If you are interested in visiting the UK and exploring the attractions and culture of the country, you must apply for a UK visitor visa or UK tourist visa. Learn the visa options, procedure, and process of obtaining a UK visitor visa.
For a Standard Visitor visa, you have to apply online before you travel to the UK and be present at an appointment scheduled at a VAC (visa application center).
You can apply for a UK visitor visa as early as 3 months before you travel to the UK. It’s required that you meet the eligibility criteria and indulge only in lawful activities.
Based on which nationality you belong to you may not require a UK visitor visa to travel to the UK. It’s up to you to check whether your nationality has the privilege to get the requirement of a visa waived.
Fees to pay for a UK visitor visa
Fees | Max length of stay (in months) | |
Standard Visitor visa | £100 | 6 |
Standard Visitor visa for medical reasons | £200 | 11 |
Standard Visitor visa for academics | £200 | 12 |
Long-term Standard Visitor visa (2 years) | £376 | 6 (per visit) |
Long-term Standard Visitor visa (5 years) | £670 | 6 (per visit) |
Long-term Standard Visitor visa (10 years) | £837 | 6 (per visit) |
Applying for the visa online
Once you have kicked off your application process, you have the option to save your online visa application form and complete it later.
In case your application includes family members, each individual in the application must submit their own application and pay the visa fee. Also, they are required to attend their own visa appointment at a VAC.
It’s possible for you to apply on behalf of your partner and child, in case they can’t file an application for themselves.
Long-term Standard UK Visitor visas
For those of you who are going to visit the UK regularly, a long-term UK visitor visa is suitable. The validity of this visa lasts for 2, 5, or 10 years. On each visit to the UK, you can stay in the country for not more than 6 months.
If you are under 18 years when you file an application, your long-term Standard UK Visitor visa will have a maximum validity of 6 months after you turn 18. Also, a refund on the fee won’t be made.
UKVI may issue a UK visitor visa that has shorter validity in case it isn’t convinced that you can meet the eligibility criteria for the duration of the visa you filed and an application for.
Even for a shorter visa, you won’t get a refund of the application fee in case you get a visa with shorter validity or your application meets refusal.
Another reason for the cancellation of your visa application is when your travel history shows you will be living in the UK repeatedly for long periods.
It’s required that you have a valid passport/travel document for the entire time you are staying in the UK. You must have a blank page in your passport for your Standard UK Visitor visa.
In your online application, you must give the following information provided:
If your circumstances demand, you might also need to submit the following:
Proving your identity and submitting your documents
When you go ahead with your online application, it’s required that you book an appointment at a VAC. Make time to attend your appointment. This is because it’s very much possible that the VAC could be in another country.
When you attend your appointment, you have to:
After you have applied online, given proof of your identity, and submitted your documents, it usually takes 3 to 6 weeks to get a decision on your visa application.
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To make a successful UK Visitor Visa application you have to prove that:
With a UK visitor visa or UK tourist visa, you will be traveling to the UK for leisure/ tourism you will be allowed to:
You must have access to enough financial resources in order to maintain yourself adequately for the whole period of your UK visit. It’s not required of you to show any specific level of funds.
Give due consideration to what activities you are planning to do, and how much are you going to spend on your living expenses in the UK. After giving these details, you will help a Caseworker to consider the possible cost of your stay and make an assessment of any revenue source that you will have continuous access to when you are visiting the UK.
A Caseworker will consider your income/savings against any financial commitments you have made in your country of residence. This way the Caseworker will decide whether you have the ability to financially support yourself while you are visiting the UK.
The application fee payable to the Home Office for a Standard UK Visitor Visa is £95. It may be needed of you to pay an additional fee for a biometric appointment at a VAC.