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UK Visitor Visa (Tourist Visa Advice!)

Anne morris.

• 2 October 2022

IN THIS SECTION

There are many reasons why you might require a UK visitor visa to come to the UK, from seeing the sights to seeing friends or family.

If you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, the Standard Visitor Visa allows you to visit the UK, usually for a period of up to 6 months.

The UK Visitor visa requires an application to be made from outside the UK, which will be assessed to assess whether you meet the requirements under the visitor rules and qualify as a genuine visitor. You will need to provide supporting documents that prove you qualify for a visitor visa. Failure to show that you meet the visa requirements will result in a refusal and loss of your application fee.

What is a UK visitor visa?

The UK Standard Visitor visa replaced a number of previous categories of visitor visas. It allows visitors to come to Britain for a short stay for a number of permissible reasons, including leisure (for tourism, visiting family and friends), for  business-related activities or sporting or creative events, and other reasons such as receiving private medical treatment.

It is not possible to switch into a different visa category from the visitor visa once you are in the UK; you would need to return to your home country and apply from there for a different visa.

How long does a UK visitor visa last?

The visitor visa generally lasts for 6 months.

You can apply to stay longer if you’re coming to the UK for private medical treatment (up to 11 months) or you’re an academic on sabbatical and coming to the UK for research (up to 12 months) but you will also need to apply for a biometric residence permit.

Under the Approved Destination Status (ADS) agreement, Chinese nationals are allowed to enter the UK with an approved tour group for up to 30 days.

Long term visitor visa 

The long-term visitor visa may be available if you are looking to make frequent visits over a longer period, such as 2, 5 or even 10 years, however you can only stay in the UK for up to 6 months at a time.

What are the permitted activities for visitors?

The visitor rules specify activities that are allowed under the route. The following are permissible activities:

• Tourism, for example on a holiday
• Visit family or friends
• Volunteering for up to 30 days with a registered charity
• Transiting through the UK to travel to another country
• Certain business activities, for example attending a meeting or interview
• Taking part in a school exchange programme
• Undertake a recreational course of up to 30 days, for example a dance course
• Study, do a placement or take an exam – this cannot be the main purpose of the visit and is limited to a maximum of 30 days
• Visiting as an academic, senior doctor or dentist
• For medical reasons

You are not allowed to do the following under a visitor visa:

• Undertake paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person
• Claim benefits or access public funds
• Reside in the UK for long periods using frequent and/or successive visits
• Get married or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership (instead, apply for the  Marriage Visitor Visa )

It may be that the visitor visa is not appropriate and alternative immigration options will need to be considered. For example, the permitted paid engagement visa may apply if a UK company is paying you to come to the UK as an expert in your profession.

Visitors should also prepare to travel with supporting documents as they may be asked to present proof of eligibility by UK border officials.

UK visitor visa requirements

The visitor visa is limited in its eligibility. Your stay must generally be for no longer than 6 months and you have to leave the UK by the expiry date.

Your reason for travel will also be critical to your eligibility and it will be important that you understand what is allowed under the UK visitor visa to ensure you do not breach these conditions for the duration of your stay in the UK.

Applying for the UK visitor visa

Applicants must ensure they comply with the regulations and evidence their eligibility through the visa application process.

To apply for the UK visitor visa, you will need to be outside the UK. You complete the online application form and provide supporting documents to evidence your status as a genuine visitor. You will be required to attend an appointment at a visa appointment centre in your country of residence, where you will be interviewed about your application and your biometric information will be taken.

As part of your visa application you will need to prove to the caseworker that you will not be staying for more than 6 months and that you have enough money to maintain yourself (and any dependants travelling with you) during your time in the UK and to fund your return travel.

Supporting documents

Your circumstances will dictate the exact documents to provide with your application to support your case. As a minimum, you will need to verify your identity with your current passport or other valid travel identification, valid for the whole of your stay in the UK and with a blank page for the visa.

Additional supporting documents should also be provided to prove:

• Planned travel dates and itinerary including accommodation details
• Personal information such as home address and parents’ names
• Travel history (past 10 years)
• Work information such as your employer’s name and address
• Contact information of the people you will visit
• You have a genuine relationship with the person you are visiting
• Details of any convictions
• Intention to leave the UK on visa expiry. Evidence could include proof of a job or studies in your home country, or family living in your home country.
• Sufficient funds to support you and your dependants in the UK for the duration of your visit. This could be funded by you of the person you are visiting in the UK. You will not be allowed to access public funds. Proof should include recent bank statements and payslips. An estimate of the total cost of the trip should be provided, as well as details of your income.

Any documents not in English or Welsh must be provided as certified translations.

After completing the form, you will need to attend a visa application centre overseas to have your fingerprints and photograph taken.

Visitor visa processing times

Under normal Home Office processing standards , visitor visa applications from overseas usually takes around 3 weeks. However, ongoing delays in processing services mean visit visa applications are currently taking 6 weeks, and in some cases longer.

You can apply up to three months before your intended date of travel. Fast tracked processing within 5 working days is available in some visa application centres for a premium fee.

How much does a visitor visa cost?

Currently, the UK visitor visa costs £100 for the standard 6 month stay. If you are travelling for medical reasons, the cost is £200 for six months, or £200 for academic visitors .

Longer-term visit visas cost £376 for the 2-year visit visa, £670 for the 5-year visit visa or £837 for the 10-year visit visa.

Can you stay in the UK for longer than six months? 

Generally speaking, all Standard UK visitor visas are short-term visas with a six-month maximum stay cap. Immigration regulations also prevent you from getting around this restriction by utilising a guest visa or making many, frequent, or consecutive trips, although you are free to enter and exit the UK whenever you like while your visa is still in effect.

However, citizens of China, Pakistan, India, and other non-EEA nations can apply for a long-term visit visa in order to go to the UK. These are chargeable extras that can be reserved for terms of two, five, or 10 years.

Be aware that you are still limited to a single visit lasting no longer than six months with these visas. You may, however, enter and exit the UK more than once throughout the permitted time. If you know you’ll need to visit the UK repeatedly over the course of a set amount of time, applying for a long-term visitor visa in the UK is a terrific option.

Academic visits from outside the EEA and people seeking private medical care in the UK do have another option for a longer stay. The Biometric Residence Permit is what it is called (BRP). You will need to provide biometric data about yourself, including your fingerprints, a photo, your immigration status, and more, but doing so will extend your stay in the UK over six months. This procedure, called biometric enrolment, still necessitates the presentation of proof of adequate financial support for your stay.

Visitor visa application refused?

If your UK visitor visa application. has been refused, your options could include reapplying and making a new application; submitting an appeal, where the grounds are on human rights; applying for a Judicial Review of the decision.

Your options will depend on your specific circumstances. Take professional advice to decide what you should do next.

Need assistance?

