Tourist Visa
For holidays, sightseeing and leisure travel.
Europe Visa for Indians
Non-Schengen
Non-SchengenUnited Kingdom Visa for Indians
Requirements, Documents, Fees, Processing Time & Biometric Centres in India
The United Kingdom runs an entirely separate immigration system. Most Indian tourists and business visitors apply for a Standard Visitor visa online and then attend a UK visa application centre for biometrics.
The UK has its own immigration system. A Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
Last verified: 20 September 2026
Summary
United Kingdom visa at a glance
Every value below is maintained centrally and can change at short notice — always verify against the official source before applying.
| Destination | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Visa type | UK Standard Visitor visa (or the applicable UK route) |
| Purpose | Tourism, business visits, family visits, study of short duration and permitted activities |
| Visa categories | Tourist Visa, Business Visa, Family / Friend Visit Visa, Student Visa, Work / Employment Visa, Transit Visa, Medical Visa, Cultural / Sports Visa |
| Maximum stay | Usually up to 6 months per visit for standard visitors |
| Visa validity | 6 months, or 2, 5 or 10 years for long-validity visitor visas |
| Entry | Multiple entry for most visitor visas |
| Government visa fee | Published in GBP by UK Visas and Immigration and varies by route and validity — verify the current fee |
| Child fee | Children pay the published visitor fee; there is no general child exemption |
| Processing time | UKVI publishes a standard service target for visitor applications from India — verify the current timeline |
| Application submission | VFS Global on behalf of UK Visas and Immigration — confirm your city |
| Biometrics | Fingerprints and a photograph are normally taken at a UK visa application centre |
| Passport validity | Valid Indian passport for the whole visit, with at least one blank page for the visa vignette |
Visa approval is at the sole discretion of the relevant embassy, consulate or immigration authority. Visadesk Global LLP is a private visa assistance company. We are not an embassy, consulate, government department or official visa portal.
Visa categories
United Kingdom visa categories for Indian applicants
Only the categories currently applicable to United Kingdom's immigration system are listed.
Business Visa
For business meetings, conferences, exhibitions and other permitted short-term business activities.
Family / Friend Visit Visa
For visiting relatives or friends resident in the country.
Student Visa
For eligible study programmes, usually applied for as a national (long-stay) visa.
Work / Employment Visa
For employment, applied for as a national visa or permit where applicable.
Transit Visa
Airport or port transit permission where required for the route.
Medical Visa
For planned medical treatment at a recognised facility.
Cultural / Sports Visa
For cultural programmes, performances and sporting events.
Fees
United Kingdom visa fees for Indians
Government fees, visa application centre charges, optional services and Visadesk's professional fee are always kept separate.
Government / consular visa fee
Adults: Published in GBP by UK Visas and Immigration and varies by route and validity — verify the current fee
Children: Children pay the published visitor fee; there is no general child exemption
Other charges
Visa application centre service fee: The authorised visa application centre charges its own service fee, published per country and per city.
Optional services: Optional services such as premium lounge, courier delivery, SMS updates, form filling and photographs are charged separately and are not mandatory.
Visadesk professional fee: Visadesk Global charges a separate professional service fee for documentation, application and appointment assistance. It is never part of the government fee.
Visa fees and service charges can change and should always be verified before application.
Documents
United Kingdom visa document checklist
Switch between purposes to see the documents usually expected. Optional or supporting items are not presented as mandatory — the official checklist for your application always takes precedence.
