The United Kingdom or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is one of the most popular groups of countries in the world. It has a unique amalgamation of history, culture, food and gorgeous views that makes it a world-famous tourist destination. The country is home to some of the finest universities including the prestigious Oxford University. UK’s capital London is not only one of the world’s best cities but also one of the four fashion capitals in the world. Every travel enthusiast wishes to travel to the UK at least once in their lives. If you too are planning a trip to the United Kingdom, you need to first obtain a UK visa. Moreover, if you purchase travel insurance before your trip, you can enjoy every moment of your trip without a care in the world.
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UK visa is an official document that allows a non-British citizen to enter the territory of the United Kingdom. It is a permit issued by the British Embassies or Consulates that allows a foreigner national to travel or stay in the UK for a specified period of time. UK visa also grants permission to people from outside the country to transit through the international transit areas of the airports in the United Kingdom.
Some people also refer UK visa as London visa as it authorizes a foreign traveler to travel to London.
Indians are one of the top receivers of UK visa in the world. According to the British High Commission in New Delhi, more than 503,000 Indians were issued with a UK visitor visa in the previous year ending June 2019. Indians were also granted the highest number of Tier 2 visa Uk or skilled work visas in the world.
All Indian nationals traveling to the United Kingdom are advised to obtain a travel insurance policy before they commence their trip. A travel insurance policy protects the insured traveler against any sudden eventualities and covers any unaccounted expenses that may arise during your trip to the UK.
The United Kingdom comprises of a total of four European countries. Non-British citizens who want to travel to any of these four countries will have to apply for UK visa. The following countries comprise of United Kingdom and are thus, accepts UK visa:
A UK visa saves a foreign traveler from the trouble of buying individual visas for each member country. It instead allows them to travel to all of these four countries through a single UK visa.
The United Kingdom offers four UK visa types to foreigners who wish to travel to this European country. A non-UK citizen can use any one of these UK visa types to enter, stay or transit through the United Kingdom. It is important for all foreign nationals to apply for the right type of UK visa to be able to travel to the UK countries. Moreover, you can buy travel insurance for your trip no matter which type of UK visa you apply for. Make sure to choose a suitable type of UK visa on the basis of the purpose of your travel. Take a look at the various UK visa types offered by the British Embassy:
A Visit Visa is a type of UK visa that allows a non-British national to enter, stay as well as transit through the territory of the UK. This type of UK visa can be applied by people traveling to the United Kingdom for vacation, to meet family or friends, receive private medical treatment, conduct business including participation in sports, entertainment and cultural activities. It can also be applied by people traveling to the UK for marriage or for an academic visit. UK visit visa is of five types -
This is a type of Visit Visa which should be applied by people traveling for vacation, to meet family or friends, receive medical treatment, conduct business or to participate in cultural or sporting events. This type of visa encompasses a UK business visa as well as the UK Tourist visa. A Standard Visitor visa or UK Tourist visa from India is usually issued for a period of 6 months. While academicians on sabbatical who are visiting for research purposes can get a visa valid for up to 11 months, people traveling to receive private medical treatment can get a UK visitor visa for up to 12 months. People who wish to stay on a UK visitor visa for more than 6 months should also apply for a biometric residence permit as well. Frequent flyers can apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa, which is issued for a period of 2 years, 5 years or 10 years. However, you can stay for a maximum of 6 months on each trip under a long-term UK visitor visa from India.
This is a type of UK Visit visa that can be applied by a foreign national who wishes to transit through the international transit areas of the UK airports. A UK transit visa allows you to travel to board a connecting flight from a British airport in order to travel to your destination country. A UK transit visa is of two types –
This is a type of UK Visit visa that can be applied by people who want to get married in the UK or file a civil partnership. It can also be applied by people who are traveling to give marriage or civil partnership notice. Holders of this UK visa cannot settle in the United Kingdom after marriage or civil partnership.
This is a type of UK Visit visa that can be applied by a foreign national who has been invited by a UK-based organization or business client as an expert in your profession. It can also be applied by someone who wants to travel to the UK to do a specific paid work without any sponsor.
This is a type of UK Visit visa that can be applied by people whose child studies in an independent day school in the UK on payment of regular fees. The child should be below 12 years of age in order to be able to apply for this UK visa type.
A Study visa is a type of UK visa that can be applied by a non-British citizen who wants to study in the UK. This UK student visa can be applied by children as well as adults who want to study in a school or university in the UK for a short or long course. It also allows students to conduct researches as a part of their course curriculum.
This is a type of UK Study visa that should be applied by people who want to travel to the UK for a short study course such as language or training courses. Holders of this type of UK visa can also conduct research work as part of their course. People applying for this type of UK student visa should be at least 16 years old. This type of UK visa is usually granted for a period of 6 months. However, it can be granted for 11 months if you are studying an English language course.
