Informational use only. This page is a travel-preparation reference for Indian passport holders, not legal or immigration advice.
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Visa rules change without notice. Always verify current requirements, fees, and processing times on the official source linked on this page before you apply, pay any fee, or book any appointment.
Indian passport holders need a Standard Visitor visa to travel to the United Kingdom for tourism, visiting family, business activities, or short-term study — there is no visa-on-arrival and the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme does not cover Indian passport holders. You apply online before travelling and attend a biometric appointment at a visa application centre in India, operated by VFS Global as the official partner of UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
The Standard Visitor visa is a single category covering tourism, visiting friends or family, standard business activities (meetings, conferences, contract negotiation — not paid work), short recreational courses, and some medical treatment visits (which may need the longer medical-specific validity). Choose the activity type that matches your trip when you apply online; the underlying visa is the same Standard Visitor visa either way.
A visa is required for every visit, regardless of length or purpose, unless you hold right of abode in the UK (in which case you need a certificate of entitlement instead, not a visitor visa).
iamravi.com is not affiliated with UK Visas and Immigration, the British High Commission, or VFS Global. All application, payment, and biometric steps happen on their official platforms and centres — never here.
You must show that you are a genuine visitor: that you will do only permitted activities, that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit, and that you can support yourself (and any dependants) for the trip without working or claiming public funds. Your passport should be valid for your intended stay, and if you hold older passports with prior UK, US, Schengen, Canadian, or Australian visa stamps, these can help demonstrate travel history.
There is no separate paper form — the entire Standard Visitor visa application is completed through the online system at gov.uk.
The Home Office does not publish one fixed mandatory list; instead, your documents need to collectively prove your identity, finances, ties to home, and purpose under the "genuine visitor" test (Appendix V of the Immigration Rules). Useful categories per gov.uk's own supporting-documents guidance: your passport and any previous passports with travel history, evidence of funds (bank statements, payslips), evidence of your ties to India (employment letter, business ownership, family, property), your travel itinerary and accommodation details, and — for family/friends visits — an invitation letter from your UK host.
A digital photo is uploaded during the online application, and fingerprints plus a photo are captured in person at your VFS Global biometric appointment — this is mandatory for most applicants.
Per the Home Office's published fee schedule (India, Visit category), the core visit-visa fees are:
The exact INR amount charged in India is published separately on the Home Office's India-specific fee tool and is updated periodically — check it directly before paying, since currency conversion figures can differ from a simple GBP-to-INR calculation. Fees are non-refundable even if your visa is refused or issued for a shorter validity than requested, and each traveller (including children) needs a separate application and fee.
Book your VFS Global biometric appointment as part of, or shortly after, your online application. VFS Global also offers optional paid services (such as priority processing) — these are separate from the mandatory government visa fee.
Standard processing is commonly around 15 working days from your biometric appointment, though this varies and is not guaranteed. Optional priority services (faster processing, for an extra fee) are available through VFS Global if your travel dates are close.
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