Do Indians need a visa for United Kingdom?
Yes. Indians need a visa before travelling to United Kingdom (up to 6 months per visit).
The rule
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rule | Visa required |
| Allowed stay | up to 6 months per visit |
| Verified | 2026-10-30 |
| Processing | 3–3.5 weeks |
| Government fee | ₹17,844 |
Standard Visitor visa applied online, biometrics at a VFS centre; the ETA scheme does not cover Indian passports.
What "Visa required" means for Indians
Visa required means Indians must hold a visa issued by United Kingdom before travelling. The application is filed online, the government fee of ₹17,844 is paid and fingerprints and a photo are taken at a visa application centre, after which the passport is returned with the visa (Sticker). Published decision windows for United Kingdom are 3–3.5 weeks; the visa allows a stay of up to 6 months per visit.
Before you apply
Apply as soon as the dates are fixed. Check that the passport has two blank pages and six months of validity, that the name on the booking matches the passport exactly and that bank statements cover the last three to six months without a sudden large deposit. Appointment slots at visa application centres fill up before holidays, so book biometrics first and gather documents around that date. Vistolane runs the document checks before filing and shows the guaranteed filing date before you pay.
At the United Kingdom border and during the stay
United Kingdom sets a stay of up to 6 months per visit, multiple, on a visa valid for 6 months. The date written at the border is the one that counts, not the visa validity. Overstaying, even by a day, is recorded, usually fined and can lead to a refusal on the next application for United Kingdom and for countries that share immigration data. Extensions, where they exist, are applied for inside the country before the stay ends; a new entry is not an extension and repeated back-to-back visits are refused at many borders.
When this rule does not apply
This answer is for ordinary India passports and short visits: tourism, visiting family and friends and business meetings without local employment. Study, work, family reunion, medical treatment and long stays follow different routes with their own fees and documents, listed on the United Kingdom destination page. Note for this rule: Standard Visitor visa applied online, biometrics at a VFS centre; the ETA scheme does not cover Indian passports. Diplomatic and official passports, dual nationals travelling on a second passport and holders of a residence permit for a third country can fall under different rules; when in doubt, the official source linked above decides.
How this answer is kept current
The rule comes from United Kingdom's own immigration authority or official e-visa portal and was last verified on 2026-10-30. The Vistolane operations team re-checks it when the government announces a change, and the page updates the same day. Airline summaries, travel forums and agency websites are never used as the source.
United Kingdom for India passport holders: costs, documents and timing
The UK Standard Visitor visa is applied for online; Vistolane completes the form, prepares your file and books your VFS biometrics appointment, which you attend in person. UKVI decides within about 3 weeks of biometrics.
The UK Standard Visitor visa (GBP 135, up to 6 months) is applied for online; Vistolane completes the form, prepares your file and books your VFS biometrics appointment, which you attend in person. UKVI decides within about 3 weeks of biometrics. New grants are issued as a digital eVisa linked to your passport, so there is no sticker to collect.
How much does a United Kingdom visa cost? From ₹19,224 per traveller all-in: ₹17,844 government fee plus ₹1,380 Vistolane filing fee. Premium ₹0, Business ₹0.
How long does a United Kingdom visa take? 3–3.5 weeks (about 17 days, counted from your biometrics appointment); visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk publishes 3 weeks. Vistolane shows the document deadline and appointment date before you pay; the decision itself is the authority's.
What documents do I need for a United Kingdom visa? A passport valid for the full stay, a recent photo, the completed form, flight and accommodation bookings, three to six months of bank statements and proof of ties such as an employment letter. Students add the admission letter and tuition evidence; workers add the sponsor's offer. The United Kingdom checklist on this page is the one Vistolane files with.
How much bank balance do I need for a United Kingdom visa? About ₹2.37 lakh for a tourist visit, rising to ₹59.61 lakh for the most demanding route, held steadily over three to six months rather than deposited last week. This is Vistolane's planning guideline, not an official minimum: United Kingdom publishes no fixed figure unless its checklist states one.
Can I apply for the United Kingdom visa online, or is it visa on arrival? One VFS visit for fingerprints and photo. Your visa is a digital eVisa: nothing is stuck in the passport and no second visit is needed.
How long can I stay in United Kingdom on this visa? Up to 6 months; entry: multiple; validity 6 months. Overstaying affects every future application, so count days from the entry stamp.
Is an interview or biometrics required for United Kingdom? Yes: One VFS visit for fingerprints and photo. Your visa is a digital eVisa: nothing is stuck in the passport and no second visit is needed. Vistolane books the slot and prepares the file.
Applying for the United Kingdom visa
Why are United Kingdom visas refused? Bank statements that do not match the trip, weak evidence of ties or purpose, inconsistent bookings and form errors that contradict the passport. Each document is checked against the United Kingdom list before Vistolane files it, and a refusal letter is decoded within 24 hours if you were refused before.
Can I apply for the United Kingdom visa myself? Yes. The checklist on this page is the one Vistolane uses. Most applicants let Vistolane file the tourist and student routes because the guaranteed filing date and document checks remove the two main causes of refusal; other routes are matched with a licensed specialist.
Where else Indians travel without a visa
Questions, answered
Do Indians need a visa for United Kingdom?
Yes. Indians need a visa before travelling to United Kingdom (up to 6 months per visit).
How long can Indians stay in United Kingdom?
up to 6 months per visit under the visa required rule.
What does a United Kingdom visa cost for India passport holders?
Government fee ₹17,844 plus the Vistolane fee from ₹1,380; visa application centre charges may apply.
How much does a United Kingdom visa cost?
From ₹19,224 per traveller all-in: ₹17,844 government fee plus ₹1,380 Vistolane filing fee. Premium ₹0, Business ₹0.
How long does a United Kingdom visa take?
3–3.5 weeks (about 17 days, counted from your biometrics appointment); visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk publishes 3 weeks. Vistolane shows the document deadline and appointment date before you pay; the decision itself is the authority's.
What documents do I need for a United Kingdom visa?
A passport valid for the full stay, a recent photo, the completed form, flight and accommodation bookings, three to six months of bank statements and proof of ties such as an employment letter. Students add the admission letter and tuition evidence; workers add the sponsor's offer. The United Kingdom checklist on this page is the one Vistolane files with.
How much bank balance do I need for a United Kingdom visa?
About ₹2.37 lakh for a tourist visit, rising to ₹59.61 lakh for the most demanding route, held steadily over three to six months rather than deposited last week. This is Vistolane's planning guideline, not an official minimum: United Kingdom publishes no fixed figure unless its checklist states one.
Can I apply for the United Kingdom visa online, or is it visa on arrival?
One VFS visit for fingerprints and photo. Your visa is a digital eVisa: nothing is stuck in the passport and no second visit is needed.