United Kingdom visa for India citizens
VFS Global is the sole intake partner for UK visa applications across India, with biometric-enrolment centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, and several smaller cities. The published 15–21 day processing window for this category starts from biometric enrolment, and most straightforward visit cases decide inside that window. The 220 GBP figure shown reflects one specific length of UK visit visa available to Indian passport holders; longer multi-entry options carry materially higher fees, and the fee is settled in INR at the moment of submission. Standard requirements include a valid passport, online application form, photograph, financial evidence, accommodation proof, and travel itinerary, with the original passport retained by VFS for the duration of processing. Priority decision and super-priority decision are paid add-ons that move the case ahead of the standard queue subject to slot availability at the chosen centre.
| Visa required | Yes (source) |
|---|---|
| e-Visa available | No (source) |
| Maximum stay | 180 days (source) |
| Processing time | 15–21 days (source) |
| Visa fee | 135 GBP (source) |
Official resources
Requirements
Eligibility for Indian applicants on the UK Standard Visitor route
- Indian passport with at least one blank page and validity covering the full intended UK stay
- Genuine intention to leave the UK at the end of the visit, supported by ties to India — employment, family, property, business interests, or studies
- Sufficient funds to cover the full cost of the trip, demonstrated through Indian bank statements covering the last six months on letterhead
- Indian income tax returns (ITRs) for the last two assessment years with corresponding Form 26AS extracts to corroborate income
- Salary slips for the last three to six months on company letterhead, reconciling with the bank-statement credits
- Suitable accommodation in the UK — hotel booking or invitation letter from a host with their immigration-status document attached
- Round-trip flight reservation aligned with the requested visit length
- A purpose of travel that fits the Standard Visitor categories: tourism, family visits, business meetings, short courses, medical treatment
- No previous breaches of UK or major-regime immigration rules; declared in answer to the unrestricted prior-refusals question
- Property documents, share certificates, or business registration evidencing settled ties to India
- For ECR-endorsed passports travelling to a protected-list destination, POE clearance where applicable (rarely an issue for the UK directly)
Documents checklist
- Indian passport with at least one blank page and validity covering the intended UK stay
- Online Visa4UK application form, fully completed, with the printable confirmation page signed
- Recent biometric-style photograph meeting UKVI specifications (35×45 mm, plain background, no glasses)
- VFS Global appointment confirmation for biometric enrolment, at the centre matching the applicant’s state of residence
- Round-trip flight reservation covering the requested travel dates
- Hotel booking or invitation letter from the UK host, with the host’s BRP, settled-status share code, or British passport bio page
- Bank statements (Indian bank, last six months, bank-stamped or on letterhead) showing salary credits and a settled balance
- Form 16 or Income Tax Return (ITR) acknowledgments for the last two assessment years, with corresponding Form 26AS extracts
- Salary slips for the last three to six months on company letterhead
- Employer letter on company letterhead confirming position, start date, salary, and approved leave dates
- Property documents (sale deed, registry copy) or rental agreement evidencing ties to India
- Education or professional-qualification certificates where relevant
- Marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, or family-tree document where the application is family-related
- Translations of any non-English documents into English
Application steps
- Confirm passport validity covers the full intended UK stay and that at least one blank page is available; Indian passport renewal lead times can run four to six weeks at peak.
- Compile the standard documents: passport, recent photograph, bank statements (Indian bank, six months, on letterhead), Form 16 or ITR with Form 26AS, salary slips, employer letter, property documents, hotel booking, flight itinerary, and any host invitation with the host’s status document.
- Complete the online application form at gov.uk under the Visit Visa stream, choosing the length and entry pattern that matches the planned itinerary.
- Pay the 220 GBP base fee in INR through the Home Office portal at the moment of submission; the fee is non-refundable.
- Book a VFS Global biometric-enrolment appointment in a city matching the applicant’s state of residence (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, etc.).
- Attend the VFS appointment with the printed application confirmation, passport, and documents not yet uploaded; biometric enrolment is the step that starts the 15–21 day processing clock.
- Submit any optional add-ons at the centre: priority decision, super-priority decision, on-demand mobile biometrics, document scanning, or courier return of the passport.
- Wait for the decision email; the original passport is retained by VFS for the duration of processing.
- Collect the passport from VFS or via the chosen courier service once the decision arrives; check the visa vignette for the correct dates and conditions before travel.
Processing time
15–21 days (source) (typical). Processing times may vary.
Visa cost
Fee (from our data): 135 GBP (source) . Fees are subject to change; check the official source before applying.
The 220 GBP figure shown reflects one specific length of UK visit visa available to Indian passport holders; two-year, five-year, and ten-year multi-entry options carry materially higher fees, while short single-entry visits sit below it.
On top of the 220 GBP base, applicants pay a separate biometrics-appointment fee at the chosen VFS Global centre in India, and may add priority or super-priority decision, on-demand mobile biometrics, and document-scanning at extra cost. The fee is settled in INR at submission through the Home Office portal, with the GBP-to-INR rate locked at the moment of payment, and is non-refundable once the application has been submitted.
