Who Needs This Visa
You need a UK Standard Visitor Visa if your nationality is not on the UK's visa-waiver list and you want to visit the UK for tourism, family visits, short business trips or short courses.
Common nationalities that need this visa: India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Turkey, Russia, Belarus, Iran, most African nations, most former Soviet states.
🛂 Visa-waiver countries (USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, most of the EU, etc.) use the ETA instead. See our UK ETA Guide.
Documents Required
| Document | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid for entire stay, at least one blank page |
| Passport-style photo | Digital upload during online application |
| Bank statements | Usually last 6 months showing sufficient funds |
| Evidence of employment | Employment letter, payslips, business registration |
| Travel itinerary | Flights, hotel bookings (can be refundable) |
| Invitation letter | If visiting family/friends — from UK host |
| TB test results | If from a high-TB-incidence country and staying >6 months |
| Biometrics | Fingerprints + photo at local visa application centre |
Application Process
- Complete the online application at gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa
- Pay £115 fee online
- Book biometrics appointment at your local VFS Global or TLScontact centre
- Attend biometrics appointment with all supporting documents
- Wait for decision — standard 3 weeks, priority options available
- Passport returned with visa vignette (sticker) or BRP letter for collection
💰 Money proof: The Home Office wants to see you can fund your trip without needing to work. Most successful applicants show bank balance of 1.5-2x their estimated trip cost, plus regular income.
Fees & Processing
| Visa length | Fee (2026) | Max stay per visit |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | £115 | 6 months |
| 2 years | £400 | 6 months per visit |
| 5 years | £771 | 6 months per visit |
| 10 years | £963 | 6 months per visit |
| Priority service | +£500 | 5 working days |
| Super priority | +£1,000 | Next working day |
Tips for Approval
- Show strong ties to your home country — job, property, family
- Book refundable flights and hotels, not speculative itineraries
- Provide 6 months of bank statements, not a single deposit
- Be consistent between application, interview (if any) and supporting docs
- If visiting family, include their proof of UK status (settlement, citizenship)
- Do not over-pack the application — quality over quantity
⚠️ Honesty matters: Lying on a UK visa application (even minor details) can result in a 10-year ban. If you've been refused before, disclose it. Undeclared refusals are caught by the biometric database.