UK visa from India: Standard Visitor visa fee, documents and timeline

The UK Standard Visitor visa costs GBP 135 for a six-month visa, is filed online and decided in about three weeks after biometrics. Here is the full process for Indian applicants, with the documents that matter.

Who needs this visa

Indian passport holders need a visa for every visit to the United Kingdom, including tourism, visiting family, short business trips and most short courses. The Standard Visitor visa covers all of these for up to six months per visit. It is a sticker visa: you apply online, give biometrics at a visa application centre run by VFS Global, and the vignette is placed in your passport when it is returned.

The fee from 8 April 2026

The Standard Visitor visa fee is GBP 135 for the six-month visa, effective 8 April 2026 according to the UK Home Office fee schedule. Two-year, five-year and ten-year visas cost progressively more. The fee is paid online during the application in Indian rupees at UKVI's exchange rate and is not refunded if the visa is refused.

On Vistolane the UK destination page shows the government fee next to the fixed Vistolane filing fee, with the official source linked, so you always see the live figure. Fees are reviewed by the Home Office every spring; check gov.uk before you pay.

Step by step

  • Complete the online form on gov.uk. The form asks for travel history for the last ten years, employment, income, who pays for the trip and every previous UK application. Answer every question consistently with your documents.
  • Pay the fee and book biometrics. After payment you are passed to VFS Global to choose a centre and slot. Centres operate in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Kochi, Goa and other cities.
  • Upload documents. Most Indian applicants self-upload scans before the appointment; VFS offers paid assisted scanning.
  • Attend biometrics. Fingerprints and a photo are taken. Children under five give a photo only.
  • Wait for the decision. UKVI publishes a three-week standard. You receive an email when the passport is ready for collection or courier.

Documents that decide the case

The UK does not publish a mandatory checklist; the officer judges the whole file. The documents that matter most for Indian applicants are:

  • Passport valid for the whole stay, plus previous passports showing travel history.
  • Bank statements for six months in your own name, with a steady balance. Avoid large unexplained deposits in the weeks before applying.
  • Proof of employment or business: a letter confirming your role, salary and approved leave dates, or company registration and recent tax filings for the self-employed.
  • Income tax returns for the last two to three years.
  • An itinerary with planned dates and accommodation; reservations are fine, paid bookings are unnecessary.
  • Invitation and status documents if you stay with family or friends: a letter, their passport or BRP copy and proof of address.
  • Ties to India: property papers, dependants, ongoing study or a business you run.

Every document that is not in English needs a certified translation.

Timeline and planning

Count backwards from the travel date: three weeks for the decision, a few days for passport return, and time to gather six months of statements. Apply up to three months before travel. If the dates are tight, VFS sells priority (around five working days) and super priority (next working day) services, subject to availability at the centre you choose.

Vistolane shows the document deadline and the filing date before you pay, and every file carries a quoted decision date. Decision by the date we quote, or your Vistolane fee back. We can't guarantee approval; no one can.

Why UK visitor visas are refused

Refusals are issued under paragraph V 4.2 of the Immigration Rules: the officer is not satisfied that you are a genuine visitor who will leave at the end of the visit. In practice that means weak ties, funds that do not match your declared income, a sponsor whose own status is unclear, or an itinerary that does not fit the stated purpose. A refusal must be declared on every future application, so it is worth getting the first file right. Run the free eligibility check before you pay the fee, and see the United Kingdom visa page for the live fee, timeline and official sources.

Fees and timeline last verified 5 October 2026 against the UK Home Office fee schedule and UKVI processing-time pages.

Questions, answered

How much does a UK visitor visa cost from India?

The Standard Visitor visa fee is GBP 135 for the six-month visa with effect from 8 April 2026, paid online in Indian rupees at UKVI's rate. Longer validity (two, five and ten years) costs more. Re-verify on gov.uk before paying; fees change every April.

How long does a UK visa take from India?

UK Visas and Immigration publishes a three-week standard for visitor visas after biometrics. Priority (about five working days) and super priority (next working day) services are available at VFS centres for an extra fee when capacity allows.

Do I need to show a minimum bank balance?

There is no fixed figure. Officers check that your funds cover the trip without affecting your normal life and that the money has a history. Six months of statements with a stable balance are standard.

Can I apply without a flight booking?

Yes. UKVI advises against buying tickets before a decision. Provide a planned itinerary; a refundable reservation is enough.

What is the most common refusal reason?

Paragraph V 4.2 of the Immigration Rules: the officer is not satisfied you are a genuine visitor who will leave at the end of the visit, usually because of weak ties, unexplained funds or an inconsistent itinerary.