The figure is reviewed periodically and any change is published in advance, so confirm the current schedule against the structured fee tier before paying.
Common mistakes to avoid
Indian passport holders applying through VFS Global for a UK visit visa usually trip on procedural details rather than eligibility itself.
- Choosing the wrong visa length at the form stage — the indicative 220 GBP fee shown reflects one selection, while two-year, five-year, and ten-year multi-entry options carry materially higher fees and cannot be downgraded after payment.
- Booking a VFS biometrics appointment in a city where the applicant does not actually reside, which means the consular post may request additional address evidence and add days to the 15–21 day processing window.
- Uploading ITR acknowledgments without the corresponding Form 26AS or salary slips; a single ITR rarely satisfies the financial-evidence test on its own, particularly for self-employed applicants.
- Letting the optional priority service run out of slots and then assuming standard processing will still meet a fixed travel date — priority must be paid for at the form stage, not added afterwards.
- Listing a UK host without supplying their immigration status document; an inviting relative’s BRP, settled-status share code, or British passport bio page is normally required when accommodation is not commercial.
- Failing to declare prior US, Schengen, Australian, or Canadian refusals, even those more than ten years old — the question is unlimited in time and undeclared refusals are treated as deception under paragraph 9.7.2.
- Carrying the original passport to the airport before VFS has couriered it back; the document is normally retained for the duration of processing and travelling without it is impossible.
Country context & recent trends
Recent rule changes
VFS Global remains the sole intake partner for UK visa applications across India, with biometric enrolment centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Goa, Kochi, and others; the Home Office has expanded the on-demand mobile-biometrics option to cover smaller cities where physical centres are absent. Within the 15–21 day window, standard cases generally clear in the lower half, and applicants whose documents trigger administrative review or sponsor-checks lean toward the upper bound.
Peak-season patterns
Indian-market caseload peaks in two distinct windows: the April–June pre-summer surge driven by family-visit and education travel, and the September–November business and conference window. Priority decision and super-priority decision slots in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru are typically the first to be exhausted during these windows, while smaller regional centres retain wider availability into the peak.
How it compares to nearby destinations
Indian travellers comparing the United Kingdom with other major Anglophone destinations face different fee tiers and biometric-enrolment networks. The table below sets the UK figure shown alongside indicative figures for nearby alternatives.
| Destination | Visa required | Typical processing | Indicative fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (Standard Visitor) | Yes | 15–21 days | 220 GBP |
| Schengen short-stay (e.g. Germany, France) | Yes | ~15 working days | ~90 EUR |
| Ireland (short-stay C visa) | Yes | ~4–8 weeks | ~60 EUR |
| United States (B-1/B-2) | Yes | 3–180 days | 185 USD |
VFS Global handles intake for the United Kingdom, Schengen partners, and Ireland across most Indian cities, with overlapping appointment networks; the United States operates its own consular sections in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad.
Frequently asked questions
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How long does the UK visa take to process for Indian applicants?
The published service standard for this category is 15–21 days from biometric enrolment at the chosen VFS centre, and most straightforward cases decide inside that window. Priority decision and super-priority decision are paid add-ons that move the case ahead of the standard queue subject to slot availability.
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How much does the visa fee cost from India?
The figure shown for this category is 220 GBP and reflects one specific length of UK visit visa; two-year, five-year, and ten-year multi-entry options carry materially higher fees, while shorter single-entry visits sit below it. The fee is settled in INR at the moment of submission, with the GBP-to-INR rate locked at the time of payment.
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Where do Indian applicants enrol biometrics?
VFS Global is the sole intake partner across India, with biometric-enrolment centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Goa, Kochi, and several smaller cities. The on-demand mobile-biometrics service is available at extra cost where the applicant lives outside a centre’s catchment.
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Can I apply online for a UK visa from India?
Yes — the application form is completed online at the Home Office portal, with biometric enrolment booked at a VFS Global centre. Supporting documents are uploaded to the portal or scanned at the VFS appointment, and the original passport is retained by VFS for the duration of processing.
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What happens if my UK visa application is refused?
The refusal letter cites the specific paragraph of the Immigration Rules grounding the decision and any administrative-review rights. The 220 GBP fee is non-refundable, and any future application — to the UK or to any other major regime that asks the question — must disclose the refusal in full, including the date and the grounds.
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Can my family travel together on a single application?
Each family member needs their own application form, supporting documents, biometrics appointment, and visa fee — there is no single combined family application for the visit-visa route. Coordinating dates and uploading a shared cover letter that explains the relationship and itinerary is the normal way to keep the family cases linked.
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Are there priority options for Indian applicants?
Priority decision (typically targeting around five working days) and super-priority decision (typically targeting next working day) are paid add-ons available subject to VFS centre slot availability. Both shift the case ahead of the standard queue but do not guarantee a specific outcome.