Applies via: VFS Global + embassySources checked on
Indian citizens apply for a United Kingdom visa through VFS Global and the embassy. The published fee for Standard Visitor visa is £135. Processing time (Standard Visitor / Marriage Visitor / Transit): 3 weeks. Application locations listed include Chandigarh, New Delhi, Goa, Ahmedabad and Gurugram (14 more listed below). Sources checked on October 15, 2026.
How do Indian citizens apply for a United Kingdom visa?
Applies via: VFS Global + embassy
Who handles applications in India
VFS Global is an official partner of UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Applicants check which visa they need, apply and pay online on GOV.UK (receiving a GWF reference number), then book an appointment at a VFS Visa Application Centre to give biometrics (fingerprints and photograph); supporting documents can be self-uploaded online or scanned at the centre for a fee. The passport is returned at the biometric appointment and successful applicants are issued an eVisa, accessed via a UKVI account.
Not available: GOV.UK's 'Check if you need a UK visa' service says Indian nationals coming for tourism or to visit family and friends need a visa (Standard Visitor visa) before travel. The UK ETA (£20) is only for nationalities that do not need a visa.
eVisa / online visa
Available: every successful UK visa applicant, including Indian citizens, gets an eVisa (a digital record of immigration status that replaces the visa sticker), viewed in a free UKVI account. You apply and pay online on GOV.UK, then usually give fingerprints and a photo at a VFS centre in India (GOV.UK says you are told at the start of the application if you can use the UK Immigration: ID Check app instead); before travelling you must create your UKVI account, link your passport and check your eVisa.
Visa-free entry
Not available: GOV.UK's visa checker tells Indian nationals coming as tourists 'You'll need a visa to come to the UK', and the £20 ETA is only for nationalities that do not need a visa. For transit, Indians normally need a Direct Airside Transit visa (or a Visitor in Transit visa if passing through border control) unless they hold one of GOV.UK's listed documents, such as a valid visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA, or a valid US green card.
How to apply from India — step by step
1
Complete the application form
Fill in the United Kingdom visa application form linked from the official pages below.
2
Prepare your documents
Gather the documents listed in the "Documents required" section — the common list plus the checklist for your visa category.
3
Book an appointment
Book an appointment as described on the VFS Global / embassy pages linked below.
4
Submit your application
Submit at a VFS Global centre or other listed location: Chandigarh, New Delhi, Goa, Ahmedabad, Gurugram, Bengaluru and others listed below.
5
Give biometrics
Attend in person for biometrics where the official pages require it.
6
Pay the fees
Pay the visa fee shown in the "Visa fees" section, plus the service fee.
7
Track your application
Track the application status as described on the official pages.
Steps follow the official pages in the Sources section; always follow the latest instructions there.
How much is the United Kingdom visa fee for Indian citizens?
