Dos and Don’ts of Applying for a UK Tourist Visa

A UK Tourist Visa, or UK General Visitor Visa, is issued to people who wish to visit the UK for leisure or tourism. This visa is for individuals who are from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

This visa also applies to people who want to visit the UK to see friends or family who are not permanent residents in the UK. There are some restrictions on what you can and can’t do while you visit the UK on a general visitor visa.

General Visitor Visas are usually granted for 6 months. If you a frequent visitor to the United Kingdom you can apply for a multiple-entry visitor visa that is valid for 2, 5 or 10 years. Even with a multiple-entry visitor visa, the visa holder is allowed to stay in the UK for up to 6 months at a time. Usually, you cannot spend more than 6 months out of 12 in the UK in any given year.

Eligibility Criteria for UK Tourist Visa

To be eligible for a UK tourist visa, you need to prove to the UK migration authorities the following things:

You wish to travel to the UK for leisure only and not for employment, business, or study
As a visitor with a UK General Visitor Visa, you will not carry out activities that would qualify you for a different category of visitor, such as: receive private medical treatment, marry or form a civil partnership, perform in shows, or take part in sports events.
You can support yourself financially for the duration of your trip to the UK.
You have the financial resources to cover the costs of your onward and return journeys.
You are not in transit to another country, except for Ireland, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands
You intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit.

In case you want to apply for a long-term visit visa, in addition to the above points, you will also be required to prove the following things to the UK migration authorities:

You need to come to the UK on a frequent and ongoing basis
The reason for your need to visit the UK frequently is unlikely to change significantly during the period the visa is valid.

Steps to follow to apply for a UK Tourist Visa

After you are sure about your eligibility to apply for a UK General Visitor Visa, you need to follow the procedure mentioned below to apply for the visa.

Step 1: Fill out the tourist visa application form online

Complete the visa application form VAF1A online. There are guidelines available in various languages, such as English, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Russian, Thai, and Turkish, to fill the application form. Read the guidelines carefully before you start filling out the form.

Step 2: Get an appointment date

Submit your online visa form to receive a date for your appointment. Schedule an appointment.

Step 3: Print out the application form

Take a printout of the application forms and complete them. Gather all supporting documents needed along with the application form.

Step 4: Pay the tourist visa application fee

Make payment for the tourist visa application fee. You will be required to pay the visa fee online using Visa or MasterCard debit or credit cards, or via e-wallet.

Step 5: Submit the visa application form

Submit your visa application form along with all supporting documents in person at the British Embassy/High Commission or your local visa application centre for the UK. You will be required to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre as part of your visa application procedure. This is to provide biometric information about yourself.

Step 6: Track the application’s status online

Keep track of your visa application status online. Return to the visa application centre when the online status shows that a decision has been reached for your visa application.

Required Fees for UK Tourist Visa

Visa Fees for General Visitor Visa – 83 GBP
Visa Fees for Long-Term Visit Visas Up to
1 year – 300 GBP
2 years – 300 GBP
5 years – 544 GBP
10 years – 737 GBP

Note:

Your application fee will not be refunded if your visa application is refused.
The conversion into Indian currency is based on current conversion rates, which may change.

UK Tourist Visa Waiver Program

Citizens of some countries do not require a visa to visit the United Kingdom as tourists. However, such people are advised to have either a return ticket or, if arriving on a one-way ticket, proof of sufficient funds to accommodate and support themselves for the duration of stay. Here is the list of such countries whose nationals do not require a visa when entering the UK as a tourist:

Andorra	Argentina	Aruba
Australia	Austria	Belgium
Bolivia	Brazil	Bulgaria
Canada	Chile	Cook Islands
Costa Rica	Denmark	East Timor
El Salvador	Finland	France
French Guiana	French Polynesia	Germany
Gibraltar	Greece	Greenland
Guadeloupe	Guam	Guatemala
Honduras	Hong Kong	Hungary
Iceland	Ireland	Israel
Italy	Japan	Liechtenstein
Luxembourg	Macau	Malta
Marshall Islands	Martinique	Mexico
Micronesia	Monaco	Netherlands
Netherlands Antilles	New Caledonia	Nicaragua
Niue	North Korea	Norway
Palau	Panama	Paraguay
Puerto Rico	Réunion	Romania
Samoa	San Marino	South Korea
Spain	Sweden	Switzerland
United Kingdom	United States	Uruguay
US Virgin Islands	Vatican City	Venezuela

Dos and Don’ts for UK Tourist Visa Application

Remember the following dos and don’ts when applying for a UK tourist visa.

Dos

Apply for a tourist visa to the UK at least 10 weeks before your planned travel date to allow time for the visa application procedure to be completed on time for your travel.
Fill out your visa application form carefully with all accurate details
Bring along all forms and supporting documents for submitting your visa application form
Check your visa application form to see how many photos you need to provide and arrange for them accordingly

Don’ts

Do not present false documents for your visa
Do not hide or misrepresent facts in your visa application
Do not use photos for your visa application that have been cut down from larger pictures