Travellers to the UK should note that even with a valid visitor visa in place, you may still be questioned at the UK border by immigration officials, to verify that you are a genuine visitor and will comply with the visitor visa rules. Where officials are concerned that you may stay longer than your visa date, or if your activities are prohibited under the visitor rules, you may be denied entry.

As a team of immigration lawyers and former Home Office employees, we have an established reputation for advising on the most appropriate immigration route for your needs, and supporting you with effective and efficient processing of your visa application. We also understand the stresses involved with making a visa application, and take great pride in playing a supportive role to ease the pressure.  Contact us  for advice.

Visitor visa FAQs

How much funds are required for uk visitor visa.

You will need to show you have sufficient funds to cover the cost of tickets, travelling, living and accommodation expenses while you are in the UK.

What documents do I need for UK visitor visa?

Your visitor visa application will need to include your current passport or other valid travel identification, as well as other documents that prove you meet the visa requirements, such as your intention to leave the UK and that your planned activities come within the visitor visa permissible activities.

Last updated: 2 October 2022

Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.

She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.

Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator , and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals

• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ UK Visa Supporting Documents Checklist 2024
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Overcoming a UK Visa Refusal: Tips & Steps
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ MAC Publishes Report into UK Graduate Route
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ UK Visa Guide: Requirements & Process 2024

About DavidsonMorris

As employer solutions lawyers, DavidsonMorris offers a complete and cost-effective capability to meet employers’ needs across UK immigration and employment law, HR and global mobility .

Led by Anne Morris, one of the UK’s preeminent immigration lawyers, and with rankings in The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners , we’re a multi-disciplinary team helping organisations to meet their people objectives, while reducing legal risk and nurturing workforce relations.

Legal Disclaimer

The matters contained in this article are intended to be for general information purposes only. This article does not constitute legal advice, nor is it a complete or authoritative statement of the law, and should not be treated as such. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct at the time of writing, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. Before acting on any of the information contained herein, expert legal advice should be sought.

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What documents will I need?

Planning a visit to Britain but not sure what documents you’ll need? Find key information on passport requirements, visas and Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) below. Detailed guidance can also be found on the official government website .

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EU, EEA and Swiss nationals

Some entry requirements changed for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals, post Brexit.

Most travellers from the EU, EEA and Switzerland will require a passport to enter Britain and Northern Ireland. Your passport will need to be valid for your entire stay here. 

Some, but not all visitors can use an EU, EEA or Swiss national ID to enter Britain and Northern Ireland until at least 31 December 2025. Check gov.uk website for who is eligible.

Common Travel Areas

For those in the Common Travel Areas (known as Britain and Northern Ireland, the rest of Ireland, and Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man), please see here for the  different document requirements .

The rest of the world

You must have a valid passport to enter Britain and Northern Ireland, and it should be valid for the whole duration of your stay.

Most people coming to visit Britain and Northern Ireland will need a visa. To discover whether you need one or not depends on why you’re visiting and your nationality. 

You’ll have to either:

Apply for a standard Visitor Visa. There is a cost for this, and it must be applied for three months before travel.

Be able to visit Britain and Northern Ireland for six months without needing a visa.

You can check which applies to you .

More information on short-stay visas can be found on the official government website.

Electronic Travel Authorisation

By the end of 2024, Electronic Travel Authorisation will be a requirement worldwide for visitors who do not currently need a visa for short stays. More information on the ETA scheme can be found on the official government website.

Until the introduction of the ETA, most travellers from the EU, EEA and Switzerland won’t require a visa but will still need their passport to enter Britain and Northern Ireland. Your passport will need to be valid for your entire stay.

VisitBritain/Tomo Brejc

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you can find the most up-to-date information on visiting Britain and Northern Ireland on the official government website .

American, Canadian and Australian tourists, and citizens of certain Commonwealth countries, can travel visa-free throughout Britain and Northern Ireland, providing you have a valid passport and your reason for visiting meets the immigration rules .

The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme started to replace the electronic visa waiver from late 2023:

• From 15 November 2023, nationals of Qatar require an ETA to travel to the UK.
• From 22 February 2024, nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE require an ETA to travel to the UK. The ETA scheme is now open for applications from nationals of these countries.
• More countries will be added to the scheme at a later date.

An ETA will cost £10 per application when the scheme opens, will permit multiple journeys and be valid for two years or until the holder’s passport expires - whichever is sooner.

More information on the new ETA scheme can be found via the official government website.

For nationals of all other countries, you can check if you need a UK visa here.

Immigration applications

Please note that www.GOV.UK is the only official UK immigration website and provides all of the information necessary to successfully complete an application.

We have received reports of customers using non-GOV.UK websites to support their UK immigration applications. If you have made use of these websites, please be aware of the following:

• Some non-GOV.UK websites deliberately attempt to deceive customers by making it appear as though they are an official part of the application process.
• These websites can pose a risk to a customer’s security and data.
• They will often charge applicants extra, unnecessary fees in addition to any fees related to the official immigration application.
• The information included on these websites is not moderated by the Home Office and may be inaccurate or misleading.

If you think you may have been a victim of a non-GOV.UK website seeking your data and/or money, please report this to Reporting fraud and cyber crime | Action Fraud .

Visa Traveler

Exploring the world one country at a time

UK tourist visa: Requirements and application procedure

Updated: September 9, 2023

The UK tourist visa requirements are clear and easy to understand. UK tourist visa application is online but the rest of the process requires an in-person appointment for biometrics.

The UK or the United Kingdom is comprised of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. To visit any of these four countries, you would need a UK tourist visa. UK tourist visas are valid for 6 months and you can stay up to 180 days in the UK.

The UK tourist visa application process is long and there is no status tracking. Make sure to start your UK visa process at least two months from your intended date of travel to the UK.

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UK TOURIST VISA REQUIREMENTS BY NATIONALITY

Minimum passport validity required to enter the UK

• Passport must be valid for the entire stay in the UK

Visa EXEMPT nationalities

Unlimited entry.

• This requirement will change from 01 Jan 2021 when UK will no longer be part of the EU
• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland

6-month entry

• You must carry all documents needed for a visitor visa to show at the port of entry if asked
• Visa is REQUIRED if you have a criminal record or refused entry into the UK before
• Anguilla (British territory)
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bermuda (British territory)
• Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba (Dutch territory)
• British Virgin Islands (British territory)
• Cayman Islands (British territory)
• Costa Rica
• El Salvador
• Falkland Islands (British territory)
• Hong Kong
• Marshall Islands
• Montserrat (British territory)
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Pitcairn Island (British territory)
• San Marino
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Maarten
• St Vincent and The Grenadines
• Timor Leste
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos Islands (British territory)
• United States of America
• Vatican City

Visa REQUIRED nationalities

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Burkina Faso
• Cape Verde
• Central African Republic
• Congo, Dem. Rep. of
• Congo, Rep. of
• Cote d’Ivoire
• Dominican Republic
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• North Korea
• North Macedonia
• Palestinian Territories
• Philippines
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• Sri Lanka
• São Tomé and Principe
• Turkmenistan

Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) required nationalities

• United Arab Emirates

24-hour VISA-FREE entry at Heathrow airport

• Eligible to request a 24-hour VISA-FREE entry at London’s Heathrow airport if holding a valid visa from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or any EU/Schengen country
• Must be in transit to/from the country of visa (Ex: if holding a Canada visa, you must be in transit to/from Canada only)
• Onward flight must be within 24 hours (on the same day or next day before midnight)
• Granting the 24-hour entry is at the sole discretion of the immigration officer
• Applies to all nationalities

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UK TOURIST VISA APPLICATION PROCESS

First, check if you need a visitor visa to travel to the UK in the “UK tourist visa requirements by nationality” section above.

