UK Visa for Indians: Required

Complete visa requirements for Indian passport holders

Indian passport holders need a visa before travelling to UK. Check the current fee, documents, application route, and processing guidance below.

Visa Requirement
Visa Required

Guide updated: 27 September 2026

Key Information

Stay Duration
Up to 6 months
Processing Time
Usually 3 weeks after identity/documents; eligible priority applications usually 5 working days
Visa Fee
GBP 135 for up to 6 months; optional faster services cost extra
Popular With
Tourists, family visitors and travellers doing permitted business activities

Key Requirements

  • Passport or travel document valid throughout the visit
  • A permitted visit purpose and evidence you will leave afterwards
  • Funds accessible to you or your sponsor for the visit, dependants and return/onward journey
  • Travel dates, accommodation address and estimated trip cost for the application

Step-by-Step Application Process

  1. 1

    Apply online through GOV.UK, no earlier than 3 months before the intended journey

  2. 2

    Pay the application fee and book the visa application centre appointment directed by the application

  3. 3

    Prove identity, provide fingerprints/photo and submit evidence relevant to your circumstances

  4. 4

    Wait for the decision email and follow its instructions; do not book travel before a decision or travel before approval

Documents Required

  • Valid passport or travel document
  • Relevant evidence of purpose and circumstances, such as employment, self-employment or study documents
  • Financial evidence such as bank statements explaining the origin and availability of funds; no universal six-month statement or multi-year tax-return checklist is prescribed in the cited guide
  • If sponsored: evidence of support, relationship, sponsor funds and lawful UK status where relevant
  • Purpose-specific documents or child/parental-consent evidence where applicable, plus required translations

Pro Tips

  • Use relevant financial evidence showing access to funds and where the money comes from
  • Hotel and flight bookings are not a standard visitor evidence requirement; UKVI lists them as less useful evidence (flight bookings are relevant for transit)
  • Provide a verifiable full translation for evidence not in English or Welsh
  • Choose a longer visa only if it suits planned repeat visits; a longer grant is not assured

Important Notes

  • • Indian nationals normally need advance visitor entry clearance. Narrow school-group exceptions apply to eligible pupils from France or Germany under the visa-national rules
  • • The route covers tourism, family visits and specified business/study activities; it is not general permission to work or live in the UK
  • • Long-term visitor visas can last 2, 5 or 10 years, normally with no more than 6 months per visit; repeated visits must not make the UK your main home
  • • A shorter visa may be issued without a fee refund. For applicants under 18, long-term validity ends no later than 6 months after their 18th birthday
  • • UKVI can request further evidence or an interview; processing times and faster-service availability are not guarantees

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Official Sources

Primary official sourceHome Office: visa nationality rulesHome Office: fees from 8 April 2026UKVI: supporting documentsUKVI: processing timesUKVI: faster decisionsGOV.UK: permitted activities and eligibility

Best Time to Apply

Applications open 3 months before travel; allow for the appointment and possible processing delays

Where Else Can You Travel?

See exactly which new destinations your existing visas make accessible, without mixing in countries you could already visit.

See Where I Can Travel

Disclaimer: Visa requirements can change. Always verify with official government sources before making travel plans. VisaHacks provides information for reference only.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a UK visitor visa cost?
Fees from 8 April 2026 are GBP 135 for up to 6 months, GBP 506 for 2 years, GBP 903 for 5 years and GBP 1,128 for 10 years. Optional priority costs GBP 500 extra; super priority costs GBP 1,000 extra, if offered for your application.
How long does the decision take?
The usual standard is 3 weeks after identity and documents are provided. Eligible priority applications usually take 5 working days. Eligible super priority applications usually receive a decision the next working day after a weekday appointment, or 2 working days after a weekend/bank-holiday appointment. Checks or further evidence can delay any service.
Does a 10-year visa allow a 10-year stay?
No. A long-term visitor visa normally permits up to 6 months per visit. UKVI may grant a shorter validity, and frequent visits must not amount to living in the UK.
Must I buy flights or book a hotel for the application?
No general visitor rule requires prepaid flights or hotel bookings. Provide the intended dates, where you plan to stay and evidence of affordable travel. UKVI advises waiting for a decision before booking travel; transit applications have separate onward-booking evidence.

Useful next step

Countries You Can Visit with a UK Visa on Indian Passport
Verified row-level conditions

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See every destination you can visit visa-free as an Indian — plus the extra countries a US, UK, or Schengen visa unlocks — on one interactive map.

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