Passport
- Valid Indian passport
- Passport validity as required by the destination's current rules
- Required number of blank pages
- Previous passports where applicable
Visa application
- Completed official application form
- Appointment confirmation where applicable
- Applicable declarations and consent forms
Photographs
- Recent biometric photographs
- Photograph meeting the destination's current specification
Travel
- Proposed day-by-day itinerary
- Flight reservation as required by the checklist
- Internal travel details where applicable
Accommodation
- Hotel reservation covering the stay
- Host accommodation documents where you stay privately
Travel medical insurance
- Policy meeting the destination's current minimum cover and geographical scope
- Cover for the full duration of the intended stay
Financial documents
- Recent bank statements
- Income Tax Returns where applicable
- Salary slips where applicable
- Sponsorship documents where someone else funds the trip
Employment / business
- Employment letter and leave approval for salaried applicants
- Business registration and company documents for business owners
- Student ID and institution letter for students
- Pension or income evidence for retired applicants
For minors
- Birth certificate
- Parental consent where required
- Copies of parents' passports and visas where applicable
Process
How to apply for a United Kingdom visa from India
- 01
Select destination
Decide which country or countries you are visiting and how long you will stay in each.
- 02
Determine the correct visa
Identify whether you need a Schengen short-stay visa, a national visa or a country-specific visitor visa.
- 03
Identify the correct consulate
For multi-country Schengen travel, work out your main destination under current Schengen rules.
- 04
Complete the application
Fill in the applicable official visa form exactly as it appears on your passport.
- 05
Prepare documents
Passport, photographs, financial documents, employment or business proof, itinerary, accommodation, insurance and supporting papers.
- 06
Book the appointment
Book through the officially authorised application centre or consulate system for your destination.
- 07
Attend appointment & biometrics
Submit the application, documents and passport, give biometrics where required and pay the applicable fees.
- 08
Visa processing
The embassy, consulate or immigration authority assesses the application.
- 09
Track the application
Follow the status through the authorised tracking service where one is offered.
- 10
Receive passport / decision
Collect your passport and check the issued visa carefully before you travel.
Timeline
How long does a United Kingdom visa take from India?
Official standard processing time
UKVI publishes a standard service target for visitor applications from India — verify the current timeline
Possible extended processing
Can take longer where additional checks, document verification or interviews are needed
Recommended lead time
Apply up to 3 months before travel and allow buffer time before departure
Processing times are official indicative timelines and may increase due to additional verification, peak travel periods, incomplete documentation or consular requirements.
Biometrics
United Kingdom visa biometrics in India
Fingerprints and a photograph are normally taken at a UK visa application centre
Submission
Find United Kingdom Visa Application Centre in India
Submission for United Kingdom is handled by: VFS Global on behalf of UK Visas and Immigration — confirm your city. Only the cities currently listed for this destination are shown.
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Visa Application Centre — New Delhi
New Delhi, India — confirm the exact address on the authorised provider's website when you book
VFS Global on behalf of UK Visas and Immigration — confirm your city
Published by the authorised centre and can change — check before travelling to submit
Appointment required in most cases
Fingerprints and a photograph are normally taken at a UK visa application centre
Visa categories accepted
- Tourist Visa
- Business Visa
- Family / Friend Visit Visa
- Student Visa
- Work / Employment Visa
- Transit Visa
- Medical Visa
- Cultural / Sports Visa
Track application: Track through the authorised application centre where a tracking service is offered
Cities currently listed for United Kingdom
Travel
Top places to visit in United Kingdom
London
Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, West End and museums.
Scotland
Edinburgh Castle, the Highlands and Loch Ness.
Bath, Oxford & the Lake District
Georgian architecture, universities and lake country.
Why Visadesk
Why choose Visadesk Global?
Visa Consultation
Help determine the appropriate visa category for your travel purpose and profile.
Document Assistance
A detailed checklist and a careful review of every document before submission.
Application Assistance
Support preparing and completing the official visa application accurately.
Appointment Assistance
Guidance for booking appointments through authorised visa application centres.
Biometric Guidance
We explain biometric requirements and how to prepare for your appointment.
Travel Assistance
Flights, hotels, itinerary and travel insurance assistance where requested.
FAQ
United Kingdom visa FAQs for Indian applicants
Planning a Trip to United Kingdom?
Get professional assistance with tourist, business and visitor visa applications for Europe.
Visa Guidance • Document Review • Appointment Assistance • Biometric Guidance • Travel Support
Visa approval is at the sole discretion of the relevant embassy, consulate or immigration authority.
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