UK Visa for Indian Travellers
Indian passport holders need a separate UK Standard Visitor visa to visit London or anywhere in the UK: the Schengen visa does not cover it. It costs GBP 135 for up to 6 months, you can apply 3 months ahead, and a decision usually takes about 3 weeks.
The short version
- A separate visa The UK is not in Schengen. A trip with Paris, Switzerland and London needs two visas: a Schengen visa and a UK visa.
- Up to 6 months per visit The Standard Visitor visa covers tourism, family visits, short business and short courses. You cannot work.
- Fee GBP 135 for a 6-month visa, plus the visa centre service fee of about INR 1,900 to 3,100.
- Time Apply up to 3 months before you travel. A decision usually comes within 3 weeks of the appointment.
- eVisa, no sticker Since February 2026 the visa is digital and linked to your passport. You keep your passport during processing.
Step by step
- Apply online on GOV.UK. Fill in the Standard Visitor application, with your travel dates, address, income and travel history of the last 10 years, and pay the fee.
- Book the appointment at a UK visa application centre in India (run by VFS Global). Pick a priority service here if you need a fast decision.
- Upload or bring your documents as the centre instructs, in English or with a certified translation.
- Attend the appointment for your fingerprints and photo. You keep your passport.
- Get the decision by email and view your eVisa in your UKVI account. Check the name and passport number before you pay for non-refundable bookings.
What it costs
| Visa | Fee | Stay per visit |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor, 6 months | £135 | Up to 6 months |
| Long-term visit visa, 2 years | £506 | Up to 6 months |
| Long-term visit visa, 5 years | £903 | Up to 6 months |
| Long-term visit visa, 10 years | £1,128 | Up to 6 months |
| Priority service (decision in about 5 working days) | £500 extra | |
| Super Priority (decision by the next working day) | £1,000 extra | |
| Visa centre service fee | About INR 1,900 to 3,100 |
Visa fees are set by the UK Home Office and change from time to time; check GOV.UK before you pay. Priority services are not offered at every centre.
Documents that are usually asked for
- Passport valid for your whole stay, with a blank page, plus your old passports with past visas.
- Money: bank statements for the last 6 months and income tax returns (ITR) for 2 or 3 years.
- Ties to India: an employment letter with approved leave and recent salary slips, or business registration if you are self-employed; a pension or retirement proof if retired; a college letter for students.
- Your trip: a day-by-day plan, hotel bookings you can cancel and a flight reservation.
- Visiting family or friends: an invitation letter with the host's address and a copy of their passport or UK residence status.
The UK asks you to show that you will leave at the end of the visit and can pay for it. Clear bank statements and ties to India matter more than the number of pages.
UK and Schengen in one trip
- Two separate applications. Book a Schengen appointment for the Schengen country of your main stay, and a UK appointment for the UK visa.
- Apply for both at the same time. The UK no longer keeps your passport, so you can give your UK fingerprints and still attend the Schengen appointment, where the passport is kept.
- Multiple-entry Schengen visa. If you go from Paris to London and back to the continent, you leave and re-enter Schengen, so ask for a multiple-entry Schengen visa.
- Ireland is separate too. The Republic of Ireland needs its own Irish visa; Northern Ireland is part of the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for the UK?
Yes. Indian passport holders need a UK Standard Visitor visa for tourism, family visits and short business trips. The UK is not part of the Schengen area, so a Schengen visa does not cover it, and the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is not available to Indian citizens.
How much is a UK visitor visa from India?
The 6-month Standard Visitor visa costs GBP 135. Long-term visit visas cost GBP 506 for 2 years, GBP 903 for 5 years and GBP 1,128 for 10 years. The visa application centre adds a service fee of about INR 1,900 to 3,100.
How long does a UK visa take from India?
Usually within 3 weeks after your visa centre appointment. Priority service (GBP 500 extra) usually gives a decision within 5 working days and Super Priority (GBP 1,000 extra) by the end of the next working day, where the centre offers them.
How early can I apply for a UK visa?
The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel. Apply as soon as your dates are fixed, especially for June to August and December.
Can I use my Schengen visa to visit London?
No. The UK has its own visa. If your Europe trip includes London, you need a UK visa and a Schengen visa, and you apply for each separately.
Do I have to leave my passport at the visa centre?
No longer for the UK. Since February 2026 the UK issues eVisas instead of passport stickers, so you visit the centre once for fingerprints and a photo and keep your passport. That makes it easier to apply for your Schengen visa at the same time.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: Standard Visitor visaFees, what you can do, and how to apply.
- GOV.UK: faster decisionsPriority and Super Priority services.
- GOV.UK: eVisasHow the digital visa and your UKVI account work.
- VFS Global: UK visas in IndiaVisa application centres and appointments.
Rules and fees change and each embassy sets its own document list. This page is a guide, not legal advice: always confirm on the website of the embassy or visa centre you apply through.