The highly developed business market and profit-oriented economy in the United Kingdom or Britain have made the country attract foreign attention. Apart from that, the business sector and educational growth also adds value to this cause.

The academic excellence showcased by Schools and Universities in Britain has encouraged youth from all over the world to pursue their dreams in the country. Moreover, the simplified process of applying for a Visa for Britain allows Indians as well as other nationals to visit the country easily. Additionally, as of 2022, you must know that travelling to Britain requires international travel insurance; hence opting for one can help in swift visa approval.

Visa for Britain will not be required for passport holders of countries like America, Canada, or Australia. So, yes, Indians need a visa to travel to any part of Britain. However, it takes approximately two weeks to process a standard UK visa for visitors in India. Therefore, the applicants need to ensure that all formalities and documents are in place from India to avoid any kind of interruption in the process.

Unfortunately, the option of a visa on arrival in Britain for Indian citizens does not exist. Hence, applying for a standard tourist visa and planning the trip is recommended.

For travellers' convenience, tourists and business people can use e-Visa or Electronic Visa in PDF format. The application of the same can be done easily and involves an approximate cost of Rs. 3,848.

There are various types of visas for Britain that Indians can choose to apply for based on their purpose of travel:

Visitor Visa: This visa allows a non-British individual to enter, stay and move within the territories of the UK. Generally, individuals travelling to Britain with the intention to receive medical treatment, spend holidays, meet family members, and participate in any sports or festivals can make an application for this type of visa. 

Study Visa: Non-British students looking or applying to study in the Universities or schools of the UK can apply for this visa. Both adults and children can apply for this visa and choose whether to stay for a short or long duration based on their curriculum plan. Moreover, this visa offers the opportunity of taking research papers as a part program curriculum. Indians and other non-British individuals applying for study visas can also choose from the extensive three types based on their needs which are:

• Child Student Visa: Minor aged between 4 years and 17 years and are willing to study in schools or other educational institutes are eligible to apply for this visa. This type of visa also allows individuals to work part-time or full-time, following certain parameters. In addition, this visa's validity can be changed and extended.
• General Student Visa: Non-British individuals who are keen to pursue graduation or higher studies from the educational institutions of Britain. The basic requirements of this type of visa are that the applicants must be of age 16 years old and is capable of speaking, writing, and understanding English for the application purpose. Furthermore, the validity of this visa can be extended, if the course continues for more than six months.
• Short-term Study Visa: Students who want to pursue short-term courses like language training or seasonal research work are eligible to apply for this type of visa. The validity of this visa is mostly for a period of six months; however, if the student is enrolling in the English language, the validity can be extended to 11 months.

Work Visa: To obtain this type of visa, it is essential to have at least Rs. 89,874 in a personal bank account for a period of 90 days. Moreover, Indian applicants need to pay an extra healthcare fee to qualify for a UK Work Visa. As per the specification of the governing body, the dependent family member of a worker can also apply for this visa because of the guarantee that they own at least Rs. 59,906 during the application time. For further understanding, the UK Work Visa is divided into three types:

• UK Long-term Work Visa: It is a Tier 2 visa that allows non-British individuals to work in Britain for the long term. The long-term work visa includes a General Work Visa, Sportsperson Visa, Minister of Religion Visa, and Intra-company Transfer Visa.
• UK Short-term Work Visa: It is a Tier 5 visa that allows temporary non-British individuals to work in the country for a short period of time. This visa is categorised into Seasonal Worker Visa, Creative and Sporting Visa, Religious Worker Visa, International Agreement Visa, Charity Worker Visa, etc.

Apart from these, Work Visa in the UK is available for other categories like business development, investors, and talent management.

Family Visa: Indians and individuals from other nations who want to stay in the UK with a family member who is already residing in the country must apply for this visa. This member of the family can be spouse, partner, or parents, who are directly related with the applicant travelling to Britain.

Indians who are looking to apply for a Britain Visa must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

• Applicants must own a passport of at least six months validity and a minimum of at least two blank pages.
• Applicants must be able to produce employment proof.
• It is important to keep proof of sufficient funds that show that the applicant can support his/her stay in Britain.
• There should not be any criminal record of the applicant that is detrimental to the safety laws followed in Britain.

Proper documentation is one of the quintessential requirements for a Britain visa. Applicants must understand the sufficient time taken to process the visa application partially depends on the

Standard Visitor Visa

• Proof of required funds in the bank's savings account
• Certifications of translated documents other than in English or Welsh
• Passport or another valid travel document. A passport with at least six months of validity and a minimum of three blank pages
• Confirmation of Appointment Letter
• Payment Receipt of UK Visa Fee
• Letter of consent from a legal guardian if the applicant is a minor
• Two recent colour photographs
• Personal Covering Letter

Study Visa (Tier 4)

• Passport or other valid documents
• Clear proof of the offer to study in a school/University or Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
• Proof of required funds in the savings account of the applicant. However, for fully sponsored students, this point is not applicable.
• A valid ATAS certificate
• Proof of relationship with the legal guardian, if the applicant is a minor
• Letter of consent from legal guardians, if the applicant is a minor
• Test results for Tuberculosis
• If the all-expense is taken care of, written consent from the financial sponsor
• Certification of translated documents other than in English or Welsh language

Study Visa (Tier 4) – Doctoral Extension Scheme

• Valid Passport
• Biometric Permit of Residence, if applicable
• Recent Passport-sized photographs
• Police Registration Certificate, if applicable

