The British Tourist Visa for your Holiday or Visiting a Family
Applying for an British Tourist visa is necessary when going on vacation trip or to meet a relative living in United Kingdom.
Generally, you should be able to apply for the necessary British tourist visa online/ at the nearest British embassy in the country of your residence for a stay in United Kingdom of up to 3 months.
General Visa Requirements and Validity Period of British Tourist Visa
Before applying for a tourist visa for United Kingdom, it is recommended you check whether you can apply for the British tourist visa.
A brief list of the most important requirements and conditions when getting the tourist visa for United Kingdom:
- You do not expect to perform voluntary work that may otherwise be performed by a paid employee in United Kingdom.
- You do not intend to join an employment relationship in United Kingdom.
- You do not mean to offer services to British organisations (this is allowed with a British work visa or business visa).
- You do not plan to offer or offer product or services to consumers in United Kingdom.
- You and your relative are not in debt to the United Kingdom Government.
- You do not present a risk to the health or safety and security of residents of United Kingdom.
- You have the ability to show that you have enough financial resources to pay for your stay and return from United Kingdom.
Do you require an British tourist visa?
It depends on your nationality and the type of travel document you are using to travel to United Kingdom.Please go here to verify if you need an British visa.
Who can obtain an British tourist visa?
Any person choosing to go on holiday to United Kingdom can make an application for an British tourist visa.
There are several kinds of visa for United Kingdom which you can use as a visitor to United Kingdom. If you are not exactly sure which type of British tourist visa you require to apply, please call the local British visa office to obtain more information as objective of this web page is to provide you general overview when obtaining British tourist visa.
What type of British visa do I require?
This depends on 3 things:
- The citizenship according to your passport – If the citizenship according to the passport is from a country that is on visa free travel to United Kingdom or eligible to secure a visa on arrival in United Kingdom, then you may not require to make an application for an British tourist visa before departure from your home country. Please click on this link to find out if you need an British visa.
- The length of your trip in United Kingdom – If you want to remain in United Kingdom for a much shorter period no more than 90 days, then you can obtain the British tourist visa. If you prefer to remain longer, then get in touch with the local British visa office to find the appropriate visa for your travel.
- The activities you like to carry out in United Kingdom – If your main reason of travelling is for tourism, then you can make an application for all kinds of British tourist visas talked about on this page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Get British Tourist Visa
- Visitor visa Form for United Kingdom – Completed British visa Form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months prior to going into United Kingdom and 3 months after departing United Kingdom. It needs to have at least 2 extra visa pages and can not be older than ten years.
- Passport type photo – Photo has to be no older than 6 months and should be 35 x 40mm in width.
- Previous passport – Offer a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas – Copies of previous British visas information if you had any.
- Flight tickets to United Kingdom – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some situations the British visa office might ask for pre paid air travel tickets to United Kingdom.
- Travel insurance – Proof of travel insurance coverage with a minimum cover set by the British embassy provided with the Certification of Insurance and the table of benefits. The travel insurance have to cover the cost of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency need to be issued by an insurer. If you are thinking of using your credit card travel insurance for your travel to United Kingdom, please call British consular office to find out more and travel insurance policy requirements for the British visa.
- Original bank declarations – Original bank statements for the last 3 months revealing adequate funds to cover stay in United Kingdom. If statements are printed online after that it has to be Confirmed (stamped) by the financial institution representatives.
- Hotel Reservations in United Kingdom – Copy of confirmed hotel reservations including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, length of stay. In the majority of scenarios, only bookings which are partially or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Employment letter – This letter needs to be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, validating your ongoing employment, the status of employment, regular monthly salary and annual leave. Also, please give your three newest pay slips. If you are self-employed: supply certified copies of company registration, tax return.
- For students. Please give the following:
- Evidence of current student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, affirming on-going enrolment, confirming the payment of tuition fees or any kind of scholarships, and confirming term break.
- Insurance coverage from Organisation/University – Supply a letter from the University specifying the purpose, duration of travel and confirmation that you will be covered by the insurance for the whole journey together with the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
In general, visa applications for British visa should be sent for a maximum of 6 months, and no behind 15 days, before the journey.