This is a type of UK Study visa that should be applied by a foreign national who wants to study at a school or university in the UK for a long-term course such as graduate or postgraduate courses. People applying for this type of UK student visa should be at least 16 years of age. Moreover, they should be able to speak, write, read as well as understand the English language. This Tier 4 visa can also be extended if the student’s course will last for more than 6 months.
This is a type of UK Study visa that should be applied by minor students who wish to study at a school or educational institution in the UK. Kids applying for this type of UK student visa should be between 4 and 17 years of age. Holders of this visa can also work part-time or full-time under specific conditions. Moreover, this type of UK visa can also be extended.
A UK work visa is a type of UK visa that can be applied by a non-British national who wants to travel to work in an organization located in the UK. Applicants of this visa should have at least 945 pounds in their bank accounts for up to 90 days before applying for a UK visa application. Most UK Work visa for Indians also require payment of healthcare surcharge in order to obtain the visa. Moreover, a UK work visa also allows dependent family members of the worker to apply, provided each dependent has a minimum of 630 pounds at the time of applying. Take a look at the various UK work visa types:
This type of UK work visa allows its holder to stay in the country for a longer period of time. It is a Tier 2 visa UK grant to foreigners who want to work in the UK. This type of UK visa includes General Work visa, Minister of Religion visa, Intra-company Transfer visa as well as Sportsperson visa.
This is a type of UK work visa that allows its holder to work in the UK for a shorter period of time. It is a Tier 5 UK visa for temporary workers and includes Charity Worker visa, Government Authorized Exchange visa, Creative and Sporting visa, International Agreement visa, Seasonal Worker visa, Religious Worker visa and Youth Mobility Scheme visa.
This type of UK work visa allows its holder to set up, run or invest in an organization or business in the UK. It is a Tier 1 UK visa that includes Innovator visa, Exceptional Talent visa, Start-up visa and Investor visa.
This is a type of UK work visa that allows its holder to work in the UK even if they do not fall into any other UK visa category. It includes Ancestry visa, Representative of an Overseas Business visa, Domestic Workers in a Private Household visa and Exempt Vignette.
A Family visa is a type of UK visa that can be applied by a non-British citizen who wants to live with one of their family members settled in the UK for over 6 months. Family members include spouse, partner, child, parents, fiancé/ fiancée or relative needing long-term care. You will have to pay a health surcharge at the time of applying for this UK visa. Family visa applicants will also have to prove their knowledge of the English language unless the applicant is a child or a dependent adult relative. You can use this type of UK visa to join your family members only if they are existing British citizens, are settled in the UK or have humanitarian protection or refugee status in the UK. You can use this UK visa to join your parents if they have lived in United Kingdom for 7 consecutive years.
In order to find out the validity of different types of UK visa, refer to the table given below:
UK Visa Types |
Duration |
|
Visit visa |
Standard Visitor visa |
|
Transit visa |
24 hours to 48 hours |
|
Marriage Visitor visa |
Up to 6 months |
|
Permitted Paid Engagement visa |
Up to 1 month |
|
Parent of a Tier 4 child visa |
6 to 12 months |
|
Study Visa |
Short-term Study visa |
6 to 11 months |
General Student visa |
6 months (can be extended) |
|
Child Student visa |
|
|
Work Visa |
Long term work visa |
|
Short-term Work visa |
|
|
Investor, Business Development & Talent visa |
|
|
Other Work visas |
|
|
Family Visa |
|
All Indian citizens need to apply for a UK visa in order to travel to or transit through the United Kingdom. Moreover, all UK visa applicants should be above 18 years of age. Underage applicants need to apply for a minor visa. Whether you are an adult or a minor, travel insurance for your UK trip can be obtained by both adults and minors to protect yourself from any unpredictable adversities.
Few people are exempted from applying for a UK visa in order to travel to the United Kingdom. If you fulfill any of the following criteria, you do not need a UK visa for your trip to the UK.
Indian citizens who want to apply for a UK visa can file their UK visa application not before 3 months from the date of departure from India. This time period is valid for all UK visa types including a visit visa, work visa, family visa or study visa. It is advisable to apply for a travel insurance policy for your UK trip before you apply for a UK visa.
