Tourist visa to travel to England
If you want to visit London, Manchester, Glasgow or explore the countryside of Wales, you may need a tourist visa for the UK. This visa allows travelers to stay temporarily in the UK for vacations, visits to relatives, or cultural or medical stays.
For a tourist stay of less than 6 months: It is not necessary to obtain a British tourist visa. Simply apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) by completing the online ETA form.
What is a British tourist visa?
The tourist visa, officially called the Standard Visitor Visa, is intended for people wishing to enter the United Kingdom for :
- vacation or tourism
- visit family and friends
- attend a cultural, musical or sporting event
- receive non-emergency medical care
- take a short-term course (maximum 30 days)
This visa does not authorize work, long-term study or permanent residence in the UK.
Do you need a tourist visa?
Whether or not you need a tourist visa for the UK depends on your nationality:
You don’t need a tourist visa: If you are a national of a country eligible for ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), e.g. Canada, USA, Japan, Australia and EU countries.
You need a tourist visa if :
- You are a national of a country requiring a visa (e.g. India, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, China, Pakistan, etc.).
- You do not meet the conditions for exemption
- You cannot apply for ETA or have already been refused
To check whether you need a visa or an ETA, visit the official gov.uk/check-uk-visa website.
How do I apply for a British visa?
The visa application process is carried out online on the UK Border Agency website. Here are the steps involved in applying for a British visa online:
- Visit the official website www.gov.uk
- Choose your visa type
- Create an account and fill in the online form
- Pay visa fees
- Make an appointment with an authorized center to provide your biometric data
- Submit your supporting documents and wait for the decision
How much does a tourist visa for the UK cost?
The administrative fee for obtaining a British visa is :
| Type of British visa | Fees payable |
| Standard visa up to 6 months | £ 115 |
| Multiple-entry visa (2 years) but maximum 6 months per stay | £ 400 |
| Multiple-entry visa (5 years) but maximum 6 months per stay | £ 771 |
| Multiple-entry visa (10 years) but maximum 6 months per stay | £ 963 |
ETA or tourist visa: what’s the difference?
| Criteria | ETA | Tourist visa |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 16 £ | From £115 |
| Delay | Response within 72 hours | About 3 weeks |
| Period of validity | 2 years | Up to 10 years (multi-entry) |
| Procedure | 100% online | Online + consular appointment |
| Nationalities concerned | Visa-free countries | Countries requiring visas |
How long does it take to apply for a UK visa?
- The average processing time is 3 weeks from the biometric appointment.
- A fast-track service (Priority Visa) is available in some countries to obtain a response in 5 days or less (at extra cost).
Image of a tourist visa for the United Kingdom
The tourist visa for the United Kingdom takes the form of a passport page with a photo of the holder that respects specific dimensions. The passport photo must be less than 6 months old when provided for visa purposes.
