United Kingdom tourist visa: documents you usually need
Visa needed
Standard Visitor visa
Indian citizens need a visa for this trip. UK Visas and Immigration decides. You apply online and give biometrics at a visa application centre.
Documents you usually need
Passport and forms
- Valid passportValid well beyond your trip, with blank pages for stamps. Bring old passports too.
- Recent photographsTaken to the size and background the embassy asks for.
- Online applicationCompleted on GOV.UK, with the fee paid.
- Biometrics appointmentAt a visa application centre after you apply.
Money
- Bank statementsThe last 6 months is the safest, showing regular income and savings.
- Income tax returnsUsually the last 2 to 3 years, with salary slips or Form 16 if you are employed.
Your plans and ties to India
- Employment or business proofLeave letter and employer letter, or business registration and GST papers. Students bring a bonafide letter.
- Day-by-day itineraryWhere you will be each day. Keep it consistent with your bookings and cover letter.
- Ties to IndiaProperty papers, family details, a job or business to return to. Anything that shows you will come back.
- Cover letterOne page: who you are, why you are travelling, how long, who pays.
- Earlier visas and travel historyPast visas from the US, UK, Schengen, Canada or Australia help your case.
- Accommodation proofBookings, or your host's address if you stay with family or friends.
- Invitation letterIf someone invites you, their letter, address and proof of status in the UK.
If you hold a different passport: Many nationalities visit without a visa, and a UK electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is now needed for some. Use the GOV.UK tool to check.
Check the official source
More checklists
Visa decisions are made by the embassy or visa office. We guide your application; we cannot guarantee approval. This list is a summary of what applicants usually need, last reviewed 21 October 2026. Always confirm on the official site.