United Kingdom Tourist Visa for Indians

The United Kingdom is widely popular for its diverse landscapes, from rolling hills and rugged coastlines to bustling cities. It's known for its contribution to literature, music, and art, producing renowned figures such as William Shakespeare, The Beatles, and J.K. Rowling. The UK's cultural heritage includes iconic landmarks like the Tower of London, Stonehenge, and Buckingham Palace.Many Indians are excited to visit the United Kingdom for tourism due to these world-famous tourist attractions. If you also have that dream, here's everything you need to know about getting a United Kingdom tourist visa from India.

Individuals
Sr. Citizens
Students

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

About United Kingdom Tourist Visa

A UK tourist visa allows travellers to visit the United Kingdom for tourism, family visits, or cultural visits. You can visit the United Kingdom to experience its beautiful countryside landscapes, bustling cities, and temperate climate. Here are some basic facts about the country that you should know about.

Key Fact	Details
Country	United Kingdom
Currency	British Pound Sterling (GBP ) (GBP 1 = INR 106.64)
Language	English
Time Zone	Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Popular Tourist Destinations	London, Edinburgh, Stonehenge, Bath, Manchester, Liverpool
The United Kingdom Tourist Visa Processing Time	3 weeks

Documents required for a United Kingdom Tourist Visa for Indians

To visit the UK, you must first go through the United Kingdom tourist visa application process. You need to prove that you can pay for your trip and plan to return to India later. As a tourist, you must apply for a standard visitor or transit visa, depending on your travel purpose.
Here's a checklist of documents required to apply for a UK Standard Visitor Visa.

Travel Document: Submit a valid passport or another acceptable travel document, with at least one blank page for the UK visa application and entry to the UK
(Passport) Demonstrating Personal Circumstances - Provide copies of:
- Previous passports that show travel history.
- Proof of legal residence if you're not a national of India.
Financial documents such as:
- Bank statements showing the origin of the funds for your trip.
- Building society books showing the original of the funds for your trip.
- Proof of earnings, like a letter from your employer, detailing employment, salary, and role.
If You Have a Sponsor-
- Include evidence of the support being provided by your sponsor.
- Describe what is the nature of the support, whether it covers any dependents, and how the support is being offered.
- Submit documents proving the sponsor's financial capability.
- Proof of the relationship between you and the sponsor.
- The sponsor's legal status in the UK, if applicable.
If You're a Young Traveller (Under 18)-
Show legal documents proving your relationship with your parents or guardians, such as:
- A birth or adoption certificate.
- A copy of a parent's or guardian's passport photo page.
If you are travelling without a parent or guardian, include:
- A signed letter of consent detailing travel arrangements.
- A parental consent for travel.
- Details of travel companions, who will care for you in the UK
- Your travel plans.
- If the parent or guardian does not have a passport, provide another official document with their signature.
Tuberculosis Test- Indians who wish to stay in the UK for more than 60 months, have to provide the results of a TB test.

Documents Required for UK Transit Visa

For a Transit Visa, you need to submit the following documents.

Document Type	Description
Proof of Outward Journey	Provide proof that your onward journey from the UK is confirmed and will occur within 48 hours of your arrival, such as a travel booking confirmation.
Entry Permission for Destination	Show evidence that you are permitted to enter the country you are travelling to, such as a valid visa or residence permit.

Documents Required for UK Marriage Visitor Visa

If you are applying for a Marriage Visitor visa, here's the list of the documents that you need to submit.

Document Type	Description
Intent to Marry or Form a Partnership	Provide proof that you plan to give a notice, marry, or enter into civil partnerships. You can submit documents such as: The confirmation of an appointment with a registrar or A confirmation of the booking for a reception.
Proof of Freedom to Marry	If you have been previously married or in a civil partnership, submit documents proving you are legally free to marry or form a partnership.
Age Requirement	You must be at least 18 years old to apply for this visa.

