Published 27 July 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026
Rule as of 20 October 2026 · Sources: GOV.UK, Standard Visitor visa, Home Office fees from 8 April 2026
Indians need a visa to visit the UK. For a holiday, a family visit or a short business trip, the visa is the Standard Visitor visa. It costs £135 per person, lets you stay up to 6 months per visit, and the decision usually comes within 3 weeks of your biometrics appointment. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
UK visitor visa fees from India
- Standard Visitor, 6 months: £135 (about ₹17,400)
- Long-term visitor, 2 years: £506 (about ₹65,300)
- Long-term visitor, 5 years: £903 (about ₹1,16,500)
- Long-term visitor, 10 years: £1,128 (about ₹1,45,600)
- Priority service, on top of the visa fee: £500 (about ₹64,500). Decision usually in 5 working days.
- Super priority service, on top of the visa fee: £1,000 (about ₹1,29,100). Decision usually by the end of the next working day.
Every visitor visa, including the long-term ones, allows up to 6 months per visit.
These fees apply from 8 April 2026. Before that, the 6-month visa was £127. Rupee figures use HMRC's October 2026 rate of ₹129.06 per £1. Your bank's card rate on the day you pay will be slightly different.
Children pay the same fee as adults. Visitors do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, so carry travel insurance: NHS treatment is charged to visitors.
How to apply, step by step
- Fill the online application on GOV.UK and pay the fee.
- Book an appointment at a visa application centre in India (VFS Global runs these for the UK).
- At the appointment, give your fingerprints and photo and hand over your documents. You get your passport back the same day.
- Wait for the decision. If approved, the visa is an eVisa, a digital record linked to your passport. You create a UKVI account to view it, and it is usually available within 24 hours of approval.
Documents to keep ready
- Passport, with at least one blank page and valid for the whole trip
- Bank statements for the last 6 months, with balances that match your salary or business income
- Salary slips and an employment letter showing approved leave, or business registration and ITR if you are self-employed
- Income tax returns for the last 2 to 3 years
- Hotel bookings or an invitation letter, and a day-by-day plan
- If someone in the UK invites you: their letter, a copy of their passport or UK status, and their address
- If someone else pays for the trip: their bank statements and a letter saying so
- Old passports, if you have travelled before. Earlier trips to the UK, US, Schengen, Canada or Australia help.
Why UK visitor visas from India get refused
- Large deposits shortly before applying, with no explanation
- A leave letter whose dates do not match the trip
- Bank statements that look edited, or do not match the salary slips
- A trip cost that is high compared with your income
- An invitation letter without the host's UK status
- Wrong or missing answers about past refusals. Always declare an earlier refusal from any country.
When to apply
The standard decision time is 3 weeks, but in summer and before Christmas the appointment calendar fills up. Apply 5 to 8 weeks before you fly, and book flights only once the visa is approved or with a fare you can change.
More UK reading
- UK Standard Visitor visa from India: fee, timeline and documents
- Schengen visa for Indians, if you are combining the UK with Europe
- Visa-free countries for Indians
How we help
We check your documents before you pay the fee, fill the form, book the appointment and tell you what to carry. UKVI makes the decision; our job is to make sure your file does not have the problems listed above. Message us on WhatsApp: +91 97199 96838, Mon to Sat, 10am to 8pm.