Standard Visitor visa
£135
Maximum stay 6 months; the same visa is used for tourism, family visits and permitted business activities (GOV.UK fees table, 8 October 2026)
Standard Visitor visa for medical reasons
£234
Maximum stay 11 months
Standard Visitor visa for academics
£234
Maximum stay 12 months
2 year long-term Standard Visitor visa
£506
6 months per visit
5 year long-term Standard Visitor visa
£903
6 months per visit
10 year long-term Standard Visitor visa
£1,128
6 months per visit
Student visa (from outside the UK)
£558
Plus immigration healthcare surcharge (£776 per year for students)
Skilled Worker visa (from outside the UK)
£819 (up to 3 years) / £1,618 (more than 3 years) per person
Immigration salary list jobs: £628 / £1,235. Healthcare surcharge usually £1,035 per year; maintenance funds at least £1,270
Health and Care Worker visa (from outside the UK)
£324 (up to 3 years) / £628 (more than 3 years) per person
GOV.UK fees table, 8 October 2026
Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
£819 (up to 3 years) / £1,618 (more than 3 years) per person
GOV.UK fees table, 8 October 2026
Graduate Trainee, Service Supplier, UK Expansion Worker and Secondment Worker visas (Global Business Mobility)
£340 per person
GOV.UK fees table, 8 October 2026
Temporary Work visas (Seasonal, Religious, Charity, Creative, International Agreement, Government Authorised Exchange) and India Young Professionals Scheme visa
£340 per person
GOV.UK fees table, 8 October 2026
Global Talent visa
£766
Where an endorsement (approval letter) is required: £561 for the approval letter plus £205 for the visa
High Potential Individual visa
£880
Plus £252 for the Ecctis qualification check and the healthcare surcharge; GOV.UK fees table, 8 October 2026
Innovator Founder visa
£1,357
Plus endorsement fee of £1,000 (excluding VAT) payable to the endorsing body, and £500 for each contact point meeting (at least two during the stay)
Immigration healthcare surcharge (IHS)
£1,035 per year
£776 per year for students, their dependants, Youth Mobility Scheme applicants and applicants under 18; paid as part of the visa application
Priority Visa service (optional, UKVI)
£500
Paid in addition to the visa fee; offered at the New Delhi VFS centre (October 2026); availability depends on visa type and centre
Super Priority Visa service (optional, UKVI)
£1,000
Paid in addition to the visa fee; offered at the New Delhi VFS centre (October 2026); availability depends on visa type and centre
User-pays (premium) visa application centre
£76.50
Home Office-regulated 'User Pays Visa Application service' fee for user-funded centres; standard centres are free to use
Child Student visa (from outside the UK)
£558
Ages 4 to 17; plus healthcare surcharge (£776 per year for under-18s)
Graduate visa (applied for from inside the UK)
£937
Plus healthcare surcharge, usually £1,035 per year (GOV.UK, October 2026)
UK Ancestry visa
£726
Healthcare surcharge may also apply
Overseas Domestic Worker visa
£726
Visit with your employer for up to 6 months
Minister of Religion visa (T2), from outside the UK
£819 per person
GOV.UK fees table, 8 October 2026
Marriage Visitor visa
£135
Up to 6 months; to marry or register a civil partnership in the UK
Family visa from outside the UK (joining a partner, parent or child)
£2,064 per person
Healthcare surcharge also applies, e.g. £3,105 per adult for 2 years 9 months; adult dependent relative £3,635 (£452 if the relative has protection status)
Direct Airside Transit visa
£41.50
For Indian nationals changing flights without passing UK border control, unless exempt
Visitor in Transit visa (landside)
£74.50
If passing through UK border control in transit; not needed if you hold a Standard or Marriage Visitor visa
Extend stay as a Standard Visitor (applied for inside the UK)
£1,172
Only up to 6 months in total, except medical treatment, academics and PLAB retakes
Service fee: No VFS fee for a standard appointment at a free-to-use Visa Application Centre (self-upload of documents INR 0). Optional VFS services listed for New Delhi (INR, inclusive of GST, as published by VFS Global UK India, October 2026): Document Upload Assistance INR 2,400; Remote Document Upload Assistance INR 1,900; Self-Upload Document Checking Service INR 2,550; UKVI Account Creation Service INR 1,200; Prime Time Appointment INR 5,950; Flexi appointment INR 6,400; Premium Lounge INR 6,050; Platinum Lounge INR 22,400; On Demand Mobile Visa INR 12,000; Photocopying INR 14. UKVI Priority Visa (GBP 500) and Super Priority Visa (GBP 1,000) are booked through VFS where offered. VFS states optional services do not affect the visa decision. VFS states that apart from the visa fee and healthcare surcharge, the only mandatory charge is the Home Office 'User Pays' fee (£76.50) at some user-funded centres; documents can be self-uploaded free of charge.
Checklist
What documents are required for a United Kingdom visa from India?
