UK Visa for Indians

Types of UK Visas Available for Indian Citizens

The United Kingdom offers a wide range of visa categories that vary based on the purpose of your visit. Here are details of the types of British visas for Indians:

Visitor Visas

Here are the different types of United Kingdom tourist visa from India:

• Standard Visa: Standard visa is an Indian tourist visa for the UK, which is granted for tourism, leisure and related visits. 
• Permitted Paid Engagement Visa: If you are visiting the UK for a special event or activity invited by a UK-based organisation, you can apply for the permitted paid engagement visa. 
• Marriage Visitor Visa: If you visit the UK to get married or register in a civil partnership, you will be eligible to apply for a marriage visitor visa. However, you must leave the British state after the ceremony is over. 
• Transit Visa: If you have a layover in the UK, you must apply for a transit visa. 

Study Visas

There are three types of study visas for Indian students:

• Student Visa: For pursuing any full-time course from a UK university or college, you can apply for a student visa. To be eligible, the student must be at least 16 years old, and they must have an acceptance letter from their university.
• Child Student Visa: This visa is valid for children under 17 studying at a UK school.
• Short-term Study Visa: For study courses or programs up to 11 months, you can apply for a short-term study visa.

Work Visas

Here are the different UK work visa options for Indians:

• Skilled Worker Visa: If you have a job offer from a UK employer or are meeting the salary and skills requirements, you are eligible to apply for a Skilled UK work permit from India.
• Health and Care Worker Visa: Healthcare professionals are eligible to apply for a Health and Care UK work permit visa for Indians.
• Intra-Company Transfer Visa: If your company is transferring you temporarily to a UK branch, then you are eligible to apply for a work permit visa UK from India.
• Global Talent Visa: Those with exceptional talent in fields like art, technology or science are eligible to apply for a UK Global Talent work visa for Indians without any job offer.
• Youth Mobility Scheme Visa: These visas are granted under the India Young Professionals Scheme. Under this scheme, the youth from India is eligible to stay and work in the UK for up to two years.
• Graduate Visa: Graduates from UK universities are allowed to stay and work for at least two years if they have a graduate visa.

Family Visas

If any family member, spouse, partner, or child lives in the UK, you are eligible to apply for UK Family Visas that allow you to stay with them for over six months. If the stay is less than 6 months, then a Standard Visitor Visa or Marriage Visa are required.

Others

• UK Ancestry Visa: If your grandparents are UK-born with Commonwealth citizenship, you can apply for this visa, which allows you to live with them in the UK for up to five years.
• UK Settlement Visa: These visas are for Indian citizens who want to live permanently in the UK. They must meet the residency criteria and other requirements before applying for a visa.

How to Apply for a UK Visa from India Online?

Here is the step-by-step process to apply for an Indian visa from the UK:

• Visit the official website: First of all, visit the official portal of the UK government and fill out the online visa application form with correct and updated information.
• Pay the charges for a UK visa from India: Pay the visa fees for the UK from India in INR through one of the payment gateways listed on the portal. 
• Biometric Appointment: After payment of the visa fees for the UK from India, your application will be processed for a biometric appointment at a Visa Application Centre. Complete your biometrics for a UK Visa for Indians.
• Submission of documents: Submit all the required documents, such as a visa application form and identification documents.
• Visa approval: There will be a certain processing time for visa approval, which can take between 15 working days and 24 weeks.
• Collect UK Visa for Indians: After receiving official approval, you can collect your UK visa from the visa application centre or have it delivered via courier.

UK Student Visa Application Process for Indian Students

If a student wants to pursue higher studies in the United Kingdom for longer than 6 months, then a UK study or student visa is required. Here are the steps to apply for a UK visa from India for higher studies:

Step 1: First of all, you must have an unconditional offer letter for the course you want to pursue from a UK university with CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for studies).

Step 2: Visit the official website of the UK government and complete the online student visa application to apply for a UK visa from India.

Step 3: Next, pay the online UK visa application fees in India along with Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and then a biometric appointment will be scheduled at a UK Visa Application Centre (VAC).

Step 4: Attend the visa interview and complete your biometrics at the scheduled time and location.

Step 5: Upload all the required documents and be prepared for a visa interview. It will take around three to five weeks to get approval for your student UK visa. After receiving official mail, you can collect your visa from the VAC or request it by mail.

Studying in the UK offers a fascinating academic journey. Here, with a Care Insurance Student Explore plan, you can ensure comprehensive medical and non-medical coverage, providing peace of mind and allowing you to focus on your studies without worry.

What are the Eligibility Criteria to Apply for a UK Visa?

Here are the specific requirements to apply for a UK visit visa from India:

1. The applicant must have a valid Indian passport with a minimum of 6 months' validity and two blank pages to apply for India-UK visas.
2. There must be a clear and valid reason to visit the UK and intend to leave the UK at the end of your authorised stay.
3. The applicant must have sufficient funds to support themselves and their family financially without any intention of claiming the public fund.
4. You must not have any criminal record or previous immigration violations in any country.

UK Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens

Whether you are applying for a student visa, Indian tourist visa, a UK tourist visa, or a work visa, the UK tourist visa requirements for Indians are also applicable to these visa applications. Take a look!

• Passport
• Financial documents like bank statements
• Proof of travel documents like tickets, itinerary, and hotel bookings
• Passport-sized photographs
• Declaration of purpose of visit

Pro tip: In case your passport or International Driving License gets misplaced during your trip, International Travel Insurance by Care Health Insurance offers financial assistance. In a forging country like the UK, it is a reassuring safety net that feels like a comforting hand from your own country.

