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Quick answer

Yes. Indian passport holders need a Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK for tourism or to see family; India is not on the UK's ETA list. The visa costs £135 and usually lets you stay up to 6 months per visit. Apply online, then give your fingerprints and photo at a VFS Global UK visa centre (Kerala has centres in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram); a decision usually takes 3 weeks.

UK visa for Indians at a glance

Visa needed for tourism?Yes — Standard Visitor visa1
Maximum stayUsually up to 6 months per visit2
Visa fee (up to 6 months)£1352
Long-term visitor visas2 years £506 / 5 years £903 / 10 years £1,128 (max 6 months per visit)2
Fees from 8 October 2026Unchanged for visit visas3
Processing timeUsually within 3 weeks after your biometrics appointment4
Earliest you can apply3 months before you travel2
Biometrics in KeralaVFS UK visa application centres in Kochi (Cochin) and Thiruvananthapuram5

Visa options for Indian passport holders

Standard Visitor visa (tourism / visiting family or friends)24

Who can use it
Indian passport holders
Stay
Usually up to 6 months per visit
Validity
Up to 6 months
Fee
£135 (paid online; not refunded if refused)
Processing time
Usually within 3 weeks after you prove your identity and give your documents
Where to apply
Online at gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor/apply-standard-visitor-visa), then an appointment at a VFS Global UK visa application centre
Good to know
Each family member needs their own application, fee and appointment. You get your passport back on the same day at the centre.

Long-term Standard Visitor visa (frequent visitors)24

Who can use it
People who visit the UK regularly
Stay
Up to 6 months per visit
Validity
2, 5 or 10 years
Entries
Multiple
Fee
£506 (2 years) / £903 (5 years) / £1,128 (10 years)
Processing time
Usually within 3 weeks
Where to apply
Online at gov.uk, then VFS Global UK visa application centre
Good to know
UKVI may give a shorter visa than requested and will not refund the difference. If under 18 when you apply, it lasts only until 6 months after your 18th birthday.

Optional faster decision35

Who can use it
Standard Visitor applicants
Fee
Priority visa service £500; super priority visa service £1,000 (on top of the visa fee)
Where to apply
Buy online only after booking (per VFS Kochi centre page)
Good to know
Availability can vary. Paying for a faster decision does not guarantee a visa.

Documents to prepare

  • Passport valid for the whole of your stay in the UK.2
  • Online form details: travel dates, where you will stay, trip cost, home address, parents' names and dates of birth, yearly income, and any criminal, civil or immigration offences.2
  • You may also be asked for 10 years of travel history, employer's address and phone, partner's details, details of anyone paying for your trip, and family members in the UK.2
  • Proof you will leave the UK at the end of your visit and can pay for your stay and your return journey (or that someone else will).1
  • Certified English translations of any documents not in English or Welsh.2
  • A tuberculosis (TB) test certificate if you are visiting for more than 6 months.2
  • Children travelling alone need written consent and contact details from a parent or guardian, plus details of where they will stay.2

Before you fly and on arrival

  • You may be asked questions at the UK border about your visit and the activities you plan to do.1

Applying from Kerala

  • Apply online first, then book an appointment at a VFS Global UK visa application centre to give fingerprints and a photo and hand in documents.25
  • Kochi (Cochin) VAC: First Floor, Coastal Chambers, MG Road, Ravipuram, Cochin 682015. Open Monday–Friday, 08:00–16:00.6
  • Thiruvananthapuram VAC also serves Kerala (open on a schedule, 08:00–16:00).5
  • VFS also lists Premium Application Centres in Kerala at Calicut (The Raviz Hotel) and Kottayam (Santamonica), open on set dates.5
  • At the Kochi centre, UKVI Priority and Super Priority services can be bought online only.6
  • There is no visa interview as a standard step; UKVI may ask for one, which can delay a decision.4