Alternatively, you can check your eligibility and requirements on the UK gov website .

Validity of UK tourist visa

UK tourist visas are valid for 6 months from the date of visa issue.

Example: If your UK visa was issued on January 15, the visa will be valid until July 15. 

NOTE There have been instances where visas were issued with validity starting from the date of travel mentioned in the visa application. 

When to apply for UK visa

You can apply for a UK visa up to 3 months in advance.

Example: If you plan to visit the UK on April 15, you can apply for your UK visa on or after January 16.

Also, keep in mind that you must apply for your UK visa at least 3 weeks prior to your travel, otherwise, you may not receive your visa on time. There are no refunds if you receive your visa after your travel date. 

IMPORTANT The UK visa process can take up to 3 weeks and even longer in some cases. I strongly recommend applying for your UK visa at least 2 months in advance.

How long can you stay in the UK?

The UK tourist visa allows you to stay up to 180 days in the UK. But if you stay that long continuously in the UK on a tourist visa, you will have serious trouble getting another UK visa in the future or entering the UK next time.

Here is my advice. Stick to the days you have mentioned in your UK visa application. A few days more or less is fine. But staying months on your UK tourist visa will pretty much look like you “live in the UK” rather than “vacation/holiday”. 

Application procedure

The UK visa application is online. You must apply for the visa online at the UK Visas and Immigration website

Below are the steps you will go through for your UK tourist visa application

• Go to the UK Visas and Immigration website
• Select your preferred language, type of visa, your country, nearest visa application center, etc
• Create a login using email and password
• Complete in the application form
• Sign the declaration
• Pay visa fee
• Submit the application
• Download and print the submitted visa application form
• Make an appointment at your nearest UK visa application center
• Attend the appointment at your nearest UK visa application center
• Submit your passport, visa application and supporting documents at the visa application center
• If applying from the US, Australia or New Zealand, mail your passport, visa application and biometrics receipt to your nearest visa application center
• Pickup/receive the passport when the visa decision is made

Below are some of the information you will provide in the application form

• Your travel dates to the UK
• Your hotel address and telephone number in the UK
• Your total estimated cost for the trip
• Your present home address and how many years you’ve lived there
• Your parents’ names and their dates of birth
• Your annual income
• Your travel history for the past 10 years
• Your employer details including the address and telephone number

Documents required

The following are the documents required for UK visitor visa application 

• Completed online visa application form with GWF number
• A passport-size photo (optional)
• If employed – an employment letter on company letterhead indicating your length of employment, salary, role, etc.
• If self-employed – a business registration document indicating your business name, date of business, etc.
• If student – a letter from the school/university on the letterhead indicating your enrollment, leave of absence, etc.
• Proof of funds ( bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months)
• Proof of legal residence (if applying from a 3rd country. you must submit a copy of your visa or residence permit of that country)

Do you need flight tickets and hotel bookings for the UK visa application?

UKVI has stopped asking for flight tickets and hotel bookings for UK visa applications. But some nationalities are still being asked to submit flight tickets and hotel bookings.

When you complete your online UK visa application, you will see a checklist of documents to be uploaded. Check if you are asked to submit flight tickets and hotel bookings.

Even if you are asked to submit your flight tickets and hotel bookings, you should not book any flights/hotel until your UK visa is approved.

For flights, get a price quote from British Airways which can be used as a flight itinerary for your UK visa application. Visa ticket booking agencies such as DummyTicket offer flight itineraries for the UK visa for $19, valid for 2-3 weeks.

For hotel, book a refundable or pay at check-in hotel on booking.com or Expedia . Cancel the booking after your visa is approved.

For more options, check out my detailed flight itinerary and hotel reservation articles.

Photo requirements

A passport-size photo is only required if are exempt from biometrics. All tourist visa applicants MUST give their biometrics. Your fingerprints and digital photos are taken during your biometrics appointment.

Since all tourist visa applicants MUST give their biometrics, a passport-size photo is not required. But, I suggest bringing one with you on the day of your biometrics appointment just in case.

Visa application fee

The UK tourist visa application fee is £95 GBP. You will pay this fee in your local currency. Due to exchange rates, you may end up paying about £2 – £5 GBP more.

You can use the UK home office visa fee wizard to find out the exact visa fee that you would need to pay in your local currency. 

If you are applying for a long-term UK tourist visa, below is the visa fee for 2, 5 and 10-year tourist visas. 

• 2 years: £361 GBP
• 5 years: £655 GBP
• 10 years: £822 GBP

Visa appointment

As part of the online application process, you will be prompted to make a visa appointment at your nearest UK Visa Application Center . Visa Application Centers are run by either VFSGlobal or TLSContact in conjunction with UK Visas and Immigration.

On the day of the appointment, you will give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) and submit your original documents. You must bring all your original documents along with one photocopy of each including your passport.

Applicants from the USA, Australia (Adelaide and Hobart only) and New Zealand

You must give your biometrics at your nearest Biometric Enrollment Center and later send/post your documents to the nearest UK Visa Application Center.

During your online UK visa application, you will be prompted to make a biometrics appointment at your nearest Biometric enrollment center.

• Biometric enrollment centers in the USA are run by the US Homeland Security.
• Biometric enrollment centers in Australia are run by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
• Biometric enrollment centers in New Zealand are run by Immigration New Zealand.

The biometrics appointment takes about 10-15 minutes. You will give your fingerprints and photo. You will receive an acknowledgment stamp on the biometric appointment confirmation.

You must then mail your original passport, visa application, biometric confirmation with the stamp, supporting documents and return postage to the UK Visa Application Center you have selected during your online visa application.

You will be notified via email when the UK Visa Application Center receives your documents.

Visa processing time

The UK tourist visa processing takes up to 3 weeks. There have been incidents where UKVI has taken over 2 months to process, especially when the visa applications are “not straightforward”.

UKVI considers a visa application “not straightforward” if additional information is required to process the visa. Additional information can be, verifying information, background check or requesting additional documents. UKVI usually notifies you in such cases and requests any additional documentation necessary.

