Applying for a UK visa can appear to be a challenging and complex process. Whether you’re visiting, studying, working, or relocating to the UK, it’s important to understand its various visa types and requirements. Hence, this guide provides comprehensive information on UK visas, covering eligibility, application processes, and our available services to assist you.

The UK welcomes millions of visitors each year, from tourists and students to skilled professionals and family members. However, the visa process can largely vary depending on your purpose of travel, the trip duration, and personal circumstances. As such, this page outlines key UK visa types and helps you determine the best route to suit your needs.

UK Visa Varieties

The UK offers several visa types based on the applicant’s purpose of travel. Correspondingly, some types allow a variety of purposes. Below is a summary of the primary UK visa categories:

• Standard Visitor Visa
  Purpose: For tourism, visiting family, business meetings, medical reasons, or short courses (six months)
  Duration: Up to 6 months. Meanwhile, certain types can be extended to 2, 5, or 10 years.
• Student Visa (formerly Tier 4 Student Visa)
  Purpose: For tourism, visiting family, business meetings, medical reasons, or short courses (six months)
  Duration: Up to 6 months. Meanwhile, certain types can be extended to 2, 5, or 10 years.
• Work Visa
  Purpose: For skilled individuals and professionals with short and long-term roles with or without an offer from UK employers. Some of the popular work visas include:
  • Skilled Worker Visa (formerly Tier 2 Work Visa): For individuals with a job offer in a skilled role from a UK employer. This permits stays in the UK for up to 5 years, with the option to extend or update the visa when it expires or when switching jobs.
  • Health Care Worker Visa: For medical professionals with an eligible job offer with the NHS, an NHS supplier, or in adult social care. Visa holders can stay in the UK for up to 5 years, extendable when the visa expires or when changing employers.
  • Visas without a job offer: For recent graduates from UK universities and specific approved countries. Specifically, this allows stays up to 2 years.
    • British National (Overseas) Visa
    • Graduate Visa
    • Youth Mobility Scheme visa
    • India Young Professionals Scheme visa
    • Apply for the Global Talent visa
    • UK Ancestry visa
    • High Potential Individual (HPI) visa
  • With an overseas employer: For skilled individuals, domestic workers, recent graduates, work transferees, or overseas business representatives. This covers stays from 6 months up to 5 years, extendable for those who meet eligibility requirements.
    • Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
    • Overseas Domestic Worker visa
    • Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)
    • Secondment Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
    • Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility)
    • UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
    • Representative of an Overseas Business visa
    • Apply for a Service provider from Switzerland visa
  • Temporary work visas: For short-term roles, including internships, charity work, and creative positions
    • Seasonal Worker visa (Temporary Work)
    • Government Authorised Exchange visa (Temporary Work)
    • Creative Worker visa (Temporary Work)
    • Religious Worker visa (Temporary Work)
    • Charity Worker visa (Temporary Work)
    • International Agreement visa (Temporary Work)
• Family Visa
  Purpose: Allows close family members of UK residents or citizens to live with them in the UK. This includes their spouse/partner, children, fiancé/fiancée, parents, and/or adult-dependent relatives.
  Duration: From 2 years and 6 months up to 5 years
• Transit Visa
  Purpose: For individuals passing through the UK for 48 hours or less en route to another destination. Specifically, they can choose between the Direct Airside Transit Visa and the Visitor in Transit Visa. The Direct Airside Transit Visa is for travelers changing flights in the UK and not passing through Border Control. Meanwhile, the Visitor in Transit Visa is for travelers going through UK Border Control and leaving within 48 hours.
  Duration: 48 hours or less. If staying over 48 hours, then travelers may opt for a standard visitor visa instead.
• Other Special Visas
  • Innovator Founder Visa (formerly Innovator Visa): For individuals seeking to run an innovative business in the UK. It permits stays up to 3 years.
  • Ancestry Visa: For Commonwealth, British overseas, British overseas territories, British national (overseas), and Zimbabwe citizens with a grandparent born in the UK. It also covers the same citizens with a grandparent born in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. This visa permits stays up to 5 years.

