.

Moreover, it can cause major financial loss and disrupt your travel budget entirely. The only way to protect your trip from such situations is by buying a travel insurance policy for the UK.

UK travel insurance policy is a safety shield that guards the insured traveller against any uncertainties that you may face during your trip. It will cover any emergency expenses that you may incur during your UK trip, such as medical treatment, loss or delay of check-in baggage, trip cancellation and curtailment, personal liability, trip delay, personal accident, and missed connecting flight. It also lends a helping hand in case you need emergency cash during your stay in the United Kingdom.

Different kinds of travellers can opt for different types of travel insurance plans based on their requirements. For instance, families can opt for Family Travel Insurance, senior citizens can get Senior Citizens Insurance, and people travelling to study in the UK can apply for Student Travel Insurance. You can also opt for Single Trip Travel Insurance or Multi-Trip Travel Insurance based on your travel frequency.

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UK Visa Rules for Smooth Application Processing

The passport should have at least 1 blank page and must be valid for the entire duration of your stay in the UK
Documents required for UK visa should be submitted along with a certified translated copy if they're not in English or Welsh
Stay aware of your travel details, including travel dates, the location of your accommodation in the UK, and the estimated cost of your trip.
Be aware of your details, including your parents' name and date of birth, your current residential address and the duration of your stay there, your annual income, etc.
Keep the following information handy –

Information on your travel history
Address and contact number of your employer
Name, date of birth and passport number of your partner
name and address of your sponsor
Name, address and contact number of the family member residing in the UK
Information on your civil, criminal or immigration offences

Get a UK travel insurance policy for your trip before you apply for a UK visa. It will save you from any emergency expenses, minimise loss in case of trip cancellation and show that you're a responsible traveller to the immigration authorities.

UK Visa Processing Time

Generally, a UK visa application takes about 3 weeks to process. You will get a decision on your UK visa online application within this period. However, a Family visa usually takes about 12 weeks to process. You may have to wait longer than this stipulated time if asked to submit more information regarding your UK visa application.

On the other hand, UK visa processing time for a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) can be obtained within 7 to 10 days of a UK visa decision.

You can also opt for priority service to get your visa faster. UK priority visa processing time is generally done within 5 working days on payment of 500 pounds. There is also an option of super-priority service that allows you to get a UK visa decision within 1 working day on payment of 800 pounds. However, you have to be eligible to utilise these services.

FAQs

Q: Do I need a visa to the UK?

Ans: Yes. All Indian citizens need a valid UK visa to travel, stay, or transit through the United Kingdom's borders.
Q: Where can I go with a UK visa?

Ans: If you have a UK visa, you can travel to any of the four European countries forming the United Kingdom of Great Britain. This includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. You can also
Q: How much is the bank balance required for a UK visa?

Ans: People planning to study in the UK must have at least GBP 1334 per month for up to 9 months if they are taking up a course in London. Workers must be paid at least GBP 25,600 annually to get a valid UK work visa.
Q: Can I get a UK visa without a bank statement?

Ans: If students can't produce a bank statement, you can ask your bank to produce a letter confirming that you have sufficient funds and have held them for 28 consecutive days.
Q: Is a UK visa easy to get?

Ans: Obtaining a UK visa is not difficult if you follow all the procedures correctly and submit all the required documents. You can apply for a UK visa online, which saves you a lot of hassle. However, you must appear for your UK visa interview before it is granted to you.
Q: How can I check UK visa status using UK visa tracking GWF number India?

Ans: You can check the status of your UK visa online application by using the Global Web Form reference number (GWF number) you received when submitting it.
Q: Why would a UK visa be denied?

Ans: A UK visa will be denied if the UK immigration authorities aren’t satisfied with your answers during the UK visa appointment or if your documents are incomplete. This can happen if you do not fulfil the criteria for a specific type of UK visa or do not have the required documents. If your interviewer is not satisfied with your claims at the interview, you will be denied a UK visa. In many cases, people with a criminal background or insufficient funds may be denied a UK visa. Make sure to carefully understand these uk visas & immigration to avoid rejection.
Q: Do I need travel insurance for the UK?

Ans: Having a travel insurance policy during your UK trip is not mandatory. However, all Indians should apply for a UK visa before travelling to the United Kingdom to stay protected. A travel insurance policy covers everything from medical expenses to travel-related issues as well as trip cancellation and personal liabilities.

Travel insurance companies

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Disclaimer: The list of insurers mentioned are arranged according to the alphabetical order of the names of insurers respectively. Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product offered by any insurer. The list of plans listed here comprise of insurance products offered by all the insurance partners of Policybazaar. For complete list of insurers in India refer to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India website www.irdai.gov.in