Types of United Kingdom Tourist Visa

Choosing the correct visa type is essential for making sure that your visa process is smooth. Here's a table summarising the United Kingdom tourist visa types, their descriptions, and validity:

United Kingdom Tourist Visa Type	Description	Validity
Standard Visitor Visa	Allows visits for tourism, business, short-term studies (up to 6 months), and other permitted activities.	Up to 6 months
Long Term Standard Visitor Visa	A visa for travellers who wish to visit the UK regularly.	2, 5 or 10 years. Maximum stay of 6 months per visit.
Visitor in Transit Visa	Required for changing flights in the UK en route to another country, involving passing through UK border control.	Up to 48 hours
Direct Airside Transit Visa	Needed for changing flights in the UK without going through the UK border control.	Duration of transit
Marriage Visitor Visa	For those intending to marry or register a civil partnership in the UK, without plans to stay or settle afterwards.	Up to 6 months

Visa Guide

Expand

United Kingdom Tourist Visa Requirements

To ensure that you get your tourist visa approved, you must comply with United Kingdom tourist visa requirements.

Travel Document: Provide a valid passport or travel document with at least one blank page for visa applications and travel to the UK.
Intent to Depart: Demonstrate that you will leave the UK after your visit.
Financial Support: Show that you can financially support yourself and any dependents during your stay, or provide evidence of financial backing from another source.
Travel Costs: Prove that you can cover the cost of your return or onward journey, or have arrangements for someone else to cover these costs.
Short-Term Visits: Confirm that you will not use the UK for long-term stays through frequent visits or make it your primary residence.
Document Translation: If submitting documents not in English or Welsh, include a complete translation verified by the Home Office, with:

Confirmation from the translator of accuracy.
Date of translation.
Translator's full name and signature.
Translator's contact details.

How to Apply for a United Kingdom Tourist Visa

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to apply for a United Kingdom tourist visa.

Select the right visa type: Go through various tourist visa types and select the one that suits your travel purpose and duration of stay.
Fill up the online application: Visit the official website of the UK Government to start your application process. Select your preferred language, nationality, and the nearest visa application centre. You can save your incomplete application and come back later to complete it. If you have been inactive for more than 25 minutes, you will be logged out of the system automatically.
Upload documents: Upload the scanned copies of the required documents on the visa portal.
Pay your visa fees: Pay your United Kingdom tourist visa fees using online payment methods.
Provide biometrics: Provide your biometric data like fingerprints and photographs at the visa application centre you selected earlier.
Wait for the application to be processed: Your visa application should be processed within 3 weeks.

United Kingdom Tourist VisaFee for Indians

Here's a table summarizing the United Kingdom tourist visa fees for Indian applicants.

Visa Type	Fee
Standard Visitor Visa	GBP 115 (INR 12,270.81)
2-Year Long-Term Standard Visitor Visa	GBP 432 (INR 46,095.56)
5-Year Long-Term Standard Visitor Visa	GBP 771 (INR 82,267.77)
10-Year Long-Term Standard Visitor Visa	GBP 963 (INR 1,02,754.69)
Visitor in Transit Visa	GBP 64 (INR 6828.97)
Direct Airside Transit Visa	GBP 35 (INR 3734.59)

*Visa fee subject to exchange rate fluctuations

FAQs

Q1: What is the average United Kingdom tourist visa processing time?

Ans: Therefore, it is recommended that you apply well in advance.
Q2: What can I do if my United Kingdom tourist visa gets rejected?

Ans: If your visa is rejected, you will receive a letter or an email explaining the reasons for your rejection. The letter will also mention whether you have the option to apply for an administrative review or immigration decision appeal. Read the letter or email and follow the process mentioned therein.
Q3: Can I visit the United Kingdom as a tourist on a Schengen visa?

Ans: No, you cannot visit the United Kingdom as a tourist on a Schengen visa, because the United Kingdom is not a Schengen member country.
Q4: Do I need to get a TB test before travelling to the United Kingdom?

Ans: Yes, Indian travellers who plan to visit the United Kingdom for more than six months need to submit a TB test before travelling there.
Q5: Can I work in the United Kingdom using a Standard Visitor Visa?

Ans: You cannot do paid or unpaid work if you are in the UK on a Standard Visitor Visa. You are only allowed to do certain paid engagement events provided you have a valid invitation from an organisation or client in the UK.

Travel insurance companies

View more insurers

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