Keeping such incidents in mind, ALWAYS apply for your UK visa at least 2 months prior to your travel.

If you have to travel sooner, you should purchase the “Priority Visa Service” while applying online. Or at least before you mail/submit your documents. This way your visa application will be processed within 5 working days.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE When I applied for my UK visa, the visa processing time was about 2 weeks. I had a planned trip to Canada before my trip to the UK. My trip to Canada was in 4 weeks, so I thought I had enough time to apply for my UK visa. However after I submitted my passport, the email confirmation said the visa process would take up to 4 weeks. I panicked. I went ahead and paid for the priority visa service. I panicked again. Then I emailed a formal visa withdrawal request, so I could at least get my passport back and make my trip to Canada. However, my visa was processed within 2 days of paying the priority visa service fee. Please do not make the same mistake as I did. Apply for your UK visa at least 2 months prior to your travel.

Visa application status tracking

Online visa application tracking is NOT AVAILABLE on the UK Visas and Immigration website. To track your UK visa application status, you must use UK Visas and Immigration’s email or phone option, which unfortunately is NOT FREE.

UKVI charges for all phone and email inquiries. 

Below are UK Visa and Immigration phone, email details and charges.

PHONE Telephone: +44 2034811736 Available 24 hours from Monday to Friday Calls cost £1.37 per minute plus any international call charges

EMAIL Email communication must be initiated via Email UK Visas and Immigration Email inquiries cost £5.48. Follow-up emails after that are not charged. You will receive a response to your email within 2 working days.

You must give out your credit card information for billing when you start the phone inquiry. For email, you must fill out the payment form and then you can submit your email inquiry.

PERSONAL OPINION Email inquiries generally receive a standard response saying that your application is “in process”. Phone inquiries are slightly better and cheaper.

Priority visa service

If you would need to travel to the UK urgently, you can opt for the “Priority Visa Service”.  This service is expensive and may not be available in all countries. If available, you will see the option in your online UK visa application. 

• Priority visa service fee: £220 GBP
• Visa processing time: Guaranteed in 5 working days

Priority visa service must be purchased during your online visa application. This will ensure your visa is processed within 5 days.

Purchasing this service after you have submitted/mailed your documents will take much longer than 5 working days. You must first pay the fee on the Visa Application Center (VAC) website and then email the receipt to the Visa Application Center where you have submitted/sent your documents. It can take more than a day for the VAC staff to locate your packet and push it into the priority queue

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE I purchased my priority service after I had mailed my documents. My visa application was approved within two days of buying the priority visa service.

Super priority visa service

If you would need to travel to the UK immediately, you can opt for “Super Priority Visa Service”. This service comes with a hefty price tag, so purchase this service only in super urgent, emergency cases. 

• Super priority visa service fee: £956 GBP
• Visa processing time: Guaranteed in 24 hours

Cancel your UK visa application

If you haven’t given your biometrics at the visa application center yet, you can cancel your UK visa application and get a full refund of your visa fee. The procedure to cancel your UK visa application depends on at what stage your application is in.

Application not submitted and fee not paid : If you haven’t paid your fee and haven’t submitted your application, there is a “Delete Application” option that will delete your current visa application.

Application not submitted but fee already paid : If you have already paid your fee and have not yet submitted your application, you can still delete your application but you may have to send a formal refund request in writing to the visa application center.

Application submitted, fee paid but haven’t given your biometrics : If you haven’t given your biometrics at VFS/BLS, you can cancel your application and request for a refund. The refunds take 4 weeks. 

Application submitted, fee paid, biometric given , and documents/passport already submitted: If you have already given your biometrics and submitted your documents/passport, you CANNOT cancel your visa application anymore. You can only WITHDRAW your visa application. You must email the visa application center a formal withdrawal request. Upon receipt of the withdrawal request, the visa application center will return/mail your passport back. Any visa fee and priority service fee paid are not refundable. 

IMPORTANT Even though UKVI says the refunds are processed in 4 weeks, it usually takes 8 weeks or even longer. There have been instances where applicants waited several weeks and some even gave up on their refunds. However, I have seen applicants having success in getting their refunds by reminding UKVI with phone calls or emails. It costs about $5 USD to email them, but it helps in getting your refund eventually. 

Withdraw your UK visa application

The UK visa application center keeps the passport for the entirety of the visa process, which could be 3 weeks or more. There may be emergencies where you need to have your passport with you. The only way to request your passport back is by formally withdrawing your visa application. 

If you withdraw your application, the visa fee and any priority service fee you have paid are NOT refundable.

To withdraw a visa application, you must submit a withdrawal request along with the reason for the withdrawal to the visa application center via email. It might take up to 72 hours for the consulate to locate your packet and send it back to you.

You must first call/email the UK Visas and Immigration mentioning your intention to withdraw your application. They will guide you through the process of withdrawing your application. Usually, the UK visa application withdrawal request should be a signed document with personal information including the GWF number. This document must be printed and signed. It must be scanned and emailed to the visa application center. Below is a sample withdrawal request letter.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I hereby request to withdraw my UK visa application. I understand that the visa fee is non-refundable. I also understand that my package may not be shipped for up to 72 hours.

Full Name of the Applicant: <name> GWF Number: <GWF number> Date of Birth: <date of birth> Nationality: <Nationality> Country of Residence: <Country of residence> Passport number: <Passport number> Type of Visa Applied: General Visit (up to 6 months) Biometric taken date:  <biometric date> Visa application centre’s address:  <address of the visa application center where you have submitted your documents> Contact number of the applicant: <Your phone number>

Priority Service Paid: <YES/NO> Priority Service Paid On: <Priority service purchased date>

Reason for Withdrawal: Emergency international travel has been scheduled. I need to have my passport in order to travel. Please return my passport as soon as possible. Thank you!

<Your signature here> Signed: <Your full name> Date: <date>

IMPORTANT Cancellation or withdrawal is NOT a refusal. It WILL NOT affect your future UK visa applications. You don’t need to mention it in your future UK visa applications either.

ENTERING AND LEAVING THE UK

Entering the UK by air

At the immigration, the officers may ask you questions about your trip, how long you plan to stay, your next destination, etc. You may be asked to show your return/onward ticket and your hotel booking. If you are traveling on a one-way ticket, you can use OnwardTicket to get proof of your onward ticket. 

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: The immigration officer at Heathrow Airport asked me to show my return/onward ticket. I had a print of my onward ticket, so quickly took it out and gave it to the immigration officer.

Leaving the UK by air

If you are flying out of Heathrow Airport, make sure to arrive early. The airport is huge and you may have to take a bus from the gate to the flight.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is GWF number in UK visa application ?

GWF reference number is the unique visa application number that was provided to you on your visa application submission. You must provide your GWF number when calling or emailing UK Visas and Immigration. Without the GWF number, UK Visas and Immigration will not be able to provide you with a status update on your visa application.