The procedure to file a UK visa application is very convenient. This is because you can file a UK visa application online by visiting the official website of the UK Government. You can also apply offline by visiting the VFS Global UK Visa Application Centre. The UK Government has appointed VFS Global as the partner for Visas and Immigration. Those who are not applying for a VFS UK visa offline can follow the steps given below to file a UK visa online application:
The following documents should be submitted along with your UK visa application:
Different kinds of travelers need to submit a few additional UK visa documents. Refer the table below to check the list of additional documents:
Types of Travelers |
Additional Documents Required |
Minors |
|
Private Medical Treatment |
Letter from the doctor confirming the medical condition and consultation as well as duration, cost and place of treatment/ consultation |
Academicians traveling for research purposes |
|
People traveling to participate in an event |
A letter of invitation from the event organizers in the UK |
People traveling for marriage |
|
People traveling for a permitted paid engagement |
|
Prospective Entrepreneurs |
Letter of support from one or more UK government departments/ entrepreneurial seed funding competitions/ registered venture capitalist organizations regulated by FCA |
Sportsperson |
Letter of Endorsement from the Sports governing body |
Innovation visa applicants |
Proof of investment funds |
Ancestry visa applicants |
|
Domestic workers’ applicants |
|
Each UK visa application attracts an application fee which has to be paid in order to obtain a visa for traveling to the UK. The UK visa fees vary according to the types of visas available for traveling to the United Kingdom. Take a look at the table below to know the visa fees that you need to pay at the time of submitting your UK visa application:
UK Visa Types |
Cost (In Pounds) |
||
Visit Visa |
Standard Visitor visa |
6 months |
95 |
Medical Treatment |
190 |
||
Academicians |
190 |
||
Long Term Standard Visitor Visa |
2 years |
361 |
|
5 years |
655 |
||
10 years |
822 |
||
Transit visa |
Visitor in Transit visa |
64 |
|
Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) |
35 |
||
Marriage Visitor visa |
95 |
||
Permitted Paid Engagement visa |
95 |
||
Parent of a Tier 4 child visa |
516 |
||
Study Visa |
Short-term Study visa |
6 months |
97 |
11 months |
186 |
||
General Student visa* |
348 |
||
Child Student visa |
348 |
||
Work Visa |
Long term work visa |
General Work Visa |
|
Intra-Company Transfer Visa |
|
||
Minister of Religion Visa |
610 |
||
Sportsperson visa |
610 |
||
Short-term Work visa |
|
244 |
|
Investor, business Development & Talent visa |
Innovator visa |
1277 |
|
Start-up visa |
493 |
||
Exceptional Talent visa |
|
||
Investor visa |
1623 |
||
Other Work visas |
Ancestry visa |
516 |
|
Domestic Workers in a Private Household visa |
516 |
||
Representatives of an Overseas Business visa |
610 |
||
Family Visa |
Joining your spouse, child or parent |
1523 |
|
Dependents |
1523 |
||
An adult who requires care by a relative |
3250 |
* Applicants of general student visa will also have to pay health surcharge as part of their UK visa online application.
People applying for UK visa on the basis of their private life can get exempted to pay the visa fees on the following conditions:
Planning a trip to the United Kingdom and finally getting your UK visa is a fantastic feeling. For many people, traveling to the UK might be a regular affair but for others, it may be their maiden UK trip. Everyone wants their trip to be perfect and memorable but even a small eventuality can cause a huge dent to your travel plans. Moreover, it can cause major financial loss and might disrupt your travel budget entirely. The only way to keep your trip to the UK protected from any such unforeseen situations is by obtaining a travel insurance policy.
A travel insurance policy is a safety shield that guards the insured traveler against any uncertainties that you may face during your trip. It will cover any emergency expenses that you may incur during your UK trip on medical treatment, loss or delay of check-in baggage, trip cancellation & curtailment, personal liability, trip delay, personal accident and missed connecting flight among others. It also lends a helping hand in case you need emergency cash during your stay in the United Kingdom.
Different kinds of travelers can opt for different types of travel insurance plans on the basis of their requirements. For instance, families can opt for Family Travel Insurance, senior citizens can get Senior Citizens Insurance. People traveling to study in the UK can apply for Student Travel Insurance. You can also opt for Single Trip Travel Insurance or Multi-Trip Travel Insurance based on the frequency of your travel.
A variety of overseas travel insurance plans are available for travelers to choose from. You can compare the covers and premium charged by the various travel insurance policies online before finalizing a travel insurance policy.
A travel insurance policy can be bought both online and offline. Indians who want to purchase a travel insurance policy online for their UK trip can follow the steps given below:
Generally, a UK visa application takes about 3 weeks to get processed. You will get a decision on your UK visa online application within this time period. However, a Family visa usually takes about 12 weeks to get processed. You may have to wait longer than this stipulated time if you have been asked to submit more information regarding your UK visa application. On the other hand, a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) can be obtained within 7 to 10 days of UK visa decision.
You can also opt for priority service to get a UK visa decision within 5 working days on payment of 500 pounds. There is also an option of super-priority service that allows you to get a UK visa decision within 1 working day on payment of 800 pounds. However, you have to be eligible to utilize these services.