All applicants
8 items
Passport or travel document valid for the whole of your stay in the UK
Online application information: travel dates, where you'll stay, trip cost, home address and duration, parents' names and dates of birth, annual income, any criminal/civil/immigration offences
Depending on circumstances: travel history for past 10 years, employer's address and phone, partner's details, details of anyone paying for the trip, details of family in the UK
Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate if visiting for more than 6 months
Certified translations of any documents not in English or Welsh
Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at the visa application centre
VFS: colour copies of passport showing evidence of travel to other countries recommended when self-uploading
Each traveller, including children and other family members, needs a separate online application and fee
Standard Visitor
1 item
Additional documents if visiting to study, as an academic, for an Erasmus+ placement, for a permitted paid engagement, or for medical reasons
Skilled Worker
5 items
Certificate of sponsorship (CoS) reference number from a Home Office-approved employer (apply within 3 months of getting it)
Proof of knowledge of English at CEFR level B2 (Secure English Language Test, UK qualification, or degree taught in English confirmed by Ecctis), unless exempt
Proof of at least £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days, with day 28 within 31 days of applying (unless the sponsor certifies maintenance)
Valid ATAS certificate if the employer says the job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher
Certified translations of any documents not in English or Welsh
Standard Visitor - financial and employment evidence (GOV.UK guide to supporting documents, updated 8 October 2026)
6 items
Financial documents that clearly show you have access to sufficient funds, such as bank statements or building society books detailing the origin of the funds
Proof of earnings, such as a letter from your employer confirming start date of employment, salary, role and company contact details
Letter from your employer on company headed paper detailing your role, salary and length of employment
If self-employed: business registration documents or recent invoices confirming on-going self-employment
If a sponsor pays: evidence of what support is provided, the sponsor's funds and relationship to you
Less useful as evidence (per GOV.UK): bank statements or letters issued more than 1 year before applying, credit card statements, hotel bookings, flight bookings (unless transiting), travel insurance
Student
5 items
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from a licensed student sponsor
Money for course fees for 1 academic year (up to 9 months), as shown on the CAS
Living costs of £1,529 per month (London) or £1,171 per month (outside London), for up to 9 months
Funds held for at least 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of the visa application
Proof of knowledge of English (usually)
Transit - Indian nationals (GOV.UK visa checker)
4 items
Airside transit (not passing UK border control): a Direct Airside Transit visa is normally needed
No transit visa needed if you hold, for example: a valid visa for Canada, New Zealand, Australia or the USA; a valid US permanent residence card (issued on or after 21 April 1998); a permanent resident card issued by Canada on or after 28 June 2002; an EEA/Swiss residence permit or category D visa; or an Irish biometric visa (all must be valid)
Landside transit (passing border control): apply for a Visitor in Transit visa unless you already have a Standard or Marriage Visitor visa; transit without a visa is possible only if you arrive and leave by air within the set time, hold documents for your destination and meet one of GOV.UK's listed conditions
A Border Force officer decides whether you qualify to transit without a visa; e-visas or e-residence permits are not accepted for this
Standard Visitor - private medical treatment
3 items
Letter from a doctor or consultant giving details of the condition, the estimated cost and likely duration of treatment, and where it will take place
Medical visitor visa: £234, stay up to 11 months; TB test certificate if staying more than 6 months
To extend for treatment from inside the UK: a letter from a registered medical practitioner and proof you have paid for treatment so far (extension fee £1,172)
Marriage Visitor
4 items
Aged 18 or over, free to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK within 6 months of arrival, in a genuine relationship
Supporting evidence: details of the marriage or civil partnership and proof you have paid some of its costs, or a venue booking confirmation or emails with the venue
If married before: proof you are free to marry, e.g. decree absolute or death certificate of a previous partner
Passport valid for the whole stay; certified translations of documents not in English or Welsh
Visitors under 18
4 items
Suitable arrangements for travel and stay, and enough money for the trip and return journey
Travelling alone: parent or guardian's written consent and full contact details, plus proof of where the child will live (host's name, date of birth, address, relationship and the parent's consent)
Travelling with an adult: the adult (up to 2) is named in the child's application; each person completes a separate application
Children under 5 have only a photo taken at the appointment (no fingerprints); under-16s must attend with an adult
Overseas Domestic Worker
4 items
Current passport; proof you can support yourself (e.g. bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months)
'Appendix domestic worker statement' signed by you and your employer
Employer's letter confirming your job title, length of employment and permanent status
One document covering the same employment period: pay slips or bank statements showing salary, tax or health insurance paid, employment contract, or work visa/residence permit for the country where you work for the employer
Photo
What are the United Kingdom visa photo specifications?
