UK Tourist visa from India

The United Kingdom (UK) has been a popular tourist destination for a long time. The country offers a culture rich in history and iconic landmarks, world-renowned museums and galleries, including the British Museum and National Gallery, stunning scenic places to visit, vibrant cities like London and Edinburgh, and so much more. 

You will be required to have a UK Standard Visitor visa if you are planning to go to the country for tourism (like a vacation), to visit your family or friends staying in the country, for business purposes (like attending a conference or meeting), for a student exchange program, for medical reasons, etc. 

If you are someone looking for how to apply for UK visa from India, you have come to the right place. If you are planning to go to this amazing country, the first step would be getting your UK visitor visa. Don’t know what visa to get or what you require? Worry not, and read ahead, as in this article, we will be covering everything about a UK Tourist Visa from India in detail.

UK visitor visa Validity

UK offers short-term and Long-term visitor visas; if you are planning to visit for less than 6 months, then you will be required to have a UK Standard Visitor Visa. The UK standard visitor visa is valid for 6 months. This means that you can stay in the UK for up to 6 months as a standard visitor. 

However, if you wish to visit the UK regularly for the Long term, then you have the option to apply for a UK tourist (visitor) visa for 2, 5 or 10 years. But remember, you can stay for a maximum of 6 months on each visit. For a long-term UK visit visa, you must prove that your numerous visits would be for the same reason and that such visits to the country are necessary. 

It's important to note that the UK visitor visa norms and regulations can be subject to change. Therefore, it's recommended that you consult with our UK visitor visa experts at 750-383-2132.

The UK visitor visa processing time may vary depending on several factors, including the type of visa, the country where you are applying, and the time of the year.

As of now, the UK visitor visa processing time is 25–30 days. The standard processing times provided by the UK government for a tourist visa are as follows:
 

What is the difference between UK visitor visa priority and super priority services?

The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) offers priority and super priority services to eligible visitors or tourist visa applicants, where you will get your visitor/tourist visa decision faster than the standard visa stream.

1) Priority Services:
If you are eligible for priority services, then You’ll need to pay £500 in addition to the application fee. You will get your visa processed within 5 working days.

2) Super priority services:
To avail of the super-priority services, you must pay £1000 in addition to the UK visitor visa application fee. You will get your visa processed within 2 working days.

Please note:
If you have an additional family member in your application, you need to pay for each family member additionally.

There isn’t a specific minimum bank balance officially required by the UK Visitor Visa from India for Indian applicants seeking a UK standard visitor or Tourist visa. However, you must clearly show that you have enough funds to cover all your expenses during your stay — including accommodation, travel, daily living costs, insurance, and some extra buffer — without relying on public funds.

Trip duration Recommended balance (approx.)

If you are an applicant looking to apply for a UK visa from India, you must follow the entire visa application process carefully to avoid any delay. We have already covered in detail how to apply for a UK visa from India and the UK visa process time in India to help you plan your travel accordingly and start early to prevent any complications ahead.

When applying for a UK visitor visa, one of the most crucial steps is to collect and submit the required documents for your visa application process. The records needed for a UK visitor visa are-

1) Passport:
Your original passport, which has at least 6 months' validity and a minimum of 3 blank pages. You are also required to submit any old passports if you have any.

2) Financial docs:
Your financial record can prove your ability to fund yourself and your dependent(s), if any, for the entire duration of your trip. So you must include a bank statement showing funds availability and income tax returns for the last 3 years.

3) Cover letter:
This is the most critical document. Your cover letter must be written and include the purpose of the visit and all relevant information to strengthen your case.

4) UK Visa Application Form:
Fill your UK visitor visa application form accurately and include personal, qualification, finance, partner and travel plan information.

5) Employer Docs:
If you are employed, then an official document from the employer sanctioning your leave and If you are self-employed, then documents proving the existence of your business and the company’s income tax returns for the last 3 years.

6) invitation letter:
If you are visiting friends or relatives, you will need an invitation letter and their address. If you are sponsored, then a sponsorship letter, the sponsor’s national ID, their bank statements of the last 6 months, and income tax returns for the previous 3 years.

7) Passport-sized photograph:
You must provide two recent colour passport-size photographs

8) Business visit:
If you are visiting for business purposes, then an invitation from the host company inviting you to visit and stating the purpose of your visit

You must ensure that the documents required for a UK visitor visa are accurate and according to your specific case. You must make sure that you have submitted complete and correct documents. One of the most common reasons for the delay or rejection of a UK visitor visa is inaccurate or incomplete documents, so make sure you double-check all the documents when submitting them online.