Published 27 July 2026 · Updated 14 August 2026
What the UK visa is
Indians visiting Britain apply for the Standard Visitor visa. Tourism, family visits and most short business activities sit under one category, granted for six months as standard (long-validity 2/5/10-year visitor visas exist for frequent travellers). The process is online-first: form and payment on GOV.UK, then biometrics at a VFS centre.
What UKVI weighs
UK decisions are evidence-led, and the questions behind the checklist are simple: can you afford this trip, and will you leave?
- Finances: 6 months of bank statements with a story that matches your salary or business income. Sudden ballooning balances are a quick route to refusal
- Ties to India: employment letter with approved leave, business ownership proofs, family circumstances, property
- Trip logic: itinerary, accommodation, who you're visiting (invitation letter plus their UK status for family visits)
- History: previous travel, especially compliant visits to the UK/US/Schengen, helps materially
Sponsored visits (a relative covering costs) are fine, but then their finances and status enter the file.
Fees and timelines
The six-month Standard Visitor fee is £135, roughly ₹17,100 at current rates. The 2, 5 and 10-year visitor visas cost more upfront but work out cheaper if you travel often. Rupee amounts move with the exchange rate, so treat that figure as a planning number rather than a quote. Processing targets about 3 weeks after biometrics, but Indian demand means 4–6 weeks is the safe planning window, with priority services available at extra cost when calendars are tight. Apply up to 3 months before travel.
Where Indian files go wrong
Unexplained deposits, leave letters that contradict travel dates, "editable" bank PDFs (UKVI notices), and invitation letters without the host's immigration status. Every one of these is preventable in review, which is the review we do before submission rather than after refusal.
FAQ
Is an interview required?
Rarely for visitor visas. Decisions are made on papers and biometrics. Credibility interviews exist but are uncommon for well-documented tourists.
Can I visit Scotland and Ireland on this visa?
Scotland yes; it's the UK. The Republic of Ireland is separate; ask us about the British-Irish Visa Scheme's current status for your routing.
Refused once. Should I reapply immediately?
Only after fixing the stated reasons. A reapplication that ignores the refusal letter tends to repeat it; we rebuild files against the exact grounds cited.