UK Standard Visitor Visa Process

What is a UK Standard Visitor Visa?

The Standard Visitor Visa or the UK Tourist Visa is a short-stay visa allowing an intending candidate to stay for up to 6 months in the UK.

It is mainly given to the people who travel to the United Kingdom on the purpose of tourism, visiting family friends, professional reasons, and medical treatments.

As per the UK government, the Standard Visitor visa has replaced these visas:

  • Family Visitor visa
  • General Visitor visa
  • Child Visitor visa
  • Business Visitor visa, including visas for academics, doctors and dentists
  • Sports Visitor visa
  • Entertainer Visitor visa
  • Prospective Entrepreneur visa
  • Private Medical Treatment Visitor visa
  • Approved Destination Status (ADS) visa

What is the Eligibility for a UK Visitor Visa?

You should be able to prove the following to the UK Visa and Immigration Officer while applying for the following:

Convince the immigration officer about these –

  • That you will be leaving the UK at the end of the trip.
  • That you are capable of supporting yourself and dependents for the duration of the visit.
  • You can pay for your onward or return journey and any such other costs during the trip.
  • You are having proof of any business or other activities that you plan to do in the UK as permitted by the Visitor Rules.
  • You will only need this to come to the UK for a visit like on holiday, attend a meeting or see family.
  • You will leave the UK at the end of each visit.

Failing to convince on these aspects can give you a visa for a shorter period than requested. The application fee is not refundable when you get a shorter visa.

Your visa may also get cancelled and get a long-term ban if you have repeatedly been living in the UK for extended periods.

You will have to prove that you are highly qualified within your field of expertise.

  • You should take part in a formal exchange with a UK counterpart.
  • You should carry out your research.
  • Or, you should take part in someone else’s research, teaching, or clinical practice. This should however not involve filling a permanent teaching post.

You should be able to prove that –

  • You are having a medical condition that requires private treatment or consultation in the UK.
  • You have made or paid for treatment or consultation.
  • You have enough money to pay and can support yourself without using public funds.
  • You can pay for your onward or return journey.
  • You will leave the UK after the treatment is completed or when your visa expires.

You will have to fulfil these visa requirements to come to the UK as an organ donor –

  • You are a family member and genetically related to the recipient (a parent or sibling).
  • You have a close personal relationship with the recipient (a friend or spouse).

You can apply for a visitor in Transit Visa if you are not a national from EEA or Switzerland and will leave the UK within 48 hours.

  • You can apply for the Direct Airside Transit Visa if you are not going through UK Immigration Control.
  • You will however have to differentiate between whether you plan to go through UK Border Control.

This type of visitor visa allows you to get married in the United Kingdom.

  • Register a civil partnership or get married in the UK.
  • Give notice of a civil partnership or marriage in the UK.
  • Not stay or settle in the UK after marriage or civil partnership.

What Documents are Required for the UK Visitor Visa?

The documents needed to support the UK Visit Visa process are:

  • The online form of UK Tourist Visa Application Form VAF1A.
  • 2 recent photographs as per the guidelines of the UK government.
  • Valid passport.
  • Proof of funds to support the stay in the UK.
  • Your last 10 years of travel history.
  • Bio metric information.
  • Letter of Invitation.
  • Fee receipts.
  • Your language skills certificate.
  • Medical certificates, stating that you are fit to travel to the UK.
How to Apply for a UK Standard Visitor Visa?

Plan your UK Visitor Visa process by taking the following steps.

A visa is needed for people belonging to specific nationalities. If you are an EEA citizen, a Swiss Citizen, or a Commonwealth citizen, then you are excluded for obtaining the visa type.

According to your purpose of visit, you need to choose the right type of visiting visa.

After choosing the right visa path, you need to start your application process by entering your information.

You must submit every document that will be useful to support your process. Failure in providing the required documents can sometimes lead to a slow visa process or even rejection.

What Fee is Charged for a UK Standard Visitor Visa?

A Standard Visitor visa costs £95.

The fee for a long-term Standard Visitor visa depends on its length of your stay:

The most used among all the visas is the 6 months stay visa. The following table shows the fees structure in a detailed manner.

UK Standard Visitor Visa Application Fees
Visa Type Duration Costs
Standard Visitor Visa 6 Months £95
Long-Term Standard Visitor Visa 2 Years £361
Long-Term Standard Visitor Visa 5 Years £655
Long-Term Standard Visitor Visa 10 Years £822

What is the Processing Time for a UK Standard Visitor Visa?

The decision on your UK Standard Visitor Visa should come within 3 weeks of attending the appointment at the Visa Application Centre. One week here is equal to 5 working days.

Frequently Asked Questions?

What are the different types of US tourist visa?

Before entering into the UK, there would be a background verification performed by the entry clearance officers. The officers consider many factors to accept your application. If you fail the verification, then you are bound to get refused.

Below are a few general grounds of refusal:

  • False Representation
  • Fraud and Forgery
  • Failure to Cooperate
  • Non-Disclosure of Material Facts
  • Criminal History
  • Medical Grounds
  • A Threat to National Security
  • Exclusion for the Public Good
  • Travel Ban
  • Bad Immigration History, etc.

Can I use the UK Standard Visitor visa for business purposes and extend it if required?

You can be involved in any business activities in the UK as per the visa rules. There are a few cases where the UK Standard Visitor Visa can also be extended to some extent.

Do Indians require a UK Standard Visitor visa to enter Great Britain?

Yes, they do. An individual from India with a plan to visit the United Kingdom on a short-term basis such as holidays, visiting families, medical treatment, etc., will need a UK Tourist Visa. Without a valid visa in hand, you cannot enter the UK.

Is it easy for Indians to get a UK tourist visa?

The UK Visitor Visa for Indians is not difficult to get. The UK encourages visitors to make the most of their travel to the country. With more people from India travelling to the UK every year, the Government of the UK continues to make improvements to the visa services.

What you can and cannot do with the UK Standard Visitor visa?

You can:

  • take part in any of the business-related activities mentioned in the Visitor Rules
  • study for up to 30 days, as long as it’s not the main reason for your visit
  • take part in an exchange programme or educational visit (if you’re under 18)
  • convert your civil partnership into a marriage
  • pass through the UK in transit (on your way to another country)

You cannot:

  • do paid or unpaid work
  • live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent visits
  • get public funds
  • marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership

How long is a US tourist visa valid for?

The US tourist visa is valid for a maximum period of 10 years.

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