Size
Not published
Background
Not published
Photo taken at the visa application centre as part of biometrics
Insurance
Is travel medical insurance required for a United Kingdom visa?
Not a visa requirement; immigration healthcare surcharge applies to longer-stay visas
Processing
How long does United Kingdom visa processing take?
Standard Visitor / Marriage Visitor / Transit
3 weeks
Student / Child Student
3 weeks
Family visas (Partner or spouse, Parent, Child, Adult dependant relative)
12 weeks
Work visas (Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, temporary work, Global Talent, India Young Professionals Scheme etc.)
3 weeks
British National (Overseas)
12 weeks
When to apply
Visit visas earliest 3 months before travel; most work visas 3 months before start date; Student 6 months before course start
Priority Visa service (optional, £500)
Usually within 5 working days for most visa applications; family and settlement applications usually 30 working days
Super Priority Visa service (optional, £1,000)
Usually by the end of the next working day after a weekday appointment (2 working days if the appointment is at a weekend or on a bank holiday)
Graduate visa (inside the UK)
Usually within 8 weeks
India Young Professionals Scheme visa
Usually within 3 weeks; apply within 90 days of the ballot invitation and travel within 6 months of applying
Extension or switch applications made inside the UK (most work routes)
Usually within 8 weeks
Tracking your application
VFS Global does not give status updates while UKVI processes an application; GOV.UK's online service tells you when to expect a decision, and UKVI sends the decision by letter or email
Visa types
Which United Kingdom visa types can Indian citizens apply for?
Visit visas
Standard Visitor
Marriage Visitor
Chinese tour group
Transit (Direct Airside Transit visa, Visitor in Transit visa)
Study visas
Student
Child Student
Study English in the UK: Short-term student (6 to 11 month English language courses)
Family visas
Partner or spouse
Parent
Child
Adult coming to be cared for by a relative
Ukraine visas
Homes for Ukraine
Popular work visas
Skilled Worker
Health and Care Worker
Temporary work visas
Government Authorised Exchange
Charity Worker
Creative Worker
International Agreement
Seasonal Worker
Religious Worker
Work visas you can apply for without a job offer
Global Talent
Youth Mobility Scheme (not open to Indian nationals; Indians use the India Young Professionals Scheme visa)
India Young Professionals Scheme visa
UK Ancestry
High Potential Individual (HPI)
Graduate visa (applied for from inside the UK after an eligible UK course)
Work visas to start a business
Innovator Founder
Start-up (closed: you can no longer apply; new founders use Innovator Founder)
Work visas for an overseas employer
Overseas Domestic Worker
Graduate Trainee
Secondment Worker
Senior or Specialist Worker
Representative of an Overseas Business
Service Supplier
UK Expansion Worker
Other visas and permits
British National (Overseas)
International Sportsperson
Minister of Religion
Long stay
United Kingdom study and work visas for Indians
Skilled Worker visa
Work
For people with a job offer from a Home Office-approved UK employer (sponsor). Indians apply and pay online on GOV.UK from India using the certificate of sponsorship, then give biometrics at a VFS visa application centre.
