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Indian passport · United Kingdom

Do Indian passport holders need a visa for the UK?

By the Visa Almanac editorial teamChange logUpdated 6 Nov 2026

In brief

Yes. Indian passport holders need a visa for the UK, arranged before travel.

UK visa fee for Indians: A Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for a visit of up to 6 months. ≈ INR 17,000 at the ECB rate of . Official fee. Source: UK Home Office, checked .

UK visa processing time for Indians: After you apply online and attend the visa application centre, you usually get a decision within 3 weeks. Source: UK Home Office, checked .

VN 1.1. A person who meets one or more of the criteria below needs entry clearance (a visa) in advance of travel to the UK for any purpose, unless they meet one of the exceptions set out in VN2.1 and VN2.2.UK Home Office (Immigration Rules)

Checked 6 Nov 2026Source: UK Home Office (Immigration Rules)Report a change

Independent reference, not a government website. We don't issue visas or sell visa services.

ContentsIn brief
  1. In brief
  2. At a glance
  3. Do Indians need a visa?
  4. Visa types
  5. Apply from India
  6. Apply from the UAE
  7. Fee
  8. Processing time
  9. Documents
  10. If you live in the UAE
  11. What changed
  12. FAQ
  13. Sources

At a glance

AccessVisa required
StayYou can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months per visit.2
Validity and entriesFrequent visitors can apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa valid for 2, 5 or 10 years (£506, £903 or £1,128), still with a maximum of 6 months per visit.3
Official feeA Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for a visit of up to 6 months.2A Direct Airside Transit visa costs £41.50.72 more below
Official processingAfter you apply online and attend the visa application centre, you usually get a decision within 3 weeks.3UKVI's current processing time for Standard Visitor applications made outside the UK is 3 weeks.81 more below
Where to applyApply online on GOV.UK no earlier than 3 months before you travel, then attend an appointment at a UK visa application centre.3

Do Indians need a visa for the UK?

The UK Home Office (Immigration Rules) lists India among the countries whose nationals need a visa before they travel.

“VN 1.1. A person who meets one or more of the criteria below needs entry clearance (a visa) in advance of travel to the UK for any purpose, unless they meet one of the exceptions set out in VN2.1 and VN2.2.”

UK Home Office (Immigration Rules) · checked

Conditions and exceptions

UK visa types for Indians

  • You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months per visit.

    UK Home Office · checked

  • Frequent visitors can apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa valid for 2, 5 or 10 years (£506, £903 or £1,128), still with a maximum of 6 months per visit.

    UK Home Office · checked

How to apply from India

  1. Apply online on GOV.UK no earlier than 3 months before you travel, then attend an appointment at a UK visa application centre.

    UK Home Office · checked

How to apply from the UAE

Indian citizens who live in the UAE:

  • Indians living in the UAE can attend a UK visa application centre in the UAE: GOV.UK's centre finder lists the UAE as a country with its own centre (it links to VFS Global).

    UK Home Office · checked

  • Apply online before travel and attend an appointment at a visa application centre; the earliest you can apply is 3 months before travel.

    UK Visas and Immigration · checked

  • GOV.UK's visa application centre finder links the United Arab Emirates entry to VFS Global (visa.vfsglobal.com/are/en/gbr/attend-centre).

    UK Visas and Immigration · checked

Fee

  • A Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for a visit of up to 6 months.

    UK Home Office · checked

  • A Direct Airside Transit visa costs £41.50.

    UK Home Office · checked

  • A Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for up to 6 months; long-term visas cost £506 (2 years), £903 (5 years) and £1,128 (10 years), up to 6 months per visit.

    UK Visas and Immigration · checked

  • If eligible, the priority service costs £500 extra and usually gives a decision within 5 working days.

    UK Visas and Immigration · checked

These are government fees as the official sources state them. Agencies add their own service fees; those are not visa fees, and we don't list them.

Processing time

  • After you apply online and attend the visa application centre, you usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

    UK Home Office · checked

  • UKVI's current processing time for Standard Visitor applications made outside the UK is 3 weeks.

    UK Visas and Immigration · checked

  • If eligible, the priority service costs £500 extra and usually gives a decision within 5 working days.

    UK Visas and Immigration · checked

Documents and entry checks

If you live in the UAE

UAE residence does not change the rule. Visa required Standard Visitor visa applied for online, then biometrics at the visa application centre in the UAE (GOV.UK links VFS Global); UAE residence gives no exemption. See UK visa for UAE residents.

If you need a visa, see How to apply from the UAE.

What changed

  1. Checked against the official sources on this page: the rule above still holds.

FAQ

Is the UK visa-free for Indians now?

No. Indians need a visa before they travel.

How much does a UK visa cost in India?

A Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for a visit of up to 6 months. A Direct Airside Transit visa costs £41.50. A Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for up to 6 months; long-term visas cost £506 (2 years), £903 (5 years) and £1,128 (10 years), up to 6 months per visit.

Can I get a UK visa in 7 days?

After you apply online and attend the visa application centre, you usually get a decision within 3 weeks. UKVI's current processing time for Standard Visitor applications made outside the UK is 3 weeks.

Can I enter the UK with a UAE residence visa?

UAE residence does not change the rule. Visa required for Indian passport holders who live in the UAE: Standard Visitor visa applied for online, then biometrics at the visa application centre in the UAE (GOV.UK links VFS Global); UAE residence gives no exemption.

Sources

Official sources only. Each was checked on the date shown.

  1. UK Home Office (Immigration Rules): entry rulegov.uk · checked
  2. UK Home Office (GOV.UK): fees and visa typesgov.uk · checked
  3. UK Home Office (GOV.UK): visa types, processing time, how to apply, documents, applying from the UAE and feesgov.uk · checked
  4. UK Home Office (GOV.UK): applying from the UAEgov.uk · checked
  5. UK legislation: The Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014, Schedule 1 (legislation.gov.uk): entry conditionslegislation.gov.uk · checked
  6. UK legislation: The Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014, article 4 (legislation.gov.uk): entry conditionslegislation.gov.uk · checked
  7. UK Home Office (GOV.UK): feesgov.uk · checked
  8. UK Visas and Immigration (GOV.UK): processing timegov.uk · checked
  9. UK Visas and Immigration (GOV.UK): feesgov.uk · checked
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Rules change without notice. Always confirm with the official source linked on each page before you travel.