What to do if my UK visa application is refused?

If your UK visa application is refused, the first thing is to understand the  reasons for your UK visa refusal . If the reason is due to missing information, proof of funds or documentation, make sure to fix these the next time you apply for your UK visa.

Write a detailed cover letter explaining the reasons for your previous visa refusal, missing information/documentation and any additional information/documentation that you have provided in the new application. This will help the ECOs cut to the chase and focus on the new information/documentation.

There is no “appeal” for UK visa. So, re-apply for your UK visa by making sure you have the new information, proofs and documents that were lacking previously. You must pay the visa fee again as the fee paid for your previous application was non-refundable.

If you do not know the reason for your visa refusal/denial, give at least 6 months before you apply for the visa again. 

Can I get my UK visa application fee refund if denied?

No. The visa fee and any priority service fee paid are non-refundable if your visa application is denied. The visa fee is also non-refundable in incidents where the visa is approved for less number of days than requested.

I’m planning to visit the UK and Schengen countries on a single trip. Should I apply for my UK visa first or Schengen visa first?

If you plan to visit the UK and Schengen countries on a single trip, ALWAYS apply for your UK visa first. 

UKVI keeps the passport for the entirety of the visa process and there is no visa status tracking. Calls and emails to customer service are charged. Even if you pay and contact, you will usually get a canned response. If your UK visa is refused, there is no “appeal”. You can only re-apply, which means you have to repeat the entire process again.

On the other hand, the Schengen visa application process is much streamlined. There is application tracking, customer service and appeal. 

I highly recommend applying for your UK visa first and get done with it. After that, apply for your Schengen visa. 

When applying for your UK visa, show a “UK-only” itinerary for your UK visa. This eliminates the need for submitting your Schengen visa, flights in/out of the Schengen region, etc. 

The UK tourist visa requirements are clear and easy to understand. But, the visa application process is long and expensive. Apply at least 2 months in advance, and follow all the proper steps and documentation. Tourist visas are usually multiple-entry with 6 months validity.

WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.

PLAN YOUR TRAVEL WITH VISA TRAVELER

I highly recommend using these websites to plan your trip. I use these websites myself to apply for my visas, book my flights and hotels and purchase my travel insurance.

01. Apply for your visa

Get a verifiable flight itinerary for your visa application from DummyTicket247 . DummyTicket247 is a flight search engine to search and book flight itineraries for visas instantly. These flight itineraries are guaranteed to be valid for 2 weeks and work for all visa applications.

02. Book your fight

Find the cheapest flight tickets using Skyscanner . Skyscanner includes all budget airlines and you are guaranteed to find the cheapest flight to your destination.

03. Book your hotel

Book your hotel from Booking.com . Booking.com has pretty much every hotel, hostel and guesthouse from every destination.

04. Get your onward ticket

If traveling on a one-way ticket, use BestOnwardTicket to get proof of onward ticket for just $12, valid for 48 hours.

05. Purchase your insurance

Purchase travel medical insurance for your trip from SafetyWing . Insurance from SafetyWing covers COVID-19 and also comes with a visa letter which you can use for your visas.

Need more? Check out my travel resources page  for the best websites to plan your trip.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please refer to our full disclosure for further information.

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

How Much Does it Cost to Travel in the UK?

Last updated: April 19, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 28 Comments

One of the most common questions we’re asked from people who read our UK guides, and in particular our detailed one week and two week UK itinerary posts is: how much does it cost to travel in the UK?

Of course, the answer is – it depends! There are a lot of factors to consider, from your travel style (budget to luxury) through to who you are travelling with (solo, family, group), and the kind of travel you want to do (self-drive, group tour, etc).

Then of course there are the attractions you are interested in visiting, the time of year you visit – there are just so many variables to take into account. Which makes answering the question quite tricky!

But we’re going to tackle it anyway. In this post I’m going to go through all the major costs you need to consider when planning a trip to the UK, and provide budget ranges for each of them.

This should give you some good ideas of what a trip like this might cost. We’ll also provide some money saving tips for each area.

Let’s get started.

In summary, you are looking at between £75 and £200 per day per person for travel in the UK. These costs will of course vary depending on your travel style, sights visited, type of transport used and dining choices.

In this post we’re going to go into detail on the four main cost areas you need to consider when travelling in the UK. These are:

• Accommodation
• Sightseeing

We’re going to look at each of these individually to give you some cost ideas. At the end of the post we’ll then put these together to give ideas of a total trip cost for the UK for a few different travel styles.

1. Transport Costs for Travel in the UK

There are a number of ways to travel in the UK. To start with, there is an excellent public transport network in the UK which includes long distance bus services (also called coaches in the UK), a good passenger rail network and multiple low cost airlines.

Our preferred way of travel in the UK (and abroad), is to self-drive where possible. We find it gives us the greatest flexibility, letting us stop when we want to, and not have to be strict about following a timetable. Of course, depending on the type of trip you want to do, this might not be the best option – if you’re only visiting cities for example, we recommend using public transport to get between them.

Price of Car Rental in the UK

• Budget : £100 – £150 per week for a small car that will fit two people and luggage
• Mid-range: £200 – £300 per week for a mid-range car that will fit four people and luggage
• High-end:  £400 – 600 per week for a small SUV or car capable of carrying more than five people

Money Saving Tips for Car Hire in the UK

Book by the week.  Most car hire companies offer better rates if you book for a week rather than a few days. Of course, there’s no point booking for a week if you only need the car for a day or two, but you might find that seven days is cheaper than six for example. We have also found that when we book a car for two or three weeks, many hire car companies have given us a free upgrade to say thanks for our custom.

Pick up your hire car on leaving the city.  In the UK, there is really no need to have a hire car in a city. UK cities are for the most part easy to get around either on foot, or have excellent public transport networks. Your hire car will likely spend its time costing money in an expensive parking lot. So just book your rental for when you leave the city.

Don’t pick it up at the airport. If you can avoid picking up your hire car at the airport, you will usually save money. Most car hire companies charge higher rates for cars picked up at the airport – it’s a combination of a trapped market and a convenience factor. Compare prices between the airport and the city, and if you can get to the city easily from the airport, and the price is better, do that.

Avoid one-way trips where possible.  Most car hire companies will charge you extra if you want to drop the car off in a different place to where you picked it up. We have actually done this many times – the key is to find a car rental company that charges minimal one-way fees. In our experience, Enterprise is pretty good for this.

Don’t forget the fuel costs. Fuel in the UK is relatively expensive compared to somewhere like the USA. Thankfully, the majority of cars are quite fuel efficient and distances aren’t that great. However, fuel prices vary wildly. Generally, the cheapest fuel can be found at supermarkets, such as Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s. The most expensive fuel is usually along the motorways, at the service stations.