Job offer from a Home Office-approved UK employer (licensed sponsor) and a certificate of sponsorship (CoS); apply within 3 months of getting the CoS
Eligible occupation code: 'higher skilled' jobs qualify; 'medium skilled' jobs only if on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List
Minimum salary (standard rule, 2026): the higher of £41,700 a year or the 'going rate' for the occupation
Lower salary possible (70% to 90% of the going rate) if paid at least £33,400 a year and: job is on the Immigration Salary List, you are under 26/recent graduate/in professional training, you have a relevant STEM PhD (non-STEM PhD: at least £37,500), or a postdoctoral position
Some healthcare or education jobs use national pay scales: salary at least £25,000 or the going rate if higher
English at CEFR level B2 for new applicants (since 8 January 2026), unless exempt
At least £1,270 in savings held for 28 consecutive days, unless the sponsor certifies maintenance up to £1,270
Employer pays a sponsor licence fee of £611 (small businesses and charities) or £1,682 (medium and large organisations); licences usually take around 8 weeks
Overseas recruitment of care workers (code 6135) and senior care workers (code 6136) closed from 22 July 2025
For students aged 16 or over with an unconditional offer from a licensed student sponsor. Indians apply online on GOV.UK from India (up to 6 months before the course starts) and give biometrics at a VFS centre.
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed student sponsor
Course fees for the first academic year (up to 9 months) as shown on the CAS
Living costs: £1,529 per month in London or £1,171 per month outside London, for up to 9 months
Funds held for at least 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days of applying
Proof of English language ability (usually)
Visa fee £558 plus healthcare surcharge £776 per year
For qualified doctors, nurses, health professionals and adult social care professionals with a job offer from a Home Office-approved employer in the NHS, an NHS supplier or adult social care. Indians apply online from India with the certificate of sponsorship and give biometrics at VFS.
Confirmed job offer and certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from an approved UK employer; apply within 3 months of getting the CoS
Salary usually at least £25,000 or the going rate if higher; some occupation codes (e.g. health services managers, laboratory technicians) need at least £31,300 or the lower going rate
English at CEFR level B2 for new applicants
Care workers and senior care workers (codes 6135 and 6136) can only use the route when extending, updating or switching inside the UK, not as new applicants from overseas
Fee £324 (up to 3 years) or £628 (more than 3 years); no immigration healthcare surcharge
Visa lasts up to 5 years; settlement may be possible after 5 years
A ballot-based visa that lets Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 live and work in the UK for up to 2 years without a job offer. Only those picked in the ballot can apply.
Indian citizen aged 18 to 30 (at least 18 on the travel date)
Bachelor's degree or higher (RQF level 6, 7 or 8) or an equivalent overseas qualification
£2,530 in savings held for 28 days in a row, ending within 31 days of applying
No children under 18 living with you or whom you support financially; not previously in the UK on this scheme or the Youth Mobility Scheme
Must be selected in the ballot (free to enter; results by email within 2 weeks). 2026 ballots ran 17-19 February and 21-23 July 2026 for 3,000 places; no further 2026 ballots
After selection: apply within 90 days, fee £340 plus healthcare surcharge £1,552; documents include bank statements, degree confirmation, TB test results and an Indian police clearance certificate
Cannot extend or bring family on the same application
For graduates of eligible top-ranked universities outside the UK, awarded their degree in the last 5 years; no job offer needed. Gives 2 years (3 years for a PhD). Applications are subject to a yearly limit (1 November to 31 October).
Bachelor's, postgraduate or doctoral qualification from a university on the HPI eligible list for the year of award, awarded in the last 5 years (UK universities do not count)
Ecctis check that the qualification is valid and at the right level (£252)
English at CEFR level B2
At least £1,270 held for 28 days in a row, unless already in the UK on a visa for 12 months
Fee £880 plus healthcare surcharge (£1,035 per year); cannot be extended and does not lead to settlement
For students in the UK on a Student visa who have successfully completed an eligible UK degree or course. It must be applied for from inside the UK before the Student visa expires; it cannot be applied for from India.
