🇬🇧 United Kingdom tourist visa for Indians 2026
Tourism, visiting family and friends, conferences and business trips. Facts verified against United Kingdom's official pages; see the source at the end.
Yes. Indians need a visa before a short visit to United Kingdom. Indian citizens are visa nationals for the UK, so every short trip needs a Standard Visitor visa applied for before travel; the UK ETA does not apply to you.
Quick facts
- Visa
- Standard Visitor visa (6 months)
- Maximum stay
- up to 6 months
- Government fee
- about $181
- Processing time
- 3–6 weeks
- Paid work
- Not allowed
- Business or conference
- Covered
Where Indians apply
Indian citizens are visa nationals for the UK, so every short trip needs a Standard Visitor visa applied for before travel; the UK ETA does not apply to you.
Fee and processing time
You apply online on gov.uk no earlier than 3 months before you travel, pay £135 (about USD 181) for the 6-month visa, then attend a VFS Global visa application centre in India to give fingerprints and a photo and show your passport, which is handed back the same day. UKVI aims to decide 95 percent of visit applications within 3 weeks of the biometrics appointment, though peak-season applications from India often take longer.
That is about $181 in US dollars at the time of verification; the official fee is set in local currency.
Travelling for business or a conference?
Host or organiser letter on headed paper with event name, dates and who pays, plus an employer letter confirming you stay paid in India.
Before you fly: registrations and border systems
- Since 25 February 2026 the visa is issued as an eVisa linked to your UKVI account rather than a sticker in your passport.
Documents and steps
- Check your passport is valid for the whole tripPassport valid for the entire stay with a blank page; bring old passports with earlier visas as travel-history evidence.
- Collect six months of bank statements and income proofLast 6 months of bank statements, 3 months of salary slips and 2 to 3 years of ITR; no unexplained large deposits.
- Gather evidence that you will return to IndiaEmployer leave letter with role, salary and return date, or business registration, plus property and family ties.
- Prepare your itinerary and accommodation detailsDay-by-day plan with hotel bookings or a host invitation letter and address; do not buy non-refundable flights yet.
- If travelling for business or a conference: get an invitation letterHost or organiser letter on headed paper with event name, dates and who pays, plus an employer letter confirming you stay paid in India.
- Apply online on gov.uk and pay the £135 feeApply online up to 3 months before travel; £135 per person, children included; priority services cost extra.
- Attend your VFS Global biometrics appointmentFingerprints and photo at a VFS Global centre; passport handed back the same day; book early in peak season.
- Wait for the decision and set up your UKVI accountDecision usually within 3 weeks by email; the visa is an eVisa, so link your passport in your UKVI account before flying.
- At the UK border: respect the 6-month limit and visitor rulesUse the officer queue, not eGates; stay up to 6 months, no UK employment or public funds.
The full checklist with timing, dependencies and personalised due dates is part of the paid plan. Start with the free quiz and pick “Visit” as your purpose.
Planning a trip to United Kingdom?
Answer 6 questions, choose “Visit”, and get a dated checklist for your travel dates — free.
Plan my visitFrequently asked questions
- Do Indians need a visa for United Kingdom?
- Yes. Indians need a visa before a short visit to United Kingdom. Indian citizens are visa nationals for the UK, so every short trip needs a Standard Visitor visa applied for before travel; the UK ETA does not apply to you.
- How long can Indians stay in United Kingdom as a visitor?
- Up to 6 months under the Standard Visitor visa (6 months). Paid work is not allowed on a visitor stay.
- How much does the United Kingdom Standard Visitor visa (6 months) cost for Indians?
- You apply online on gov.uk no earlier than 3 months before you travel, pay £135 (about USD 181) for the 6-month visa, then attend a VFS Global visa application centre in India to give fingerprints and a photo and show your passport, which is handed back the same day.
- How long does the United Kingdom Standard Visitor visa (6 months) take for Indians?
- UKVI aims to decide 95 percent of visit applications within 3 weeks of the biometrics appointment, though peak-season applications from India often take longer.
- Can Indians attend a conference or business meeting in United Kingdom on this visa?
- Host or organiser letter on headed paper with event name, dates and who pays, plus an employer letter confirming you stay paid in India.
- What do Indians need to register or carry before flying to United Kingdom?
- Since 25 February 2026 the visa is issued as an eVisa linked to your UKVI account rather than a sticker in your passport.
- Can Indians work in United Kingdom on a visitor stay?
- No. Visitor entry covers tourism, family visits, business meetings and conferences only. To take a job, study or settle, Indians need one of the longer-stay routes compared in our United Kingdom visa guide for Indians.
Thinking of staying longer?
A visitor stay never allows paid work. Indians who want to work, study or settle in United Kingdom have 2 main routes, compared in the United Kingdom visa guide for Indians.
United Kingdom for Indians, in depth
Visiting other countries as Indians
Visiting United Kingdom from elsewhere
Always confirm entry rules with the official government source. Fees and stay limits change; this guide is general information, not legal advice.