Standard Visitor visa
Visit London, Scotland and the rest of the UK
The Standard Visitor visa covers the whole of the United Kingdom, which includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Indian passport holders need to apply for it before they travel.
You can usually stay for up to six months on each visit. Your passport must be valid for the whole of your stay.
What a UK visitor visa covers
- Holidays and sightseeing
- Visits to family and friends
- Certain business activities, such as attending a meeting or an interview
- Study for up to six months at an accredited institution, subject to visitor requirements
- Volunteering with a registered charity for up to 30 days
Ordinary paid or unpaid work for a UK company, or as a self-employed person, is not allowed. The limited exceptions are permitted paid engagements or events, such as an expert giving a lecture. You also cannot claim public funds or marry on this visa. Marriage needs a separate Marriage Visitor visa.
Your options
Choose the right UK visit visa
Standard Visitor visa (up to 6 months)
The standard visa for a single trip or a few trips within six months, whether for tourism, a family visit or business.
Long-term Standard Visitor visa
Frequent travellers can apply for a visa valid for 2, 5 or 10 years. A long validity does not mean a long stay: you can still stay for a maximum of six months on each visit, and you cannot live in the UK through frequent or successive visits. UKVI may grant a shorter visa than the one you applied for, and the fee is not refunded in that case.
Visiting family in the UK
Parents and relatives visiting family in the UK apply as Standard Visitors. An invitation letter from your family, with their address and status in the UK, can support your application. If they are paying for your trip, include evidence of their funds.
Eligibility
UK Visitor visa requirements
GOV.UK lists what every visitor must show.
- Return
- You will leave the UK at the end of your visit.
- Support
- You can support yourself and any dependants during your trip, or someone else is funding you.
- Travel costs
- You can pay for your return or onward journey, or someone else will.
- Not living in the UK
- You will not make the UK your main home or live there for long periods through repeated visits.
- Passport
- A passport valid for the whole of your stay.
UK Visitor Visa Documents
The online form asks for your travel dates, where you will stay, the expected cost of your trip, your income and your travel history. Supporting documents usually include:
- Your current passport and any old passports
- Bank statements showing the funds for your trip
- Salary slips, income tax returns or business records
- An employer letter or leave approval
- An invitation letter and the host's details, if you are visiting someone
- Evidence of who is paying, if someone else is funding your trip
Documents not in English or Welsh need certified translations.
How our UK visa review works
- Purpose check. We confirm that your plans are permitted activities for a visitor.
- Visa length. We discuss whether a standard or long-term visa suits your travel pattern.
- Funds check. We review whether your statements support the trip you describe.
- Ties review. Your job, family and assets in India are presented together.
- Consistency check. Your form, letters and documents are checked against each other.
- Gap list. We check your application against the applicable checklist and identify gaps before you submit.
The process
How to apply for a UK tourist visa from India
- Assessment. We review your purpose, profile and travel plan.
- Online application. You complete the form and pay the fee. You can apply up to three months before you travel.
- Appointment booking. You book an appointment at a visa application centre as part of your application.
- Biometrics and documents. You prove your identity, give your fingerprints and photo, and provide your documents. Your passport is returned the same day.
- Decision. The Home Office emails you when it has decided your application.
Costs and timelines
UK Standard Visitor visa fees
Fees are charged in pounds, so the rupee amount depends on the exchange rate on the day you pay. Visa application centre services are extra. The fee is not refunded if your application is refused. Our professional fees come to you in writing after your review. Check the current fees on GOV.UK before you pay.
Why KINBRIDGE
Why travellers choose KINBRIDGE for their UK visit
A UK visitor visa is decided on your application, your documents and how well they support each other.
Permitted Activities Checked
We confirm that what you plan to do in the UK is allowed for a visitor before you apply.
The Right Visa Length
We help you weigh a standard visa against a 2, 5 or 10-year visa based on how often you really travel.
Funds That Fit the Trip
Your statements, income and trip cost are checked so they tell the same story.
Family Visits Prepared Well
We help you and your UK host present the invitation, relationship and funding clearly.
Refusal Review
If you were refused before, we read the reasons and help you decide whether and how to reapply.
Clear Fee Breakdown
Our fees come to you in writing, kept apart from UKVI and visa centre costs.
FAQs
Your UK Visitor visa questions, answered
Can I get a 10-year UK visitor visa?
Yes, if you meet the requirements for that length. You can still stay up to six months per visit, and UKVI may grant a shorter visa than you applied for, without a refund.
Can my parents visit me in the UK for six months?
They can apply for a Standard Visitor visa, which usually allows stays of up to six months per visit, provided they meet the requirements and will leave at the end of the visit.
What should I do if my UK visitor visa was refused?
Read the refusal reasons carefully. A new application helps only if it addresses those reasons with stronger or clearer evidence, so we review your refusal first.