Extending your stay

  • If you were given less than 6 months, you can apply from inside the UK to extend up to a total of 6 months. The fee is £1,172 (plus £1,000 if you use super priority).7
  • Stays beyond 6 months are only possible for medical treatment, academics, or doctors retaking the PLAB test or doing a clinical attachment.7
  • You must apply before your current permission ends. You cannot live in the UK through frequent or back-to-back visits.71

What changed recently

  • 8 April 2026: Visit visa fees went up: 6-month visa from £127 to £135; 2-year £475 to £506; 5-year £848 to £903; 10-year £1,059 to £1,128.8
  • 9 September 2026: UKVI updated its processing-times page: do not book travel until you have a decision. Standard Visitor processing time is 3 weeks.4
  • 10 September 2026: The Home Office published fees taking effect on 8 October 2026. Visit visa fees stay the same.3

How Albah Holidays can help

  • We handle UK visa applications from our office in Kozhikode — we check your case, give you the exact document checklist, fill in the application and book any appointment.
  • Where fingerprints or an interview are needed, you attend in person — we prepare you for it and follow up until the decision.
  • Flights from Calicut, Kannur or Kochi, hotels and travel insurance — booked together with us.
  • Send your passport copy and travel dates on WhatsApp, or visit our office in Eranhipalam, Kozhikode.
  • Flights to UK from Calicut, Kannur or Kochi, booked with your visa so the dates line up and the name on the ticket matches the passport.

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Frequently asked questions

Do Indians need a visa for the UK?

Yes. Indian citizens visiting for tourism or family need a Standard Visitor visa. India is not eligible for the UK ETA.91

How much is a UK tourist visa for Indians?

£135 for a visa of up to 6 months. Long-term visitor visas cost £506 (2 years), £903 (5 years) or £1,128 (10 years).2

How long does a UK visitor visa take?

Usually within 3 weeks after your appointment at the visa centre. You can pay £500 (priority) or £1,000 (super priority) for a faster decision.43

Where do Kerala residents give UK visa biometrics?

At the VFS Global UK visa centre in Kochi (Coastal Chambers, MG Road, Ravipuram) or Thiruvananthapuram. Premium centres also run on set dates in Calicut and Kottayam.56

How long can I stay in the UK on a visitor visa?

Usually up to 6 months per visit, even on a 2, 5 or 10-year visa.2

When should I apply?

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel. Do not book travel until you get a decision.24

Official sources

  1. Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: Overview — GOV.UK (UK Visas and Immigration). Page updated 2024-10-31 (public date in GOV.UK content API; content refreshed 2026-09-09); checked 24 September 2026.
  2. Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: Apply for a Standard Visitor visa — GOV.UK (UK Visas and Immigration). Page updated 2024-10-31 (public date in GOV.UK content API; content refreshed 2026-09-09); checked 24 September 2026.
  3. Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026 — GOV.UK (Home Office). Page updated 2026-09-10; checked 24 September 2026.
  4. Visa processing times: applications outside the UK — GOV.UK (UK Visas and Immigration). Page updated 2026-09-09; checked 24 September 2026.
  5. UK Visa Application Centres in India — Attend a centre — VFS Global (linked from GOV.UK 'Find a visa application centre' for India). checked 24 September 2026.
  6. Kerala - Cochin UK Visa Application Centre — VFS Global (UKVI contractor). checked 24 September 2026.
  7. Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: When you can extend your stay — GOV.UK (UK Visas and Immigration). Page updated 2024-10-31 (public date in GOV.UK content API); checked 24 September 2026.
  8. Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026 — GOV.UK (Home Office). Page updated 2026-09-10; checked 24 September 2026.
  9. Check if you need a UK visa — result for Indian nationals, tourism — GOV.UK. checked 24 September 2026.

Rules, fees and processing times can change without notice. Every fact on this page was checked against the official sources above on 24 September 2026. Confirm before you travel — we recheck the current rules for every application we handle.

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