The Ultimate Guide To Applying For A UK Visa As An Indian Citizen

Travel is something that most of us enjoy. We are ready to plan all the details- from booking flights to making hotel reservations. But getting a visa can sometimes be a hassle. This is just one more thing that we should worry about before starting our journey. Importantly, if we talk about UK visas for Indians, the visa application process is quite complex and time-consuming, so it is important to gather all the relevant information before starting. In this blog post, we take a look at the different types of UK visas available for Indian passport holders to travel, study, work or do business, along with some useful tips on how to apply.

Do Indians Need A UK Visa?

The UK is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with millions of people each year travelling to the country for business or pleasure. In order to visit, Indian citizens are required to have a UK visa. The process of obtaining a visa can be time-consuming and bureaucratic, so it’s important to understand the requirements and make sure you have all the necessary documents. There are a number of different types of UK visas available, so Indian citizens should carefully select the one that best meets their needs. 

Features Of UK Visa 

• UK Visa for Indians is available for both short-term and long-term stays.
• With the help of a UK visa, you can travel to any of the 4 European countries.
• If you are looking for permanent residency, you can apply for it.
• Standard visas are valid for 6 months or 11 months, while long-term standard visitor visas are available for 2 years, 5 years, or 10 years depending on your nationality.
• You can also pay an additional amount to get a faster decision on your UK visa application from India within one or five working days.

Types of UK Visas For Indians

There are many visa types that an Indian citizen can apply for when travelling, studying, or working in the UK. The most common visas are tourist visas, student visas, and business visas. In addition, there is a spousal visa that enables partners of British citizens and permanent residents to move to the UK. Finally, there are a number of visas available for those seeking employment in the UK. 

Family Visas

If you are planning to visit your siblings or other family members in the UK, you will need to obtain a family visa. In order to be eligible, they must have permanent UK citizenship and valid legal documents. You will need to provide information about the family member you are visiting, including their residence information. This will be your place of residence during your stay in the UK.

Ancestry Visa

If you have a British citizenship grandparent, you may be eligible to visit or work in the UK. You will need to present documents proving that your ancestor is part of the UK and holds permanent citizenship. If you have a previous criminal record, you may be required to sit for a personal interview. This visa will take 8 weeks to process after the documents are submitted.

Family Reunion Visa

If you and your family are planning to reunite soon, you can apply for a separate family reunion visa. You don’t need a family visa if you’re just attending a reunion and will be returning afterward. Be sure to mention this in your application document.

Settlement Visa

If you are already in the UK, working or studying, and you want to stay longer or permanently, you need to apply for a settlement visa. You can get this visa if you have been in the UK for more than 5 years.

Returning resident Visa

If you are living in the UK to study or work, and have returned to India for any reason, you will need a resident visa to return to the UK. Without this visa, you will not be able to return to the UK. You must provide documentation that shows you were in the UK previously for a certain amount of time.

Transit Visa

You may need a transit visa if you’re travelling to any country and your plane makes a stop in the UK. You can apply for a transit visa if you are leaving the country within 48 hours of your stay in the UK.

Investor Visa

If you want to invest in a property in the UK, you should be aware of the investor 1 and investor 2 categories. Investor 1 is defined as those who invest a large sum of money, while investor 2 refers to those who invest a smaller amount.

Entrepreneur Visa

If you’re looking to set up a business in the UK, you’ll need to apply for a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa under the Points-Based System. You’ll need to provide details of your business plan and state that it won’t have any negative impact on UK businesses or residents.

Graduate Entrepreneur Visa

To start your business in the UK after graduation, you will need to apply for a Graduate Entrepreneur visa. In order to be eligible, your business idea must have been legally tested and approved by your university.

Work Visa

There are two types of UK work visas: Tier 1 and Tier 2. If you have been offered a skilled job in the UK or are from Switzerland or outside the European Economic Area (EEA), you can apply for a Tier 2 visa. You can stay in the UK for 5 years and 14 days if you come to the UK on a Tier 2 visa. Your sponsorship certificate specifies the amount of time you can stay in the UK, and this is usually shortened by 1 month.

Tier 1 visa applications are available to those who are not from the EEA or Switzerland, or those who have been endorsed as a leader in their field of digital technology, science, arts, engineering, medicine, or humanities.