Avoid additional fees:  The way that hire companies bump up their revenues is by charging you for a lot of addons when you come to pick up your car. These can include everything from a GPS unit through to extra insurance cover. Many of these are not truly necessary, and some travellers might find that their credit card already offers things like Collision Damage Waiver insurance. So definitely check in advance what addons you need, so you don’t fall prey to high pressure sales tactics at the rental desk.

Use a comparison service:  For car hire, we usually use a comparison search site that lets us compare prices across multiple providers at the same time. We recommend searching for your car rental on Discover Cars here . They compare a range of providers so you can find the best deal for your trip. Just make sure when comparing prices that additional fees like one-way drop offs are covered.

Consider your age:  Car hire companies around the world give better rates to what they consider to be more experienced drivers. Younger drivers, particularly those 21 and under, can pay hefty surcharges for car rental. Usually, drivers over 30 get the best rates. If you are travelling in a group of different ages, consider renting the car in the name of the older driver. Just be aware that you might need to pay more to add additional drivers, so be sure that the named driver is happy to do all the driving if necessary.

Price of Public Transport in the UK

Public transport in the UK is difficult to put a price on as there are huge variables depending on where you are going, how far in advance you book, and how you travel (bus, train, plane) – as well as if you choose to travel in standard class or a more premium class.

As an example though, a one way single ticket from London to Edinburgh by train (~4hr 30 min) would cost you around £150. If you book the same trip in advance, you could go on the same journey for as little as £25 one-way.

A similar journey by coach would take between 10 and 15 hours, and cost between £16 and £80.

You could also fly, which would take around an hour of actual flight time (although you would need to factor in the time of getting to and from the airport and check-in). Flights with a budget airline from London to Edinburgh for example start from as little as £13 (with no luggage!), and go up to around £200.

Money Saving Tips for Public Transport in the UK

Book in advance.  For planes, buses and coaches, the best prices are available if you book well in advance, and if you can be a little bit flexible with your timings. Avoid travelling at peak times (usually 0630 – 0930 & 1530 – 1830).

Use the right booking site.  For train tickets, we recommend The Trainline, which we have found to be the most user friendly option. Opt to pick up your tickets from the station to avoid postal charges, or use their e-ticket option. They also let you book tickets for destinations all across Europe, and so are a handy one stop shop for all your ticket needs.

For long distance buses, there are a number of operators to choose from. The two we would recommend are  National Express  and  Megabus , both of which offer a wide range of routes across the country.

For flights, we suggest a good comparison engine that includes the budget airlines – we recommend Kiwi.com .

Go carry on only.  If you choose to fly, packing carry-on only can save you a good amount in baggage fees. Just be aware that UK airlines have different baggage size standards to other airlines around the world, so always check with the airline first.

2. Accommodation Costs for a UK Trip

Accommodation is one of the major costs for any travel, and a UK trip is no different. Of course, the question  “how much does accommodation cost in the UK?” is not straightforward, and there are multiple factors to consider – everything from time of year through to the level of comfort and service you need will affect the price.

There are lots of options for accommodation in the UK, so whatever your budget, we are confident you will be able to find something to suit your travel needs.

Our costs are based on two people sharing a private room, but there are other options of course, including dormitory accommodation in hostels, if you are looking to save even more.

Price of Accommodation in the UK

• Budget:  £40 – £100 for a budget room for two people, usually this would be an en-suite room. Dorm rooms are also available, think around £25 per bed.
• Mid-range: £100 – £150 would get you a nice room for two in most parts of the country
• High-end: £250+ would normally be the starting point for a room in a luxury property, although deals can be had, see below for more information

Money Saving Tips for Accommodation in the UK

Travel off-peak.  If you can travel in the quieter times of year, such as January and February, particularly in less visited parts of the UK, you can score some remarkable deals. For example, we stayed in this luxury hotel near Inverness for £70 per night including breakfast in February. The same room in June is over £300!

Check the hotel website for deals.  Whilst we love booking engines for their convenience, sometimes we find that a particular property has a special deal running that’s only available if you check their website. These might be things like three nights for the price of two, or free breakfast if you book direct.

Book online.  We use booking.com extensively for our travel accommodation. After making five bookings, we qualified for their extra “Genius” discount, which often scores us an extra 10% off. We also like that they list everything from hostels to apartments to hotels of all categories, making it an excellent one-stop shop for our accommodation needs.

Use Alternative Accommodation Providers . There has been an explosion in options in the accommodation market over the last decade or so. If you’re on a tight budget, definitely consider websites like  Couchsurfing.  There are lot of options out there to help you find great value accommodation, so take advantage of them. Take a look at our guide to AirBnB Alternatives and holiday accommodation websites for the UK for more inspiration.

3. Food Costs for a UK Trip

The UK used to have a pretty poor reputation when it came to food, but thankfully over the last ten – twenty years this has improved a great deal, and you can now get really fantastic meals as you travel. That said, dining in the UK is not particularly cheap, although there are some ways to reduce the costs.

One thing to note, for US readers in particular, tax is always included in menu prices in the UK, so what you see is what you pay. Service is not included, but tips are appreciated.

Price of Dining in the UK

• Budget:  £5 – £10 per person per meal at a fast food restaurant or takeaway style meal
• Mid-range:  £10 – £30 per person per meal at a mid-range restaurant or nice pub style meal
• High-end:  £35+ per person per meal at a nice restaurant

Money Saving Tips for Dining in the UK

Drink less.  Drinking with a meal can really push your budget up. Even soft drinks can be quite expensive in the UK, so if you can stick with tap water with your meal, you can save a fair bit of money.

Find deals.  Whilst not as common as say France, you can still find good deals in the UK for dining out. Many restaurants will offer early-bird dining specials for example, for dining at times earlier than usual, such as 5pm – 6.30pm. Others may have special menu deals, where you can get a two or three course meal at a discount at lunchtime.

Fast food.  Don’t forget the fast food chains if you’re looking for cheap and easy food on the go. As well as reducing your time spent eating if you’re having a full day of exploring, these can be very cheap. To really save money, skip the extras, and find the really cheap menu items. For example, you can normally buy a single hamburger at McDonald’s for under £1. Two of those and a medium fries will keep you going for a while.

Small cafes.  If fast food doesn’t do it for you, consider stopping off at a small cafe. Often attractions have these, as do department stores and other high-street locations. Normally they have a small selection of well priced menu items, such as a soup and a sandwich, or a baked potato with a filling. Usually these meals will come in at under £5 per person.

Supermarket meals. If you’re ok with a cold meal, a reliable cheap option is to get a meal from a supermarket such as Marks and Spencer. These places usually have an extensive range of sandwiches and other snacks, often very well priced. You’ll be able to get a sandwich, snack and a drink for under £5 in most cases. Plus you can then find somewhere pretty to eat it and dine al fresco! Other options for cheap eating include chains like Eat and Pret a Manger, which also offer soups and hot items.