In the UK on a Student (or Tier 4) visa, with the course provider having told the Home Office you completed the course
Visa length: 2 years if applying on or before 31 December 2026; 18 months if applying on or after 1 January 2027; 3 years for a PhD
Fee £937 plus healthcare surcharge (usually £1,035 per year); decision usually within 8 weeks
Can work in most jobs, look for work or be self-employed; cannot be extended (switching to e.g. Skilled Worker is possible)
For leaders or potential leaders in academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology, aged 18 or over. Applicants either hold an eligible prestigious prize or first get an endorsement.
Fields: academia or research, arts and culture, digital technology
Either be the named winner of a prize on GOV.UK's eligible prestigious prize list, or get an endorsement first
Fee £766 (endorsement route: £561 for the endorsement plus £205 for the visa); healthcare surcharge usually £1,035 per year
Stay up to 5 years at a time; settlement possible after 3 or 5 years depending on field and route
Decision usually within 3 weeks from outside the UK
For Commonwealth citizens (India is a Commonwealth country) with a grandparent born in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, who can and plan to work in the UK.
Commonwealth citizen aged 17 or over
Grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man (or in Ireland before 31 March 1922, or on a UK-registered ship or aircraft)
Enough money to support and house yourself without public funds; able and planning to work
Fee £726; healthcare surcharge may apply; stay 5 years, then extend or apply to settle
For Indians joining a partner in the UK for more than 6 months, where the partner is a British or Irish citizen, settled in the UK or holds certain other statuses. Applied for online from India, with biometrics at VFS.
Both partners 18 or over; married, in a civil partnership, or living together for at least 2 years
Minimum combined income usually at least £29,000 a year (savings may be used instead)
Knowledge of English
Evidence of the relationship (e.g. marriage certificate, joint bills or bank statements) less than 4 years old
Fee £2,064 per person from outside the UK plus healthcare surcharge; decision usually within 12 weeks
For sponsored seasonal work in horticulture (up to 6 months, e.g. picking fruit, vegetables or flowers) or poultry (2 October to 31 December). It does not cover other sectors such as tourism.
Certificate of sponsorship from a UK sponsor (valid 3 months); aged 18 or over
At least £1,270 held for 28 days in a row unless the sponsor certifies maintenance
Job must pay at least the minimum wage
Poultry applications by 15 November each year; horticulture any time
Fee £340; cannot take a permanent job or bring family
For employees on a graduate training programme for a managerial or specialist role, transferring to their employer's UK branch. Applied for from outside the UK.
Certificate of sponsorship from the UK employer; apply within 3 months of getting it
Worked for the sponsor outside the UK for at least 3 months immediately before applying
Salary at least £27,300 or 70% of the going rate, whichever is higher
Fee £340 plus healthcare surcharge; at least £1,270 in savings unless exempt
For employees of an overseas company or self-employed professionals based overseas providing services to a UK business under a contract covered by an international trade agreement.
Certificate of sponsorship from the UK employer; apply within 3 months of getting it
At least 12 months working for the employer outside the UK, or 12 months' professional experience if self-employed
Eligible job, or a bachelor's degree or equivalent technical qualification and relevant experience
Fee £340 plus healthcare surcharge; at least £1,270 in savings unless exempt
For work covered by international law or treaty, such as for an overseas government, a recognised international organisation, or as a private servant in a diplomatic household.
Certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor; apply up to 3 months before the start date
Aged 18 or over; at least £1,270 in savings unless exempt
Private servants applying from outside the UK need English at CEFR level B1
Stay up to 2 years (private servants up to 5 years in total)
Temporary Work - Government Authorised Exchange visa
Work
For short-term work experience, training, research, a fellowship or an Overseas Government Language Programme through an approved government authorised exchange scheme.
Sponsorship reference number or certificate of sponsorship from the scheme's licensed sponsor
At least £1,270 held for 28 days in a row unless the sponsor certifies maintenance
Visa for a maximum of 12 or 24 months depending on the scheme
For children aged 4 to 17 with an unconditional offer from a licensed Child Student sponsor (usually an independent school), applied for online from India up to 6 months before the course.