Study Visa

There are different types of visas for students depending on how long you will be studying.

• Short-term study visa: Any Indian can be eligible for this type of visa if he is going to study a short course and is above 18 years of age. The short-term study visa is valid for 6 months but can be extended up to 11 months for some pre-listed exceptional courses.
• Child student visa: UK child student visas are for students aged 4-17 who want to study at an independent school.
• General student visa: Students who are 16 years or older can apply for a general student visa.

Visitor’s Visa

There can be many reasons for applying for a visitor visa to the UK. You may visit friends or family, seek private medical treatment, attend business meetings, or participate in a sporting event or activity. You may also have plans to travel as a potential entrepreneur, attend educational events, or do other types of research.

Marriage visa

The spouse visa for the UK is a settlement visa that allows you to stay in the country for up to 30 months. This visa can be extended for an additional 30 months. In order to be eligible for this visa, you must have proof of a genuine relationship.

Tourism visa

If you want to visit some of the most beautiful places in the UK, like Scotland and North Ireland, you’ll need to apply for a tourist visa. In order to apply, you’ll need to provide information like the number of days you’ll be staying in the UK.

Medical visa

You can visit the UK for medical treatment on a medical visa. The visa is valid for the time it takes to complete your treatment.

Family visa

If you have a family in the UK and you would like to join them permanently, you may be eligible for a UK family visa. However, if you are already in the UK on a work visa, you will not be able to apply for a family visa. The following are some of the ways in which you can get a UK family visa:

• If you are the partner or spouse of a UK resident, you may be able to get residency in the UK. 
• If you are the child of a UK resident, you may also be able to get residency in the UK. 
• If you need long-term care from a UK resident, due to sickness or any kind of disability, you may be able to get residency in the UK.
• If you are the widowed partner of someone who was a resident of the UK before.
• Or, you may apply for a family visa as a separated partner or spouse.

Uk Visa Application Process

There are two ways to apply for a VISA – online or offline. If you want someone else to do all the work for you, there are many agencies that offer this service for a small fee. However, if you like doing things yourself, we have a stepwise checklist to ensure you have all the information you need to apply to the UK embassy.

We have tried to make it easy for you by dividing the application process into steps. So that you don’t miss any details and accidentally skip the primary step to apply at the UK Embassy.

Step 1

Type of Visa: The first step when planning a trip to the UK is determining what type of visa you need. Work permits, study visas, family visas, and visitor visas are all available. 

You can apply for a UK visa online at the official UK Government Visa and Immigration website. All you have to do is fill out the visa application form online, pay the visa application fee, and book your appointment at any visa application office in India and your appointment date will be scheduled for you.

To apply for a UK Visa, you’ll need to know your country of origin, the purpose of your trip, and how long you plan to stay.

Step 2

Book your Appointment: Before you leave for the embassy, make sure to store your application and legal documentation in a safe place. Keep in mind that embassies will not entertain walk-in applicants – you will need to make an official appointment beforehand. Make a copy of all important documents and put them in a folder. That way you’ll always have them on hand, just in case.

Step 3

Visa Embassy: If you’re planning on coming to your appointment, be sure to arrive early – at least 15 minutes beforehand. Being on time is crucial, and showing up late is not an option. If you’re not there when they call out your name, your application won’t be accepted that day. Once you’ve completed the visa filing process and handed over all of the required documents, you’ll be given an acknowledgement receipt. This can be used to pick up your application later on.

Step 4

Visa Application: Make sure the application form is accurate, signed, and includes all necessary documents before handing it in. If there are mistakes, you will be given a token and asked to submit the application again. And surely, this will delay your application process.

Once your application documents are under the verification process, it shall take approximately 15 to 20 minutes to verify them. Both your application form and travel documents will be checked and if all is in order; then the documents plus your passport will need to be submitted to the embassy until they’re done with your verification and approval process.

Step 5

Information Into Embassy System: It typically takes about 15 to 20 minutes to verify your application documents. Your application form and documents will be checked thoroughly, and if everything is in order, they will be submitted to the embassy until the verification and approval process is finished. You will be required to pay ₹8,147 (£89) as the application fee. After you have paid, you will receive a receipt. 

If you want to expedite your visa approval, you can choose to pay more; however, be sure to keep the receipt safe and return it when picking up your application.