Cook for yourself.  To really save money on your food in the UK, you should opt to cook for yourself if you can. Obviously this will need a bit of forward planning, as you’ll need to book accommodation that includes cooking facilities, such as a self-catering holiday cottage, or a hostel with a kitchen. Cooking for yourself can really save you money though.

Eat the included breakfast. If you’re staying at a hotel or bed and breakfast that includes a breakfast (or other meal), make sure you take advantage of it, as that saves you the cost of a meal.

4. Sight-seeing Costs for a UK Trip

Sight-seeing costs in the UK will really vary depending on what you are interested in seeing. There are lots of free attractions, including many museums and outdoor sights, that won’t cost you anything at all.

There are also other trips and activities, such as day trips to specific sights you might want to see (for example Stonehenge from London ) that you will want to book a tour for. If you are thinking about taking a tour, we can recommend Rabbie’s , who offer small group tours in the UK & Ireland. We also recommend Viator who offer a huge range of tours in the UK .

Costs for sight-seeing in the UK

Costs will vary tremendously depending on what you are interested in. Museums and other attractions like stately homes range from free to around £25 per person at the upper end of the scale, although £6 – £12 per person is a more common cost.

Note that many of the major museums in the UK are free, like the Natural History Museum in London, or the National Museum of Scotland, for example.

If you decide to take a tour, the price of these will vary depending on a number of factors. Private tours will cost more than group tours for example, and multi-day tours will be more expensive than day trips.

As a guide, a day trip from London, such as a visit to Stonehenge  will cost you between £50 and £110 , depending on duration and inclusions. This price is fairly reflective of day trip prices from cities around the UK – see our guides to day trips from Edinburgh , day trips from Glasgow and day trips from Inverness for more inspiration.

Multi-day group tours will cost more, usually in the region of £75 – £150 for each day of the trip. When comparing tours like this, always check what is included and what isn’t – for example, some tours will include accommodation and attraction entry, and others won’t.

Private multi-day group tours are the most expensive option of all, and you should look to budget in the region of £500 – £1000 per day for this sort of tour, which will usually include the cost of your driver and vehicle, with accommodation costs added on top.

Money Saving Tips for Sight-seeing in the UK

Get a City-based Attractions Pass.  If you’re planning on visiting a lot of attractions in the same city, you will probably find that an attractions pass will save you money. For London, we recommend the  London Pass  (see our review here ). For Edinburgh, there’s a good pass that covers Edinburgh’s royal attractions .

Get a society membership. For certain types of attraction in the UK, such as historical homes and castles, you can save money with a membership to the organisation that manages the properties.

In the UK, there are a number of these, but the key organisations are the National Trust and English Heritage .

For English Heritage, visitors to the UK can purchase either a full year long English Heritage membership or a special English Heritage Overseas Visitors Pass .

The latter pass is specially designed for overseas visitors who might want to visit a few attractions on a visit, but who might not get the full value from a yearlong membership.

For the National Trust, the story is similar. You can either join the National Trust, or get a visitor pass here .

Visit on free Days.  Sometimes museums and attractions in the UK will have free days where you can visit for free. Check the attraction’s website or social media accounts for details of when these might be.

Use qualifying concessions. Many attractions offer discounts to different demographics – for example based on your age or eligible military service. It’s always worth checking if you qualify for a discounted price. If so, make sure you carry proof of your eligibility, for example, if it’s an age-based discount, carry official government issued ID like a driving license or passport so you can prove your age.

In Summary: How Much Will a UK Trip Cost you?

Assuming two people are travelling together in the UK, using a hire car to get around and staying in private hotel rooms with en-suite facilities, our suggested costs per person per day would be as follows:

• Budget : £50 – £100
• Mid-range:  £100 – £250
• High-end: £300+

So, for a trip like our suggested two week UK itinerary , you would likely be looking at the following total approximate costs for two people for a two week UK trip.

• Car hire: £300 – £600 + fuel (~£100 – £200)
• Accommodation: £700 – £2000+
• Food: £300 – £1000
• Sight-seeing / tours:  £200+
• Total:  from around £750 per person

Of course, you can spend a little less or a lot more, depending on your travel style, but these ballpark figures should give you an idea of costs.

Also, don’t forget to include any visa costs, travel insurance, additional sightseeing, nice meals out, souvenirs, and of course, the cost of getting to and from the UK.

Further Reading for Planning your UK Trip

Hopefully in this post we’ve answered the question of how much does it cost to travel in the UK. To further help with planning your UK trip beyond the budgeting side, we have a lot more content that we think you will find useful.

• For itinerary ideas covering the whole UK, check out our 1 week and 2 week UK itineraries . These are self-drive itineraries, so do check out our guide to driving in the UK for tips.
• If you’d rather not drive yourself, we have a UK itinerary by public transport
• If you’re heading to Scotland, we have a 7 Day camping itinerary for the North Coast 500 , as well as a detailed North Coast 500 Planning Guide and a guide to our favourite B&B’s on the North Coast 500
• A two day Edinburgh itinerary  &  21 Highlights in Edinburgh
• A Two Day Glasgow and Loch Lomond itinerary
• A guide to  10 of the best Stately Homes in England
• For London, we have some detailed itineraries to help you plan your visit. These include a  1 Day London Itinerary , a  Two Day London itinerary , a 3 day London Itinerary and a  Six Day London itinerary
• The top Harry Potter sites in London
• The  Best Photography Locations in London
• Tips on Buying and Using the London Pass
• Our favourite  Things to Do in Kensington
• A guide to things to do in Portsmouth
• The  Highlights of Oxford
• Things to do in Cambridge
• Visiting  Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds
• 20 Things To Do in Dublin
• A  Guide to Touring the Scottish Borders
• If you want a physical (or digital!) book to accompany your travels, then Amazon do a good line in  UK Travel Guides , and there is naturally a  Lonely Planet  and a  Rough Guide  to the UK available.

And that’s it for our guide to how much it costs to travel in the UK! We hope you found it useful – as always you’re welcome to share your questions and feedback in the comments below.

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There are 28 comments on this post

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Toni Hendrix says

7th October 2022 at 12:59 am

Hello, A friend and I are in our 70’s and would like to do a month+ trip perhaps in April-May 2023 so that we can see a bit more, thinking Wales, Scotland, England, Ireland. Sort of a retirement blowout! Have we lost our minds…definitely! We’re debating about various ways to travel, where to stay,etc. One of us has had Covid but no shot and the other has all shots and still got Covid. Do we both need to be vaxed? We both have Donne ancestral research and would like to see castles in our lineage: Compton in Devonshire, Bamburg, Strickland & Devonshire. She has taught school overseas and I have been. flight attendant and done some travel. Hopefully, we can figure out a rational way to do this. Is there any hope? Thank you!

