Have Questions?
close slider
Have Questions?
close slider

Call Us

+91-9606023371
+91-9606023373

United Kingdom (UK)

UK Visitor Visas allow people to enter the UK for short periods for leisure, to engage in limited business activities, or simply to travel through the UK en-route to elsewhere.

UK Standard Visitor Visa:

The standard visitor visa allows people to enter the UK for several reasons. This includes travel, tourism, and leisure purposes; as well as short term business appointments, academic conferences, participating in sporting events or creative/artistic work, and receiving private medical treatment in the UK. Usually, unless you are from a national Country you do not need to apply for a visit visa in advance. You will be granted this on entry to the UK.

Length of Stay

This visa is usually issued for 6 months. However, it can be extended in the following circumstances:

  • You can prove you need to visit the UK regularly over an extended period of time
  • You are undertaking academic research in the UK
  • You are coming to the UK for private medical treatment
Business and work activities

This visa is available for a wide array of short term business and work engagements, these include:

  • You can prove you need to visit the UK regularly over an extended period of time
  • Academic work, such as research or accompanying international students on a study program
  • Participating in a specific sporting event
  • Medical professionals entering the UK for clinical attachment or observation
  • Applying for, or enquiring about, funding to start or run a UK business as a prospective entrepreneur
  • Taking the following test: Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test or sit the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
Eligibility Requirements

Applicants for the Standard Visitor visa must meet several eligibility requirements for their visa to be granted. All applicants must:

  • Prove that they intend to leave the UK when their visit is over
  • Prove that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and any family members included in the application while in the UK
  • Prove that they have sufficient funds to pay for a return/onward travel ticket when their visit is over, and any other travel coasts
UK Visit Visa Documentation

Standard Visitor applicants must supply sveral documents with their application. These include:

  • Current passport and/or other travel documents
  • A separate passport photograph, with the applicant's name on the back

Additional documents may also be needed depending on the specific purpose of the visit.

Permitted Paid Engagement Visa:

The Permitted Paid Engagement visa is a short term visa which allows non-EEA nationals to enter the UK for up to a month to take part in a paid engagement. Such as a public speaking engagement, chairing a meeting, or attending a conference.

Length to stay

This visa is issued for no longer than 1 month.

Eligibility requirements

Applicants for the Permitted Paid Engagement visa must meet several eligibility requirements for their visa to be granted. All applicants must:

  • Be older that 18
  • Prove they have sufficient funds to support themselves while in the UK
  • Prove they have sufficient funds to pay for their journey out of the UK
  • Not be in transit to country outside of the UK. Ireland the Isle of Wight, or the Crown Dependencies (Isle of Mann, Jersey, and Guernsey)
Documentation

Permitted Paid Engagement visa applicants must supply several documents with their application. These include:

  • Current passport and/or other travel documents
  • A separate passport photograph, with the applicant's name on the back
  • Proof of maintenance funds to cover expenses during their stay
  • Details of their travel plans and UK accommodation
  • An invitation from the organization paying them for the engagement in the UK
  • Proof that the engagement relates to their professional or academic qualifications and expertise

Who needs a UK Visitor Visa?

If you are from a national Country you will need to apply for a visit visa before you can enter the UK. Typically nationals of "Western Countries" and Countries with a high average standard of living do not need to apply for Visitor Visas to travel to the UK. The list of countries for which a visa is needed for a visit to the UK is available below, as is the list of countries which require a visa to travel through the UK (Direct Airside Transit Visa).

Even if your country does not appear on this list, you may need a visa for other reasons, such as getting married in the UK.

You should apply for a UK visitor visa either using the UK government's online service, or at a British Embassy or Consulate in the country where you are normally and legally resident. You should plan to apply for your travel visa well in advance of your proposed travel date. Some travel visas may be processed in 24 hours, but others may take longer, especially in cases where an interview is required. The process could take up to several weeks.

Once you have a valid UK travel visa, you should be allowed entry to the UK on arrival unless your circumstances have changed, you gave false information, or you did not tell the entry clearance officer important facts when you applied for your visa. The final decision, however, rests with the immigration officer at the UK port of arrival.

