UK Visa for Indians: How to Apply for a UK Visitor Visa

London, Scotland and the English countryside are on many Indian travellers' wish lists, and several of our Europe tours start in London. Because the United Kingdom is not part of the Schengen area, you need a separate UK Standard Visitor visa, even if you already hold a Schengen visa. This guide explains how Indians apply, what it costs, the documents you need and how long it takes.

For a holiday, family visit or short business trip, Indian citizens apply for the Standard Visitor visa. It allows stays of up to six months per visit. Most first-time applicants receive a visa valid for six months, but you can also apply for long-term visas valid for 2, 5 or 10 years, which allow repeat visits of up to six months each. Long-term visas cost more, and the full fee is lost if the embassy decides to give a shorter visa, so first-time travellers usually choose six months.

The six-month Standard Visitor visa costs £127 at the time of writing, paid online in rupees. Long-term visas cost more. Priority and super-priority processing are available in most Indian cities for an extra fee, and VFS Global charges for optional services. The UK government reviews its fees regularly, so check GOV.UK before applying.

• A valid passport with a blank page, plus old passports showing previous travel
• Bank statements for the last six months and income tax returns for the last two to three years
• Proof of employment or business: leave letter and salary slips, or company registration and GST documents
• Your tour itinerary and hotel confirmation (we provide this for our London tours)
• Proof of ties to India such as property, family or ongoing studies
• For children: birth certificate and consent letters from parents

Documents not in English must be translated. A clear, well-organised file with a short cover letter makes the visa officer's job easier.

1. Fill in the online application on GOV.UK and pay the fee.
2. Book a biometrics appointment at a VFS Global centre in your city.
3. Upload your documents online or carry them to the appointment, and give your fingerprints and photo.
4. Wait for the decision; your passport is returned with the visa vignette.

The standard decision time is about three weeks (15 working days) after the biometrics appointment. Apply about two to three months before a summer trip, when demand is highest.

Our London tours continue into Europe, so you need both visas. Apply for the UK visa first, because the UK keeps your passport for the decision, then apply for the Schengen visa through the country where you spend the most nights. Our team plans the timeline so you have both visas in time. Read our Schengen visa guide for the second step.

London is one of Europe's more expensive cities: hotels, taxis and attractions all cost more than in most of the continent. A guided group tour with hotels, coach, entrances and Indian meals included is usually the most economical option. Add return flights (direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other cities), the visa fee and insurance. Send us your dates and we will quote the full cost of your UK trip from India.

At the VFS Global centre you show your passport and appointment letter, give ten fingerprints and have a photo taken. If you chose the document upload service, your papers are scanned there; otherwise you upload them yourself before the appointment. There is no interview for most visitor applications. Keep copies of everything you submit, and note the GWF reference number, which you need to track the application.

• Funds not explained: a sudden large deposit with no source. Show regular savings and salary credits.
• Unclear ties to India: the officer must be satisfied you will return. Show employment, business, property, family and future commitments.
• Inconsistent information: dates, employer details or travel history that do not match your documents.
• Previous immigration problems not declared on the form. Always declare earlier refusals; hiding them is treated more seriously than the refusal itself.

A refusal letter explains the reasons, and you can apply again with stronger evidence; there is no appeal for visitor visas.

London: Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, the London Eye, Madame Tussauds and Lord's Cricket Ground, plus shopping on Oxford Street. England beyond London: Windsor Castle, Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon, the university town of Oxford and the lakes and hills of the Lake District. Scotland: Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, Glasgow's Victorian architecture, Loch Lomond and a whisky distillery visit. Our 7-night London and Scotland tour covers all of these.

Every traveller needs their own visa, including infants. For children travelling with one parent, carry a consent letter from the other parent. For parents sponsored by their children, include the sponsor's bank statements, a sponsorship letter and proof of relationship. Travel insurance is not mandatory for the UK visa, but medical treatment in the UK is expensive for visitors, so we strongly recommend it.

From summer 2027 we run a 7-night London and Scotland tour covering London, Windsor, Stratford-upon-Avon, the Lake District, Edinburgh and Loch Lomond, plus longer tours that combine London with Paris, Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands. See all our Europe tour packages.