Step 6

Biometric Process: After completing the application process, you will be asked to do a biometric scan using an electronic scanner. Make sure your fingers and palms are clean and free of any markings, as it could affect your ability to provide acceptable scans. The scanning process usually doesn’t take long (15 minutes). In a few days, you will receive more information from the embassy. Just be sure to keep your receipt safe because, without it, you won’t get your passport back.

Eligibility Criteria To Apply For A UK Visa

To apply for a UK visa, the applicant must meet the eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria are listed below.

• To apply for a UK Visa, you’ll need to provide evidence that your visit will have no negative impact on the country and will only benefit the public. 
• You must also be able to prove your qualifications for a visa. 
• A passport that is valid for at least six months is required.
• In order to apply for a UK visa, the applicant must not have any criminal convictions. 
• They must also have financial resources to support themselves and their dependents during their stay in the UK.
• To apply for a UK visa, you may need to have some medical tests to prove that you’re in good health. 
• You might also need a work visa, depending on your situation. 
• The UK visa application process can require interviews in some cases. Make sure you’re prepared for whatever steps might be required of you.

Documents Required To Apply For A UK Visa

You will need to submit certain documents when applying for a UK visa. The documents are listed below and are compulsory.

• The receipt for your paid visa fee
• Your appointment confirmation letter/document
• One passport-sized, colour photograph that meets the UK visa requirements. However, immigration photo guidance is necessary only if the applicant is exempt from providing biometrics.
• You will also need to provide supporting documents such as proof of age and current address 
• You will need to print out the application form you took online, and include a dated and signed signature. 
• Marriage or divorce certificate along with the evidence of your family staying in your home country when you travel, 
• Evidence of your education.
• If you applied for a settlement visa, you must provide a completed self-assessment form that is also dated and signed.
• The evidence of income and bank account, tax submissions, and photographs. However, UKVI does not need passport photos from those who submit biometrics.

UK Visa Fee For Indians

Standard Visitor visa For UK

Visa types	Visa application fee (INR)
Short-term (up to 6 months, single or multiple entry)	9944
Longer-term (valid for up to 2 years)	37389
Longer-term (valid for up to 5 years)	66623
Longer-term (valid for up to 10 years)	83229
Visiting academic – more than 6 months up to 12 months	19888
Marriage visitor visa	9944
Permitted paid engagement visa	9944
Private medical treatment – more than six months up to 11 months	19888
Visit the UK in a Chinese tour group (the UK only)	9944

Short-Term Study Visa

Visa types	Visa application fee (INR)
Short term student studying English language for more than 6 months but not more than 11 months	19888

Transit Visa For UK

Visa types	Visa application fee (INR)
Direct Airside Transit (DATV)	3480
Visitor in Transit visa	6364
Visit purpose of joining a ship or aircraft as a member of the crew of that ship or aircraft (fee also applies to the Isle of Man)	6364

Parents Of Children At School

Visa types	Visa application fee (INR)
Parent of a Student child visa (up to 12 months) (Tier 4 Isle of Man)	52802

Child Visitors

Visa types	Visa application fee (INR)
Short-term (up to 6 months, single or multiple entry)	9944
Longer-term (valid for up to 2 years)	37389
Longer-term (valid for up to 5 years)	66623
Longer-term (valid for up to 10 years)	83229

UK Visa Application Denial

The UK Home Office rejects visa applications for many reasons, so it’s important to be attentive throughout the application process. There are many reasons why your UK visa application might be denied. 

• One reason might be that you failed to provide the necessary documents. 
• Another reason might be that you applied for the wrong type of visa. 
• You might also be denied a visa if you cannot prove that you have the financial means to support yourself while in the UK. 
• Furthermore, your documents might be considered fraudulent, or you may have overstayed on a previous trip. 
• Finally, you may be denied a visa if you have a criminal history.

UK Visa Embassies In India

You can contact the UK Embassy in India for more clarity on visas for Indians. The following institutions represent the United Kingdom in India:

• British Deputy High Commission – Ahmedabad
• British Deputy High Commission – Bengaluru
• British Deputy High Commission – Chandigarh 
• British High Commission – New Delhi
• British Consulate-General – Chennai
• British Consulate-General – Kolkata
• British Consulate-General – Mumbai
• British Consulate-General – Goa