Unconditional offer and CAS from a licensed Child Student sponsor
Parent or legal guardian's consent; suitable place to live in the UK
Money for course fees (and boarding fees if boarding) for one academic year (up to 9 months); if living with a parent, £1,560 a month for the child and parent
Fee £558; decision usually within 3 weeks from outside the UK
For a parent with sole or shared parental responsibility for a child under 18 who lives in the UK and is British, Irish or settled. It is not a route for adult children to bring their elderly parents (see adult dependent relative).
Child under 18 (or under 18 when you were first granted leave), living in the UK and British, Irish, settled or with qualifying pre-settled status
Sole or shared parental responsibility and an active role in the child's upbringing, shown by evidence from a government body, school, court or medical professional less than 4 years old
Good knowledge of English and able to support yourself without public funds
Fee £2,064 from outside the UK plus healthcare surcharge; decision usually within 12 weeks
For an adult who needs long-term care from a parent, grandchild, brother, sister, son or daughter living permanently in the UK (British, Irish, settled or with protection status). Applied for from outside the UK.
Aged 18 or over and needing long-term care for everyday personal and household tasks because of illness, disability or age
The required care is not available or affordable in the country where you live
The UK relative can accommodate and care for you (for 5 years if British or settled) without public funds
Fee £3,635 from outside the UK (£452 if the relative has protection status); decision usually within 12 weeks
UK Visa Application Centres in India (VFS Global, official UKVI partner)
All of India: applicants can select any Visa Application Centre in India before confirming the appointment (no state-based jurisdiction); appointments are mandatory
British High Commission New Delhi, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021 (public access by appointment only; enquiries via the FCDO online contact form https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/india/british-high-commission-new-delhi)
UK's diplomatic mission for India and Bhutan; UK government services are also provided in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai
Worker visa grant rate (Skilled Worker, Health and Care, Senior or Specialist Worker and other 'Worker' routes), Indian nationals · Year ending June 2026 (2026 data provisional)
93% granted: 37,402 granted and 2,943 refused out of 40,345 decisions
Visa fees rose: Standard Visitor (up to 6 months) £127 to £135; Student £524 to £558; Skilled Worker (CoS up to 3 years) £769 to £819; Temporary Work and India Young Professionals Scheme £319 to £340.
UK 'visa brake' introduced: Student visa applications from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan and Skilled Worker applications from Afghan nationals are refused. Indian nationals are not on the list.
Skilled Worker skill threshold raised back to RQF level 6 (degree level), removing around 180 occupations unless on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List; overseas recruitment of care workers and senior care workers closed. The standard minimum salary is now £41,700 or the going rate if higher.
United Kingdom visa for Indians — frequently asked questions
Answers built only from the VFS Global and embassy pages listed in the Sources section.
How much is the United Kingdom visa fee for Indian citizens?
Standard Visitor visa: £135; Standard Visitor visa for medical reasons: £234; Standard Visitor visa for academics: £234. 26 more fee rows are listed on this page. Service fee: No VFS fee for a standard appointment at a free-to-use Visa Application Centre (self-upload of documents INR 0). Optional VFS services listed for New Delhi (INR, inclusive of GST, as published by VFS Global UK India, October 2026): Document Upload Assistance INR 2,400; Remote Document Upload Assistance INR 1,900; Self-Upload Document Checking Service INR 2,550; UKVI Account Creation Service INR 1,200; Prime Time Appointment INR 5,950; Flexi appointment INR 6,400; Premium Lounge INR 6,050; Platinum Lounge INR 22,400; On Demand Mobile Visa INR 12,000; Photocopying INR 14. UKVI Priority Visa (GBP 500) and Super Priority Visa (GBP 1,000) are booked through VFS where offered. VFS states optional services do not affect the visa decision. VFS states that apart from the visa fee and healthcare surcharge, the only mandatory charge is the Home Office 'User Pays' fee (£76.50) at some user-funded centres; documents can be self-uploaded free of charge..
What documents are required for a United Kingdom visa from India?