Work Visa (Tier 2) – General

• Criminal Record Certificate
• Application form for UK Visa
• Current photographs
• Proof of Accommodation
• Biometric Information
• Invitation Letter
• Payment Receipt of the UK fees
• Certificate of Sponsorship
• Valid passport or another travel document
• Bank Statement showing sufficient funds to support the stay and other expenses in Britain
• Test results for Tuberculosis
• Certification of translated documents other than in English or Welsh language

Work Visa (Tier 1) – Investor

• Test results of Tuberculosis
• Criminal Record Certificate
• Valid passport or other travel documents. There must be a blank page with no entry on any of the sides.
• Certification of translated documents other than in English or Welsh language

Work Visa (Tier 1) – Entrepreneur

• Valid Passport
• Proof of investment
• Criminal Record Certificate
• Test results for Tuberculosis
• Certification of translated documents other than in English or Welsh language
• Bank Statement showing sufficient funds to support the stay in Britain

Work Visa (Tier 1) – Graduate Entrepreneur

• Valid passport or other travel documents
• Letter of endorsement
• Criminal Record Certificate
• Test results for Tuberculosis
• Certification of translated documents other than in English or Welsh language
• Bank Statement showing sufficient funds to support the stay in Britain

Work Visa (Tier 1) – Exceptional Talent

• Valid passport or other travel documents
• Criminal Record Certificate
• Test results for Tuberculosis
• Certification of translated documents other than in English or Welsh language
• Bank Statement showing sufficient funds to support the stay and other expenses in Britain
• Letter of Endorsement

Work Visa (Tier 2) – Intra-Company Transfers

• Certificate of Sponsorship
• Certificate of Criminal Record
• Valid passport or other travel documents
• Bank Statement showing sufficient funds to support the stay and other expenses in Britain
• Certification of translated documents other than in English or Welsh language
• Test results for Tuberculosis

Work Visa (Tier 5) – Government Authorised Exchange

• Certificate of Sponsorship
• Bank Statement showing sufficient funds to support the stay in Britain
• Valid passport or other travel documents
• Criminal Record Certificate
• Test results for Tuberculosis
• Certification of translated documents other than in English or Welsh language

Work Visa (Tier 5) – Youth Mobility Scheme

• Certificate of Sponsorship, if applicable
• Proof of sufficient funds in the savings account
• Passport or any other supporting document
• Certification of translated documents other than in English or Welsh language

Work Visa (Tier 5) – Creative and Sporting Visas

• Certificate of Sponsorship
• Proof of sufficient funds in the savings account. This is not needed if the applicant is sponsored.
• Valid Passport
• Certification of translated documents other than in English or Welsh language

Work Visa (Tier 5) – Religious Worker

• Sponsorship Certificate
• Valid Passport
• Bank Statement as proof showing sufficient funds in the savings account of the applicant.
• Test results for Tuberculosis
• Certification of translated documents other than in English or Welsh language

Work Visa (Tier 5) – International Agreement

• Sponsorship Certificate
• Valid Passport
• Bank Statement as proof showing sufficient funds in the savings account of the applicant
• Test results for Tuberculosis
• Translation documents certificate other than in English or Welsh language

Some additional documents can be required as a process of the Britain visa application based on the purpose of travelling. Hence, at the time of filing for the same, it is recommended to go through the portion of the document carefully to understand the documents required.

It is important to note that the cost of applying for a Visa for Britain varies with the stay of the applicant. However, the application fee for the standard visitor is approximately Rs. 8,414, and the cost of Visa service for optional priority is around Rs. 14,367.

Disclaimer: The visa fees are subject to change, based on new immigration rules, the country in which you apply, the local currency and currency exchange rates.

The application for Visa for Britain can be made through an accessible online portal that not only saves time but is hassle-free. Here are these simple steps to follow during the application process:

Step 1: Visit the official website of the UK Visa and immigration

Step 2: Complete filling up the necessary details in the application form and make payment of the application fees

Step 3: In this step, book an appointment for submission to the Visa application centre at your nearest location.

Step 4: The applicant will receive an acknowledgment receipt on the successful submission of the document and necessary formalities. In addition to this, applicants will be required to go for biometric processes.

Applicants can apply for the visa at least three months before the actual date of travelling to Britain. Hence, it will ensure systematic and timely confirmation of the visa and avoid an early rush.

In offline application mode, willing candidates can visit their nearest embassy within working hours to apply for a Britain visa.

The process of Britain Visa processing generally takes three weeks from the applicant attending an appointment at the visa application centre. However, this time can exceed or delay submitting necessary documents. In addition, one applying for a Britain visa must apply beforehand as the process includes verification of the supporting documents, attending an interview, and background scrutiny.

According to 2022 guidelines, it is mandatory to buy travel insurance to travel to Britain. Also, it is essential for visitors travelling to Britain to get travel insurance as it will help you to safeguard against any unfavourable incident that may occur during the trip. Here are a few notable reasons why buying travel insurance for Britain is needed:

• Travelling to Britain is an expensive affair. Moreover, if you are visiting the country to attend music festivals, concerts, or the world cup, then obtaining tickets for the same can burn a hole in your pocket. Travel insurance helps you to protect your financial health by offering protection from unplanned expenses.
• In case of flight delays or hotel booking cancellations, credible travel insurance can compensate for these losses with the time and money misspent on these occurrences.
• Travel insurance offers extensive medical coverage, which offers financial assistance in terms of illness or any accident on the trip.
• Another pivotal reason to obtain this type of insurance is safeguarding the personal interest in losing baggage during the journey.
• Moreover, getting travel insurance in Britain can be cheap as it involves a low premium. Not only this, the online availability of this travel visa has made obtaining travel insurance hassle-free.

Hence, if you are planning to pursue your career or to attend that phenomenal music concert of your favourite artist, this article caters to all the important factors that affect the application for a Visa for Britain.