England Visa for Indians: Types, Eligibility Criteria & Application Process

The UK is one of the most well-developed countries in the world, harbouring crowds from all nations. It possesses some of the best mixes of modern and mediaeval structures, maintaining a solid economic position and extensive global trade. Thus, it is tempting for Indians to settle down. However, to become eligible to settle, work or study here, Indians require a visa.

So, to know more about how to get a visa for England, the types available, eligibility criteria and other details, refer to the following article.

Yes, since only a Canadian, American or an Australian is allowed to travel to England without a visa, Indians need to get a permit before travel. However, it is not a problem since one can apply for it and get it delivered within two weeks. The process is explained in the following section.

No, there is no visa on arrival option available for Indian citizens. So, candidates must apply for the UK permit from India online before a sufficient period.

1. Work and Business Visa

If you wish to work and live in the UK for a longer or shorter period, you can apply for a working visa. It is perfect for high-end professionals from other countries who wish to build their careers in this country. The different categories of work permits you can apply for are:

• Highly Qualified Foreigners

Global Talent Visa

• Youth Mobility and Temporary Foreign Workers

Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

Tier 5 Temporary Worker Visa

• Skilled Foreign Workers With a Job in a Shorter Area

   

Type 2 General Visa

Tier 2 Sportsperson Visa

Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer Visa

Tier 2 Minister of Religion Visa

• Other

Exempt Vignette Visa

Turkish Worker Visa

Domestic Workers in a Private Household Visa

Croatian National Registration Certificate 

• UK Business 

Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa

Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa

Tier 1 Investor Visa

Turkish Businessperson Visa

2. Student Visa

This type enables an international student to pursue any course of their interest in the UK. The categories include:

• Tier 4 Child Student Visa
• Short Term Student Visa
• Tier 4 General Student Visa

3. Family Visa

If you want to visit your family member in the UK, you can apply for a UK Family visa. It applies to candidates who have a family living and working in the country legally, and they want to join them for more than six months of period as dependents.

It can be anyone, wife or husband, fiancé, partner, parent, children, proposed civil partner, or other. The categories are:

• UK Parent Visa
• UK Spouse Visa
• UK Child Visa

4. Tourist and Visiting Visa

The UK attracts many tourists for both long and short stays. If you plan to stay for a shorter time, a UK Visitor Visa can be perfect for you. However, UK authorities do not usually issue a tourist visa for a more extended stay, i.e., more than six months.

Also, you cannot get a job using this visa in the UK. The categories include:

• UK Visitor Visa
• Marriage Visitor Visa
• Visa for a Chinese Group Travel
• Short-Term Study Visa
• Permitted Paid Engagement Visa
• Parent of Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa

5. Transit Visa

Foreigners who are not EEA Nationals and want to use the UK as a transit country to pass to their destination can get a Transit visa. In the UK, applying for a long-term transit visa can also extend up to 2 to 10 years.

However, candidates need to provide enough evidence that their sole purpose is to travel regularly through the UK to reach their destination. Also, they have no intention of living in the UK permanently. Its categories include:

• Visitor in Transit Visa
• Direct Airside Transit Visa

6. Refugee Visa

A temporary Refugee Visa lets people enter the country in an emergency. For example, if people find their lives in danger and reach the UK border to escape the threat, UK authorities can grant them this permit.

However, this is a temporary visa. So as soon as the holder is safe from the danger, he or she must return to their country. The validity of this visa is initially 2-6 years with an option of extension later (if needed). 

You have to follow the below eligibility criteria according to the England visa policy:

• Candidates under 18 must have either of their parents applying for an England visa to gain approval
• Candidates must be over 18 years of age
• You must have travel insurance with proper coverage before applying
• You must have a valid passport of six months
• There should not be criminal convection attached in the past
• You must be in good health and qualified for the visa
• Candidates must have enough finance to stay in the country

To get the general England visa information on documents requirements, refer to the following pointers:

• A valid passport
• Two recent passport-size photos
• Filled up and duly signed UK visa application form
• Proof of academic studies
• Tuberculosis test result
• Detailed travel itinerary
• Paid UK visa fee
• UK visa invitation letter
• Biometric information
• Certified translation of documents to Welsh or English

The process of applying for an England visa includes a combination of two methods, i.e., online and offline mode. You can carry out this process yourself or hire an agency to do the work for you in exchange for a small service fee. However, refer to the steps below to learn about the England visa application process, i.e., if you are confident:

Step 1: Choose the type of visa you want to apply for. For example, there are study visas, family visas, visitor visas, and others.

Step 2: Visit the official UK Government Visa and  Immigration site.

Step 3: You will find an application form. Open it up, fill in all the necessary columns and submit the application fee.

Step 4: Now book an appointment at your preferred application visa centre in your city from the site.

Step 5: Select the appointment date and visit the centre on the fixed date.

Step 6: Remember to appear for your appointment with all the required documents to carry rest of the process.

Step 7: Visit the embassy before 15 minutes of your appointment, as appearing late is not an option.

Step 8: As you hand over your application and documents, the officials will take 15 to 20 minutes to verify them.

Step 9: Next, you will have to pay to the visa application centre, after which you will receive a receipt.

Step 10: Lastly, you must follow a biometric process using an electronic scanner. It will take another 15 minutes to scan your fingerprints.

You can expect to receive your England visa after three weeks. However, this time range can change depending on certain factors. These include a number of applications lying with the officials, the country you are applying from, your visa type and others.

Adequate planning is necessary to ensure a safe, hassle-free, secure journey to the UK. Moreover, since many entry restrictions and travel guidelines are involved in getting to the UK, it is also necessary to have a financial backup. This is all possible by purchasing travel insurance for England.

It provides coverage against baggage problems, journey issues, medical emergencies, and other problems. Not to mention, specific visa-type applications also require proof of travel insurance as a binding document for submission.

Hopefully, you have got every information you need through this guide on a visa for England. The subheadings walk you through all the requirements, rules and processes of applying for the visa. Make sure you abide by them to avoid any unnecessary delays and rejection. Also, only provide the correct information in your form, as it can cause a problem even if you have entered the UK.