UK Visitor Visa from India: Complete Document Checklist & Fees (2026)
Planning a holiday in London, visiting your son or daughter at a UK university, or attending a business meeting? You will need a UK Standard Visitor visa. Most refusals for Indian applicants are not because people are ineligible — they happen because the documents do not clearly show the purpose of the trip, the money to pay for it, and the reasons to come back. This checklist covers everything you need in 2026.
What the Standard Visitor visa allows
- Tourism and holidays
- Visiting family and friends, including parents attending a graduation
- Business meetings, conferences and training (not paid work)
- Short courses of study of up to 6 months
- Private medical treatment
You can usually stay up to 6 months per visit. You cannot work, claim public funds, or live in the UK through frequent long visits.
UK visitor visa fees (2026)
| Visa | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard Visitor visa (up to 6 months) | £135 |
| Long-term visitor visa – 2 years | £506 |
| Long-term visitor visa – 5 years | £903 |
| Long-term visitor visa – 10 years | £1,128 |
Long-term visas still limit each stay to 6 months. VFS Global charges a separate service fee at the application centre, and optional paid services (such as priority processing, where available) cost extra.
Document checklist
Identity and travel history
- Current passport with at least one blank page, and all old passports
- Copies of previous visas — UK, US, Schengen, Canada, Australia — they show a good travel record
Money
- Bank statements for the last 6 months, with salary or income credits clearly visible
- Income tax returns (ITR) for the last 2–3 years
- Fixed deposits, mutual funds or other savings, if you have them
Avoid large unexplained deposits shortly before applying. If someone gave you money for the trip, include a letter and their bank statement explaining it.
Your job, business or retirement
- Employed: employer letter with designation, salary, joining date and approved leave, plus 3–6 recent salary slips
- Self-employed: business registration (GST, trade licence or partnership deed), and business bank statements
- Retired: pension statements or proof of rental or investment income
- Students: a letter from your college and a parent's sponsorship documents
Purpose of the visit
- A short day-by-day itinerary and hotel bookings, or the host's address
- Family visits: an invitation letter from your host with a copy of their passport or UK immigration status (for example eVisa share code or BRP) and address proof
- Parents of students: your child's university enrolment letter or CAS details, and a graduation invitation if relevant
- Business: an invitation from the UK company and a letter from your employer
You do not need to buy flight tickets before the decision.
Ties to India
Show what you are coming back to: your job, business, property, family responsibilities, or children's schooling. This is the single most important part of a visitor application.
How the process works
- Fill the online application on GOV.UK and pay the visa fee.
- Book a biometrics appointment at a VFS Global centre (there is one in Hyderabad).
- Upload or submit your documents and give fingerprints and a photo.
- Wait for the decision — usually within 3 weeks of your biometrics appointment. Apply up to 3 months before you travel, and earlier in the busy summer season.
Common reasons for refusal
- Bank balance that does not match declared income, or a sudden large deposit
- Vague purpose — no clear itinerary or invitation
- Weak ties to India, especially for first-time travellers
- Answers in the form that do not match the documents
- Not declaring a previous refusal from any country
Get your UK visitor visa right the first time
Our team in Hyderabad reviews your documents, prepares a personalised checklist, fills the application with you and books your VFS appointment. See our UK visit visa service, or book a free consultation. Visiting more than one country? Look at our Schengen visa help too.
Fees checked on GOV.UK in November 2026. Always confirm the current fee before you apply.