Visa Nationals

If you are a citizen of one of these countries, you will normally need to apply for a UK visitor visa if you wish to visit the UK:

Afghanistan Laos Kenya Egypt
Albania Lebanon Korea (North) Equatorial Guinea
Algeria Lesotho Kosovo Eritrea
Angola Liberia Kuwait Ethiopia
Armenia Libya Kyrguzstan Fiji
Azerbaijan Macedonia Vietnam Somalia
Bahrain* Madagascar Yemen South Africa*
Bangladesh Malawi Zambia South Sudan
Belarus Mali Zimbabwe Sri Lanka
Benin Mauritania Haiti Sudan
Bhutan Moldova India Suriname
Bolivia Mongolia Indonesia Swaziland
Bosnia Herzegovina Montenegro Iran Syria
Burkina Faso Morocco Iraq Venezuela
Burma Mozambique Ivory Coast Gabon
Burundi Nepal Jamaica Gambia
Cambodia Niger Jordan Georgia
Carmeroon Nigeria Kazakhstan Ghana
Cape Verde Oman* Taiwan* Guinea
Central African Republic Pakistan Tajikistan Guinea Bissau
Chad Peru Tanzania Guyana
People's Republic of China Philippines Thailand Ecuador
Colombia Qatar Togo Sao Tome e Principe
Comoros Russia Tunisia Saudi Arabia
Congo Rwanda Turkey Senegal
Cuba Djibouti Turkmenistan Serbia
Democratic Republic of the Congo Dominican Republic Uganda Sierra Leone
United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Ukraine
Exemptions

You do not need a transit visa if you are travelling from the same UK airport on the same day and you, or a person you are traveling with, holds any of the following:

  • A valid Australian, Canadian, New Zealand or US visa. Except Syrian nationals with a US B-1 or B-2 Visitor Visa, who must still obtain a Direct Airline Transit Visa.
  • An expired Australian, Canadian, New Zealand or US visa. Only if you are travelling as part of a 'reasonable journey' from the country the visa applies to, and it has been less than 6 months since you last entered that country with a valid visa.
  • A valid Australian Permanent Resident Visa
  • A valid Canadian Permanent Resident Card issued on or after 28th June 2002
  • A valid New Zealand Permanent Resident Visa
  • A valid USA I-551 Permanent Resident Card issued on or after 21st April 1998
  • An expired USA I-551 Permanent Resident Card provided it is accompanied by a valid I-797 letter authorizing an extension of the period of permanent residency
  • A valid USA I-551 Temporary Immigrant Visa
  • A valid standalone US Immigration Form 155A/155B attached to a brown sealed envelope
  • A valid common format Category D visa for entry to an EEA state or Switzerland
  • A valid common format residence permit issued by an EEA State pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002(1) or Switzerland
  • A valid biometric visa issued by the Republic of Ireland
  • A valid visa issued by a Schengen Area country under the approved destination status scheme. Only if you are travelling through the UK directly to a Schengen Area country.
  • A valid airline ticket for travel through the UK as part of a journey from a Schengen Area country. Only if it has been less than 30 days since you last entered a Schengen Area country with a valid Schengen visa.
  • A diplomatic or service passport issued by the People’s Republic of China
  • A diplomatic or official passport issued by India
  • A diplomatic or official passport issued by Vietnam
  • A diplomatic passport issued by Turkey
  • A alien (non-citizen) passport issued by Latvia or Estonia

UK Entry Clearance for Visitors

If you wish to enter the UK as a visitor, either for business or pleasure, the first question to ask is: Do I need to get a visa in advance?

Generally, most people travelling on passports issued by Western countries do not need to obtain a visa before entering the UK as a visitor – they can simply fly (or sail) to the UK and will be granted a visit visa at the port of entry. Nationals of the countries listed below (generally referred to as visa nationals); need to obtain a visa before travelling and should apply for entry clearance at a British Embassy or Consulate in their country of citizenship or usual residence.

Documents

In order to make a visa (entry clearance) application using the online service or at a British Embassy or Consulate, you will need to present:

  • A valid passport (or other appropriate travel documents), which must be valid for the entire length of your planned visit
  • Evidence that you have the financial means to support yourself while in the UK, such as bank statements or pay slips
  • You will also need to have you biometric data (fingerprints and a photograph) recorded at a visa application center, such as a British Embassy or Consulate, in your country of origin