UK Visa Fees and Processing Time for Indian Applicants

Here's a table summarising visa fees from India to the UK and processing times for Indian citizens:

Disclaimer: The information mentioned above is for reference purposes only. For updates on the latest cost for a UK visa from India and processing times, please visit the UK embassy website.

Why is Travel Insurance Essential for a UK Visa?

Although UK travel insurance is not a prerequisite for a UK visa application, it is highly advisable. There is a variety of coverages you get under a travel insurance policy, which can be a great financial support in case of an emergency. Here is why travel insurance is strongly recommended:

• Medical Coverage: Healthcare facilities in the UK can be costly. With ideal travel insurance, you can claim medical bills, doctor’s visits, emergency hospitalisations and prescriptions.
• Protection Against Unexpected Events: Travel insurance allows you to get reimbursement for non-refundable expenses such as Trip cancellation or interruption, lost or delayed baggage, flight delays and cancellations, and loss of a passport.
• Personal Accident Coverage: Personal accident coverage is also provided under the international travel insurance.
• Personal Liability: Overseas trip insurance also covers personal liability towards a third party that arises during your international trip, provided you are not involved in any illegal action.

How to Renew a UK Visa for Indians?

Requirements:

• Check if your India-UK visa is eligible for extension. Work visas, student visas, and family visas are generally eligible for extension, whereas the Youth Mobility Scheme visa can’t be extended.
• Whether or not your visa will be extended also depends on the reason for the extension.
• Also, the visa extension request must be submitted before the expiry date of your current visa. The applicant must be present in the UK and must not travel outside during the application period.

Steps to apply:

• Apply online for an extension on the official UK government website.
• Next, you need to visit a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point for biometric processing.
• You will need to pay the application fee and, for most long-term visas, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) again.

UK Biometric Appointment and Visa Interview Guide

After submitting your application, you need to schedule a UK biometric appointment and reach the centre for the same. It is a process to verify your identity via fingerprints and photographs. You are required to bring your appointment confirmation, passport and necessary documents.

Visa Interview Guide:

Visa interviews are usually conducted in the student visa process. It is conducted to confirm application authenticity and visa eligibility. It could be online or offline, depending on the purpose and criticality of the process. Here are some tips that you can follow during your interview:

1. Be polite and attentive during the interview.
2. Whatever the embassy personnel ask, make sure to provide concise and precise answers.
3. You can ask for clarification on the query if needed. 
4. Be honest about your application.

Reasons for UK Visa Rejection in India

A United Kingdom tourist visa application from India can be rejected for several reasons. Every year, thousands of applications are refused by the officials due to mistakes in their documents or any pending application formalities. Some common reasons for rejection of the UK visa for Indians are:

• Incomplete application form - If any information is missing from the application form, the visa application may be rejected.
• Incorrect information - If any information is found incorrect and not verified, then your UK visa for an Indian application can be rejected.
• Unclear purpose of visiting - It is important to declare the clear purpose of visiting the United Kingdom, be it for business, work, study, or leisure. In case the purpose is not clear, the application will be rejected.
• Undefined visa category - As there are different types of visas, defining the type of visa you are applying for is mandatory. If it is not specified, the UK visa shall be refused.
• Criminal record against applicant - If any criminal record is not mentioned in the application, and is found by UKVI during the verification process of the UK visa application, it will be considered as an attempt to deceive.
• Lack of funds - One of the key requirements to get a visit visa from India to UK is having adequate funds in your bank account. This fund won’t get deducted for any process; it is just a validation that you can support yourself or your family financially in a foreign land. Due to a lack of funds, your application can be rejected.
• Missing or unorganised documents - Any missing document from the required documents list or any unorganised documents can lead to rejection of your UK visa application for a tourist visa from India.
• Unexplained fund transfers - If any suspicious activity appears in your bank statement regarding unexplained or irregularities in fund transfers, it can raise concerns for your UK visa for Indian application approvals.

Tips for a Successful UK Visa Application from India

All the above-mentioned points are a must to keep in mind while applying for the United Kingdom visa and filling out the application form. In addition, here are some easy tips that you can follow to increase the chances of getting approval for an India-UK tourist visa:

Apply Well Before Your Planned Travel Dates: As it may take 3 to 5 weeks or more to get your UK tourist visa, start your application process as early as possible before your planned travel dates. It will allow you to complete the process without any rush or eliminate the risk of last-minute trip cancellation. If you have a travel insurance plan, you can claim the benefits of trip cancellation coverage.

Fill the Application Form with Accurate Information: One of the most important things is to fill out the UK visa application with all accurate information to avoid any type of discrepancies.

Define the Visa Category: You must mention what type of UK visas you are applying for. Like, if you are applying for a work permit visa UK from India, then choose the work visa category and submit all the required details and documents.

Attach a Professionally-written Cover Letter: Attaching a well-structured and professionally written cover letter with all the required documents will help in adding an extra point for a UK visa for Indians. Create it such that it clearly explains the purpose of your trip and includes a detailed itinerary.

Show Strong Bonds of Your Home Country: It is really important to prove that you intend to return to your home country. For this, you can mention your family and professional relationships, property details, and ongoing course details in your UK visa application.

Seek Expert Guidance: If you are unfamiliar with the UK immigration visa from India process, then it would be helpful to take expert guidance. They can help you with detailed advice and explain the step-by-step process.

Indian Embassy Details in the UK

Looking for Indian Embassy details in the UK? There are a total of three Indian diplomatic missions and a consulate in Manchester. Take a look at the contact details: