The UK visa policy allows visa-free entry for up to 6 months to citizens of several countries. Most of which are EU and Commonwealth states. If you’re not from the countries included within the visa exemptions. you may apply for a regular UK tourist visa. for stays longer six months as trips during which you’ll work. Everyone needs a visa no matter their nationality.

The following countries will need a UK tourist visa for entry into the country:

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Burkina Faso
Burma (Myanmar)
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
The Central African Republic
Chad
China (PRC)
Colombia
Comoros
The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
Cuba
Northern Cyprus
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
The Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait***
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Nepal
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian Authority
Peru
Philippines
Qatar
Russia
Rwanda
Sao Tome & Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Surinam
Swaziland
Syria
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
The United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Please note that within the case of Vatican City only holders of service emergency passports will need a visa. On the opposite hand, in the case of Venezuela. If you have got a legitimate Venezuelan biometric passport with an electronic chip, you are doing not need a visa.

Per a directive from the Uk business office. UAE nationals will not require a visit visa to go to the united kingdom starting in 2023.

What types of tourist visas are available?

There are two types of Standard Visitor Visa available in the United Kingdom:

Short-term Visa
Long-term Visa

Short term Visa

You can usually stay within the UK for up to six months on a regular Tourist Visa. You may be ready to stay longer if.

you’re traveling for a family visit or tourism- up to six months.
you’re a traveler under an ADS agreement- up to 30 days.
you’re coming to the united kingdom for personal medical treatment – up to 11 months
you’re an instructional and meet the eligibility requirements . You, your spouse or partner, and your children could also be ready to stay for up to 12 months.
you’re applying as a donor for a loved one or someone you’ve got a detailed relationship with.

Long term Visa

You can apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa that lasts 2, 5, or 10 years. If you would like to go to the united kingdom regularly over an extended period. You’ll be able to stay for a maximum of 6 months on each visit. If you’re under 18 years old after you apply. Your long-term Standard Visitor visa will only be valid for up to six months after you switch to 18. You can’t get a refund on the fee.

Documents required

To apply for a Long-Term Standard Visitor Visa, you’ve got to supply the subsequent documents:

Evidence of normal temporary visits to the united kingdom.
Proof of intention to depart the united kingdom at the tip of the visa period.
Confirmation that you simply won’t change the explanation that you’re requiring this visa.

UK tourist visa processing time

The decision on your UK visitor visa will take not more than 3 weeks if you apply online. However, it’s currently taking 6 weeks on average to induce a choice on Standard Visitor visas

You can check from here to work out. If you’ll get your visa decision faster, betting on the country you’re in.

Please note that you simply get an email or a letter containing the choice on your application. This can explain what you wish to try to do next.

UK tourist visa application process

Complete the online application form

If you wish for a visa, you want to apply online before you jaunt the united kingdom. Usually, the united kingdom visa online form contains questions on personal information such as:

your name & surname.
nationality.
country of residence.
marital status.
personal number.
passport number.
reason for wishing to enter the united kingdom.
other information about your application.

Collect the required documents

As an element of your UK visa application, you ought to submit some mandatory required documents to support your case.

You must provide a passport or travel document. Your passport should be valid for the entirety of your stay within the UK . Must contain a blank page for your visa. You’ll be told what other documents and knowledge to supply once you apply online. You’ll want to provide certified translations of any documents that aren’t in English or Welsh.

You’ll provide the subsequent UK tourist visa requirements:

the dates you’re attending to trip the united kingdom
details of where you’ll be staying during your visit
how much do you think that your trip will cost
your current home address and the way long you’ve lived there
your parents’ names and dates of birth (if known)
how much you earn in an exceedingly year (if you have got an income)
details of any criminal, civil, or immigration offenses you’ll have committed

You might also have to provide:

details of your travel history for the past 10 years
your employer’s address and signaling
your partner’s name, date of birth, and passport number
the name and address of anyone paying for your trip
the name, address, and passport number of any members of the family you’ve got within the UK

Schedule a UK visa appointment

After making the appointment online, print the e-mail confirming the main points of your appointment. Take the documents with you to the united kingdom visa application center or VFS. That you simply have chosen to attend.

The documents required in the original must be submitted in original. Confirm that the documents are pro re nata because sometimes even a bit mistake can cause lots of trouble. Please note that the appointment must be made in your name, not in someone else’s.

Attend the united kingdom visa interview

When you attend the united kingdom visa application center, you may have to provide your biometric information, which has a photograph and a digital scan of your fingerprints.

Every applicant who is submitting a visa application must attend the visa application center face to face, including children. Applicants under 18 years old must be among an adult.

UK tourist visa fees

A Standard Visitor visa costs £100. If a short-term visa is extended for up to 11 to 12 months, the fee is £200.

The fee for a long-term Standard Visitor visa depends on its length:

2 years – £376
5 years – £670
10 years – £837
UK tourist visa application denial
Even the tiniest mistake can result in the rejection of your UK visa application by the united kingdom business office. The rejection can happen thanks to a number of subsequent reasons:

Missing documents.
Applying for the incorrect sort of visa.
Failure to prove you have got the financial means to support your stay within the UK.
Fraudulent documents.
You have overstayed on a previous trip.
Criminal history.

How am I able to appeal against a UK visa denial?

When your UK visa application gets rejected you’ll be notified about the explanations for it being rejected. If you are feeling that the choice has not been taken justly. Then you’ll be able to appeal against the visa denial.

To appeal against the visa denial you’ll have to follow certain steps:

Fill in Form IAFT-2, which is an appeal form.
Submit it to the united kingdom Immigration and Asylum Chamber.
This body will send the documents to the relevant authorities.

A new decision is going to be taken and communicated to the applicant in writing
However if the choice remains not changed. You’ll be able to file a brand new application by correcting the previous mistakes.

Can I extend my UK standard visitor visa?

Yes, you’ll apply for an extension of your UK Tourist Visa or Standard Visitor Visa only when:

Your total time spent within the UK is a smaller amount than 6 months.
You apply online for the visa extension before your current visa expires.
You apply for a visa extension from the united kingdom.

If you’re staying within the UK for extended than 6 months. You want to collect your biometric residence permit after you arrive. You will even have to require a tuberculosis test as a part of your application reckoning on your origin point.