UK Visa News for Indians: 2026 Rule Changes

Below is every dated change in our UK record, what it means for applicants in India, and what has stayed the same. Figures are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For the full process, documents and centre list, see our UK visa guide for Indians.

Which UK visa rules changed, and when?

India is not on the visa brake list. The brake took effect on 26 March 2026 and refuses Student visa applications from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, and Skilled Worker applications from Afghan nationals; GOV.UK's visa brake guidance confirms Indian nationals are not covered.

How much more do UK visas cost after 8 April 2026?

The Home Office fees table of 8 April 2026 raised the fees most Indians pay. The current table, dated 8 October 2026, carries the same figures.

Longer stays also carry the immigration healthcare surcharge: £1,035 per year, or £776 per year for students and applicants under 18. UKVI publishes its fees in GBP only, with no official rupee figure, so the INR amount you pay depends on the exchange rate your card applies on the day of payment.

What does the B2 English rule mean for Indian professionals?

Since 8 January 2026, new Skilled Worker applicants must prove English at CEFR level B2 rather than B1, unless exempt. The same level applies to new High Potential Individual and Scale-up applicants, and the Health and Care Worker route lists B2 for new applicants too. GOV.UK accepts a Secure English Language Test, a UK qualification, or a degree taught in English confirmed by Ecctis.

If your test result was planned around the old B1 level, check it before your employer assigns the certificate of sponsorship. You must apply within 3 months of receiving it, which leaves little time to retake a test.

Are the July 2025 Skilled Worker changes still in force?

Yes. The HC 997 changes are the baseline for every 2026 application:

• The standard minimum salary is the higher of £41,700 a year or the going rate for the occupation.
• A lower salary of 70% to 90% of the going rate is possible only if you are paid at least £33,400 and meet a condition, such as an Immigration Salary List job, being under 26 or a recent graduate, or holding a relevant STEM PhD.
• Care worker (code 6135) and senior care worker (code 6136) jobs are closed to new applicants from overseas.
• Employers pay a sponsor licence fee of £611 (small businesses and charities) or £1,682 (medium and large organisations).

What happens to the Graduate visa in 2027?

The Graduate visa gives 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. PhD holders keep 3 years. It can be applied for only from inside the UK, before your Student visa expires and after your course provider confirms completion. The fee is £937 plus the healthcare surcharge, and decisions usually take 8 weeks. If your course ends in late 2026, the application date decides which length you get.

What else is new for Indian applicants this year?

• India Young Professionals Scheme: the 2026 ballots ran on 17-19 February and 21-23 July 2026 for 3,000 places, and GOV.UK says there are no further ballots in 2026.
• eVisas, not stickers: successful applicants get an eVisa in a free UKVI account. Before you travel you must create the account, link your passport and check the eVisa.
• No ETA for Indians: the £20 electronic travel authorisation is only for nationalities that do not need a visa. Indian tourists still need a Standard Visitor visa.

What has not changed?

You still apply and pay on GOV.UK, then give fingerprints and a photo at a VFS Global Visa Application Centre. There is no state-based jurisdiction, so any centre in India works, from New Delhi and Gurugram to Chennai and Kolkata. Standard processing for visit, study and most work visas remains 3 weeks. The optional Priority (£500) and Super Priority (£1,000) services are offered at the New Delhi centre, depending on visa type.

The latest Home Office statistics, for the year ending June 2026, show an 82% grant rate on visitor visa decisions for Indian nationals: 514,398 granted and 111,749 refused out of 626,147 decisions. It is a national average of decided cases, not a forecast for any single file.

One practical note if you are preparing a visit file: GOV.UK's guide to supporting documents rates hotel and flight bookings as less useful evidence than bank statements and employer letters, so put your effort into funds and employment proof. If you still want a clear itinerary or cover letter, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (all four). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is the long-term UK visit visa still available to Indians?

Yes. GOV.UK lists 2-year (£506), 5-year (£903) and 10-year (£1,128) long-term Standard Visitor visas. Each visit is still limited to 6 months.

How fast can I get a UK visa decision from India?

Standard processing is 3 weeks for visit, study and most work visas. The Priority service (£500) usually gives a decision within 5 working days, and Super Priority (£1,000) usually by the end of the next working day after a weekday appointment, where offered.

Do Indian visitors need a TB test for the UK?

Only if visiting for more than 6 months. GOV.UK lists a tuberculosis test certificate for those stays; the India Young Professionals Scheme document list also includes TB test results.

Does VFS charge a fee for UK biometrics in India?

Not at a standard, free-to-use centre, where self-uploading documents costs nothing. VFS says the only mandatory extra charge is the Home Office user-pays fee of £76.50 at some user-funded centres.