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UK Visa from India (2026) — Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Visank Editorial20 March 2026Updated 5 April 202611 min read

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The UK Standard Visitor Visa is one of the most-applied-for sticker visas from India. As of 2026, the fee is £127 (~₹13,600) plus VFS service charges, and the standard processing time is 15 business days. This guide walks you through the entire application — from the online form on gov.uk to the biometric appointment at VFS — and explains the documents the UKVI caseworker actually looks at.

If you'd rather skip the paperwork, Visank handles the entire UK visa application end-to-end for a flat ₹5,500 service fee — dummy flight and hotel reservations included, full refund if rejected.

Who needs a UK visa from India?

Every Indian passport holder needs a visa to visit the United Kingdom. There is no visa-free or visa-on-arrival option. The most common type for leisure and business travel is the Standard Visitor Visa, which allows stays of up to 6 months.

UK visa types for Indians

Standard Visitor Visa — Up to 6 months, single-entry, £127 fee. For tourism, visiting family, short business trips, or short courses.
Long-term Standard Visitor (2/5/10 years) — Multiple-entry, 6 months max per visit. £475 / £848 / £1,059 respectively. Ideal for frequent business travellers.
Marriage Visitor Visa — Up to 6 months, £127. For people visiting the UK to get married or enter a civil partnership.
Permitted Paid Engagement Visa — Up to 1 month, £127. For invited experts, artists, academics.

Step-by-step: how to apply

Step 1 — Apply online at gov.uk. Complete the Visit Visa application form. You'll pay the £127 fee in USD (around $180) at this stage.
Step 2 — Book a biometric appointment at VFS. After paying, you'll be redirected to the VFS portal to book a slot at your nearest UK visa application centre.
Step 3 — Attend the VFS appointment. Bring your printed application, passport, and supporting documents. Biometrics (fingerprints + photo) are captured in ~15 minutes.
Step 4 — Wait for the decision. Standard: 15 business days. Priority (+£500): ~5 business days. Super-priority (+£1,000): next business day.
Step 5 — Collect your passport. VFS notifies you by email when your passport is ready for pickup.

UK visa fees from India (2026)

Visa type	Govt fee (£)	Govt fee (₹)	Visank service fee	Total via Visank
Standard Visitor (6 mo)	£127	₹13,600	₹5,500	₹19,100
2-year Visitor	£475	₹50,800	₹5,500	₹56,300
5-year Visitor	£848	₹90,700	₹5,500	₹96,200
10-year Visitor	£1,059	₹1,13,300	₹5,500	₹1,18,800
Priority (add-on)	+£500	+₹53,500	Included	+₹53,500

Documents required for UK visa from India

Valid passport (at least one blank page, valid for the entire stay)
Previous passports (if any) showing travel history
Photograph meeting UK photo specifications (45mm × 35mm, white background)
Bank statements for the last 6 months (minimum ₹2 lakh average balance recommended)
Income Tax Returns (ITR) for the last 2-3 years
Salary slips for the last 3 months + employment letter with approved leave dates
Self-employed: business registration, GST returns, last 2 years ITR
Hotel bookings or host invitation for entire stay
Return flight itinerary (dummy reservation is acceptable)
Travel insurance (recommended, not mandatory)
Cover letter explaining purpose and itinerary

UK visa processing time

Standard processing is 15 business days (3 weeks), measured from the biometric appointment date at VFS — not from the online application date. Peak seasons (May–August, December) can push this to 4 weeks. Priority service (+£500) cuts it to ~5 business days. Super-priority (+£1,000) offers a next-business-day decision.

VFS UK locations in India

UK biometric appointments are handled by VFS Global at the following Indian cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Cochin, Jaipur, Gurgaon, Jalandhar, Goa, and Lucknow. You can choose any centre regardless of where you live.

Common UK visa refusal reasons

Insufficient bank balance or unexplained large deposits
Weak ties to India (no property, no fixed job, single/unemployed)
Previous visa overstays or refusals in any country
Inconsistent information between form and documents
No clear travel purpose or itinerary
Sponsor letter without proof of relationship

Frequently asked questions

?How much is the UK visa fee from India in 2026?

The UK Standard Visitor Visa fee is £127 (approximately ₹13,600), unchanged since April 2025. The VFS service fee adds roughly ₹1,900. Total out-of-pocket for a standard 6-month single-entry visit visa is about ₹15,500. Through Visank, total cost including full application handling and dummy reservations is ₹19,100.

?How long does a UK visa take from India?

Standard processing is 15 business days (roughly 3 weeks) from the date of your biometric appointment. Priority service cuts this to about 5 business days for an extra £500. Super-priority offers next-business-day processing for £1,000 extra.

?Can I apply for a UK visa online from India?

Yes. The entire application form is completed online at gov.uk. You only need to visit VFS in person for biometric capture (fingerprints and photograph), which takes about 15 minutes.

?How much bank balance do I need for a UK visa?

The UKVI does not publish a fixed amount, but successful applications typically show ₹2 lakh or more in savings, stable over 6 months, plus consistent salary credits. Stability matters more than a single large balance.

?Can I get a UK visa if my previous visa was rejected?

Yes, provided you address the specific refusal reason and wait at least a few months before re-applying. Always declare the previous refusal on the new application — UKVI checks this and concealing it is grounds for automatic rejection.

?Do I need a return ticket for a UK visa?

You need to show intent to return to India, which a return or onward flight reservation proves. A dummy flight reservation (real PNR on hold) is perfectly acceptable — Visank provides these free with every application.

Let Visank handle your UK visa application end-to-end. Flat ₹5,500 service fee, full refund if rejected.

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