UK Visa Entry Qualifications

Eligibility criteria will vary depending on the visa category. To enumerate, below is an overview of common requirements:

1. Age: Many visa types have minimum age requirements. For example, Tier 4 student visa applicants must be 16 years old or older).
2. Financial stability: Applicants must have sufficient funds to cover living expenses and fees while in the UK.
3. English language proficiency: Most long-term visas require applicants to meet a minimum English language proficiency level.
4. Sponsorship: Certain visas, especially work and student visas, require a licensed UK sponsor, such as an employer or an educational institution.
5. Proof of genuine relationship: Family visas typically require documentation proving genuine relationships, such as marriage certificates or family photos.
6. Health checks: Applicants from certain countries may need to undergo a tuberculosis test. Moreover, some applicants must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (HIS) for healthcare access in the UK. Specifically, it costs GBP776 yearly for students, dependants (partners and children), minor immigration applicants, and those on a Youth Mobility scheme. Meanwhile, it costs GBP1,035 annually for all other visa and immigration applicants. 

How to Apply for a UK Visa

It is important to realize that the UK visa application process requires preparation, attention to detail, and accurate documentation. With this in mind, here is a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process:

• Step 1: Determine your UK Visa Type
  Identify the visa category that aligns with your purpose of travel and personal circumstances.
• Step 2: Prepare the Required Documents
  Gather all necessary documents, such as a valid passport, financial proof, and English proficiency test scores.
• Step 3: Complete the UK Visa Application Form
  Most UK visas require an online application. As such, fill out the form accurately, ensuring all information is correct.
• Step 4: Pay the Fees
  Visa fees vary by type and duration. In addition, you may need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for long-term stays.
• Step 5: Attend a Biometric Appointment
  If you are applying via a visa application center, then book a biometric appointment to provide your fingerprints and photo.
• Step 6: Submit the UK Visa Application
  Submit the completed application form and supporting documents online or in-person, depending on the application method.
• Step 7: Wait for the Visa to Be Proceeded
  Processing times will vary depending on the UK visa you are applying for. Hence, you may receive a decision in a few weeks or several months, depending on the visa type. 
• Step 8: Receive the UK Visa Decision
  Upon approval, you’ll receive either a visa vignette or sticker in your passport or a digital visa confirmation.

Our Services

At ETA Visa Services, we understand that each visa application is unique. Moreover, our visa experts are dedicated to simplifying the process and offering a hassle-free visa application experience. Our comprehensive services include:

• Document Processing
  We assist you in gathering, reviewing, and preparing all required documents. Our team ensures each document meets UK requirements, minimizing the risk of delays or rejections. In addition, we also provide guidance if you need to submit any special forms, letters, or photos.
• Visa Submission and Tracking
  Firstly, our team submits your application to the appropriate UK portal, embassy, or visa application center. Next, we monitor your application’s progress and update you with real-time status changes. Moreover, for any updates or requests for additional documents, we will communicate these to you promptly.
• Visa Collection
  We will handle the collection of visas processed through embassies or centers on your behalf. More importantly, we will verify the visa’s accuracy before delivering it to you, ensuring a smooth process for your travel.
• Online Applications
  Apart from visa applications to British embassies or visa application centers, we also support online visa applications for eligible travelers. For instance, our team ensures you complete your e-visa application with the required information and documents. Furthermore, this service eliminates the need for physical paperwork and visits to the British embassy/consulate.
• Visa Advisory
  We provide insights into the visa type that best matches your travel needs. In addition, we conduct a personalized eligibility assessment and clarify any specific requirements. We also offer expert guidance for complex cases or specific visa queries.

Would you like us to assist you with your UK visa application? If so, then click the button below to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions about UK visas:

• How long does it take to get a UK visa?
  Processing times vary by visa type. To illustrate, visitor visas usually take 2-3 weeks, while work and family visas can take up to 12 weeks.
• Can I extend my UK visa?
  Some visas, like the Visitor Visa, have limited extension options. Meanwhile, others, like certain work visas, are extendable.
• What should I do if my visa is refused?
  You may have the right to appeal or reapply, depending on your visa type. In this situation, contact our team for guidance on your options.
• What are the minimum income requirements for those applying for a UK family visa or a skilled worker visa?
  The primary family visa applicant must have a minimum wage of GBP29,000 a year. On the other hand, skilled workers must have a minimum yearly income of GBP38,700.