UK Tourist Visa - Application Process & Requirements

UK Tourist Visa Eligibility

Individuals who are applying for a UK Tourist visa are required to meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. Submit proof of return on the scheduled date.
2. Submit proof you can take care of your financial expenses while in the UK.
3. Submit proof of any activities (business or otherwise) you wish to participate in that fall within the framework of permitted activities, while in the UK.
4. For long term visa applications, the applicant has to prove that he/she has a recurrent need to visit the UK and that the purpose of the visit will remain constant for the duration of the visa.
5. When applying for a visa for medical treatment, applicants must show they have the necessary papers, have made arrangements to pay for the treatment, and will depart the UK once it is over.

UK Tourist Visa Documentation

Indian individuals applying for a tourist visa to the UK will have to provide the following list of documents along with their application form:

1. Valid passport or travel document.
2. Financial statements that prove the applicant can support himself/herself during the course of the trip.
3. A translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh.
4. Additional documents if the purpose of the visit is for:
   1. Entrepreneurial opportunities.
   2. Private medical treatment.
   3. Organ donation.
   4. Academics on a sabbatical.
   5. Academic purposes- to sit the Objective Structures Clinical Examination or the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board.

Also Check : Thailand Visa Fees for Indians

UK Tourist Visa Form

The Visit and Short-Term Stay (VAF1A) Form is the application form for a UK tourist visa. Both the British High Commission website and the official website of the UK government both offer download links for this form.

Before filling out the form, the applicant should read the instructions provided at the top. 

As a rule, only black or blue ink can be used to fill in the form and the form is to be filled in English only.

The applicant is required to enter the following details in the form:

1. Type of visitor visa (tourist/to visit friends/other).
2. Duration of stay.
3. Main purpose of visit.
4. Dates of travel (both the date of entry as well as date of exit from the UK)

Personal Details:

1. Applicants full name.
2. Gender.
3. Marital status.
4. Date and place of birth.
5. Nationality and country of birth.
6. Dual citizenship status, if any.
7. Passport details such as passport number, expiry, date and place of issue.
8. Residential address.
9. Contact information such as email address, telephone and mobile number.

Family Information:

1. Family related information such as father/mother/spouse name, date and place of birth and nationality.
2. Details regarding spouse/children, if any.

Employment Information:

1. Financial and employment details, such as current employment status.
2. Type of employment currently engaged in, duration of employment and organisation details.
3. Work address and previous work history.
4. Details of income and employment.
5. Details of cost of visit to the UK.

Travel History:

1. Details of previous travel to foreign countries.
2. Previous travel to the UK, with details, if any.
3. Record of any criminal history in a foreign country, if any.

UK Tourist Visa Application Process

1. The application form must be completed either online or by picking up a hard copy. Both the British Consulate website and the British High Commission website provide online forms. 
2. The applicant must attend a visa application center after submitting the form at the designated time and day to have his or her biometric data (fingerprint scan and photo) taken. 
3. The applicant must appear in person at the Visa Application Center to submit his or her visa application, along with the required paperwork, the UK visa fee, and any supporting records. 
4. An acknowledgment will be given after the filing procedure is complete. When gathering the submitted documents, the acknowledgment must be made. 
5. Within three weeks after submitting the application, the applicant will be informed of the status of the UK Visa application.