Visa guide · updated October 2026Do Indians need a visa for the United Kingdom?
Indian passport holders need a Standard Visitor visa for the UK. It costs £135, allows stays of up to 6 months, and a decision usually takes 3 weeks. You apply online and give biometrics at a visa application centre.
UK visa options for Indians
| Option | Who it is for | Stay and validity | Official fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor visa | Tourism, family visits, business meetings and short study | Up to 6 months | £135 |
| Long-term visitor visa, 2 years | Frequent visitors | Up to 6 months per visit | £506 |
| Long-term visitor visa, 5 years | Frequent visitors | Up to 6 months per visit | £903 |
| Long-term visitor visa, 10 years | Frequent visitors | Up to 6 months per visit | £1,128 |
UK visa fees
| Option | Official fee |
|---|---|
| Standard Visitor visa | £135 |
| Long-term visitor visa, 2 years | £506 |
| Long-term visitor visa, 5 years | £903 |
| Long-term visitor visa, 10 years | £1,128 |
Fees are those listed on GOV.UK. Faster-decision services and visa application centre extras cost more.
Documents required
Official sources do not give a full list for every case; these are the documents applicants are normally asked for. Confirm the exact list when you apply.
- Passport
- Proof you can support yourself during the trip, such as bank statements and payslips
- Details of where you will stay and your travel plans
- Evidence that you will leave the UK at the end of the visit
How to apply
Apply online on GOV.UK and pay the fee.
Book an appointment at a UK visa application centre in India.
Attend to give your fingerprints and photo, and provide your documents.
Wait for the decision, usually within 3 weeks.
Processing time
Usually within 3 weeks; you can apply up to 3 months before you travel.
Visa application centres in India
VFS Global accepts UK visa applications at 17 centres in India, plus 13 outreach and temporary points. Check which centre covers your state before you book.
Visa application centres
- Ahmedabad
- Bengaluru
- Chandigarh
- Chennai
- Cochin
- Goa
- Gurugram
- Hyderabad
- Jaipur
- Jalandhar
- Kolkata
- Lucknow
- Mumbai North
- Mumbai South
- Mysuru
- New Delhi
- Pune
Outreach and temporary points
Open on set days only, some in hotels; check the schedule and any extra service charge before booking.
- Amritsar
- Bhopal
- Bhubaneswar
- Calicut
- Coimbatore
- Guwahati
- Indore
- Kottayam
- Ludhiana
- Mangalore
- Noida
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Visakhapatnam
AhmedabadBengaluruChandigarhChennaiCochinGoaGurugramHyderabadJaipurJalandharKolkataLucknowMumbai NorthMumbai SouthMysuruNew DelhiPuneAmritsarBhopalBhubaneswarCalicutCoimbatoreGuwahatiIndoreKottayamLudhianaMangaloreNoidaThiruvananthapuramVisakhapatnamCentre list from VFS Global, checked on 26 October 2026. Centres open and close, so confirm before you travel to one.
Popular places to visit in the UK
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: London by Ilya Grigorik, CC BY-SA 3.0; Edinburgh by 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0; Manchester by Mark Andrew., CC BY 2.0; Oxford by Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Frequently asked questions
Indian passport holders need a Standard Visitor visa for the UK. It costs £135, allows stays of up to 6 months, and a decision usually takes 3 weeks. You apply online and give biometrics at a visa application centre.
Standard Visitor visa: £135. Long-term visitor visa, 2 years: £506. Long-term visitor visa, 5 years: £903. Long-term visitor visa, 10 years: £1,128. Fees are those listed on GOV.UK. Faster-decision services and visa application centre extras cost more.
Usually within 3 weeks; you can apply up to 3 months before you travel.
Apply online on GOV.UK and pay the fee. Book an appointment at a UK visa application centre in India. Attend to give your fingerprints and photo, and provide your documents. Wait for the decision, usually within 3 weeks.
From the official sources listed at the end of this page, checked on 26 October 2026. Visa rules and fees change, so confirm them on the official site before you apply.
Official sources
The visa facts on this page come from these official pages, checked on 26 October 2026. Rules and fees can change, so confirm them before you apply.