Passport or travel document valid for the whole of your stay in the UK; Online application information: travel dates, where you'll stay, trip cost, home address and duration, parents' names and dates of birth, annual income, any criminal/civil/immigration offences; Depending on circumstances: travel history for past 10 years, employer's address and phone, partner's details, details of anyone paying for the trip, details of family in the UK; Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate if visiting for more than 6 months; Certified translations of any documents not in English or Welsh; Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at the visa application centre. Plus 2 more items listed on this page. Category-specific checklists are listed for 9 visa categories.
How long does United Kingdom visa processing take for Indians?
Standard Visitor / Marriage Visitor / Transit: 3 weeks; Student / Child Student: 3 weeks; Family visas (Partner or spouse, Parent, Child, Adult dependant relative): 12 weeks.
Where do Indian citizens apply for a United Kingdom visa?
Applications go via VFS Global + embassy. Locations listed: Chandigarh, New Delhi, Goa, Ahmedabad, Gurugram, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai North, Mumbai South, Pune, Jalandhar, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kolkata, Premium Application Centres: Vishakhapatnam, Guwahati, Mangalore, Calicut, Kottayam, Indore, Bhopal, Nagpur (closed), Bhubaneswar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Coimbatore, Noida, Lucknow-Alambagh. Jurisdiction by state: UK Visa Application Centres in India (VFS Global, official UKVI partner) — All of India: applicants can select any Visa Application Centre in India before confirming the appointment (no state-based jurisdiction); appointments are mandatory; British High Commission New Delhi, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021 (public access by appointment only; enquiries via the FCDO online contact form https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/india/british-high-commission-new-delhi) — UK's diplomatic mission for India and Bhutan; UK government services are also provided in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.
Can Indians get a United Kingdom visa on arrival or an eVisa?
Visa on arrival — Not available: GOV.UK's 'Check if you need a UK visa' service says Indian nationals coming for tourism or to visit family and friends need a visa (Standard Visitor visa) before travel. The UK ETA (£20) is only for nationalities that do not need a visa. eVisa — Available: every successful UK visa applicant, including Indian citizens, gets an eVisa (a digital record of immigration status that replaces the visa sticker), viewed in a free UKVI account. You apply and pay online on GOV.UK, then usually give fingerprints and a photo at a VFS centre in India (GOV.UK says you are told at the start of the application if you can use the UK Immigration: ID Check app instead); before travelling you must create your UKVI account, link your passport and check your eVisa. Visa-free entry — Not available: GOV.UK's visa checker tells Indian nationals coming as tourists 'You'll need a visa to come to the UK', and the £20 ETA is only for nationalities that do not need a visa. For transit, Indians normally need a Direct Airside Transit visa (or a Visitor in Transit visa if passing through border control) unless they hold one of GOV.UK's listed documents, such as a valid visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA, or a valid US green card.
Is travel medical insurance required for a United Kingdom visa?
Not a visa requirement; immigration healthcare surcharge applies to longer-stay visas
Which United Kingdom visa types can Indian citizens apply for?
Visit visas, Study visas, Family visas, Ukraine visas, Popular work visas, Temporary work visas, Work visas you can apply for without a job offer, Work visas to start a business, Work visas for an overseas employer and Other visas and permits. 38 visa types are listed on this page.
GOV.UK - Visiting the UK: guide to supporting documentsEmbassy / official government site · Checked on · https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visitor-visa-guide-to-supporting-documents/guide-to-supporting-documents-visiting-the-uk
GOV.UK - Explanatory memorandum, Statement of changes HC 997 (1 July 2025)Embassy / official government site · Checked on · https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-997-1-july-2025/explanatory-memorandum-to-the-statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-997-1-july-2025-accessible
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GOV.UK - Explanatory memorandum, Statement of changes HC 1333 (14 October 2025)Embassy / official government site · Checked on · https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-1333-14-october-2025/explanatory-memorandum-to-the-statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-1333-14-october-2025-accessible