Laurence Norah says

7th October 2022 at 2:23 pm

Sounds like a fun adventure! So currently you don’t need to be vaccinated to travel to the UK. You can see the latest rules here , which you will want to check before you travel. You will also want to check the rules for the country you are traveling from so you can get back home. I’d also add that things can change very quickly, so vaccination requirements for example might be reintroduced if a new strain appears. So if possible being vaccinated might make that easier, because getting a vaccination whilst abroad is likely to be challenging. Whatever you choose though, good insurance is a good idea to cover any eventualities.

I definitely think you can do the trip you mention. Given that your trip is to a few different locations you might find renting and driving a car is going to be the easier option for getting around.

Have a great time!

Ann E. McCollister says

5th February 2022 at 6:36 am

I’m 70 years old, not well off, always wanted to go to UK (England, Ireland, Scotland). Saved $2000 (!), want to make a trip with my 3 sisters before I die. I appreciate all the advice and suggestions you’ve made and will share with my sister’s and investigate further. Cheerio and much thanks, I want to do what YOU do! You needn’t reply but encouragement would help. Afraid my dream won’t be fulfilled. Annie

6th February 2022 at 12:45 pm

It’s lovely to hear from you. I am sure that with your budget the three of you will be able to make the trip happen. There are lots of good value accommodation. I’d recommend looking for good value B&B’s where breakfast is normally included. If you are happy to drive, renting a car between the four of you will be quite inexpensive. Alternatively, we can also recommend the Rabbie’s Tour company – they do really good value tours all around the UK and are a great alternative to driving yourself.

I am very sure you will be able to realise your dream. The main cost is likely to be your flight, but luckily there are lots of routes. I’d suggest signing up for something like Google Flights and their alerts for prices.

I’m also happy to offer more specific input and help if you need it, it’s no trouble at all. If you have any questions, fire away!

21st May 2020 at 4:50 pm

Dear Laurence,

Have you ever balanced the costs (in time and money) of car rental,parking and accomodation in UK?

Car rental is relatively unexpensive compared to public transport and hotels whilst unconvenienlty located accomodation sites tend to be more affordable.

Many times, having a car allowed me to stay on those far away locations and swiftly reach my daily tourist destination by car.

On the other hand, parking availability and costs sometimes bars me from reserving otherwise most convenient accomodation sites.

21st May 2020 at 4:55 pm

I haven’t done the maths precisely. The challenge is that public transport costs can vary hugely, depending on how far in advance you book it. The same ticket booked 8 weeks in advance might cost £20, wheras the same day price might be £200. So if you are able to plan in advance and be flexible with dates and times, it can be more affordable.

We prefer to travel by car if we can though, as it’s just a lot easier for the more remote locations. Public transport in the UK is great for cities and towns, but outside of this you start to rely on slower and less regular local bus routes, which will really slow a trip down. For our UK itineraries, my suggestion is usually to start in London, and to only pick up the hire car after you have done the sightseeing in the city. Outside London, parking is generally a lot easier to find and less expensive.

10th February 2020 at 7:19 am

This is great information! Many thanks. I am planning 19 nights in GB in August with my daughter. We want to drive with a train perhaps from London to Edinburgh. One travel agent here in Australia told me he couldn’t find a hire car company that would add my daughter as a second driver due to her age. She will be 21 with an open licence for more than a year. Surely this is not so!!! Are you able to reassure us that we will both be able to drive?

10th February 2020 at 1:28 pm

Thanks very much! So the legal age for renting a car in the UK is 21, however unfortunately many car hire companies set a minimum age of 25 or 23. This is down to each company having their own policy and approach to risk. However, some companies will rent to drivers at 21, such as Sixt – so it is possible. However, they charge hefty fees for the privilege, of up to £39 per day! I wasn’t able to find any other rental companies, but it’s possible if you contact local smaller car rental agencies that you might be able to find a better deal.

Best of luck, and have a great trip!

Sue Knauf says

13th January 2020 at 4:18 pm

So pleased to have come across your informative website. We (my husband & I) are looking planning a trip to the UK. We prefer rural rather than cities & hope to spend most of our time exploring Scotland (including some of the outer islands) & Ireland. We tend to ‘wing’ our travels rather than be highly organized. Our quandry is whether to hire a car & find accommodation each night or hire a small campervan. I have heard campervans can be a pain on the narrow roads in rural area’s. We are looking to travel probably in July. Would your answer be different if we came in May?

13th January 2020 at 4:27 pm

Lovely to have you here as a reader 🙂

So a smaller campervan will generally be fine as long as you are used to driving a manual vehicle and don’t mind reversing and driving on the left. I believe based on where your e-mail address suggests you are from that neither of these will be an issue for you.

I would say that based on your preference to wing it, that a campervan is going to make more sense. Whilst it will be more expensive than a normal car, you can get smaller vehicles ( Spaceships just launched in the UK with a range of options for example) which should be reasonably priced and easier to manoeuvre. However, the main reason for suggesting this is that winging it in the Scottish Highlands in both May and July can be a risky approach. Accommodation can book out weeks and sometimes months in advance, and not booking ahead definitely runs the very real risk of having to drive for hours to find somewhere to stay (accommodation is spread out and the roads are slow). Combine this with the fact that there are large areas with no cell phone coverage, and this would end up just being a stressful trip.

So for that reason alone, having your own bed is going to be a lot less stressful.

May and July are both popular times. May is usually busier for normal accommodation, whilst July tends to have more families and campers. May is our favourite month to travel in Scotland though, as you can usually avoid the dreaded midge 😉

We have a range of content on Scotland to help with your planning, I’d say our NC500 camping itinerary would be a great starting point.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

Renuka Rajput says

7th January 2020 at 12:51 pm

Hello I am really glad to find your website. We are planning to travel UK in March as planing to few liverpool matches at that time. Will it be good time to travel or will it be too cold to explore tourist destination.

Thanks in Advance.

7th January 2020 at 3:10 pm

Hello Renuka,

I will try to help 🙂 It is hard to answer because everyone has a different definition of cold. If you are coming from a tropical country, then March in the UK might seem cold, however if you are travelling from somewhere like Canada, it will feel warm!

Generally, March should be fine though. Temperatures will likely be between 12C and 16C, which in my opinion is good for sightseeing. March is also a good month as it won’t be too busy with tourists. You will want to bring some warm layers and also either an umbrella or raincoat, as rain is likely. That said, rain is a possibility all year in the UK.

I hope this helps 😀

11th April 2019 at 6:05 am

Hi, really great sharing with much details for travelling in UK. Wonder if you have any suggestions for travel to Manchester and thereabouts?

11th April 2019 at 11:25 am

I haven’t visited Manchester for a while, despite living there for a period many years ago. So I don’t currently have any up to date recommendations, however, we hope to visit Manchester soon and fix that!

Rosemary Anderson says

23rd March 2019 at 6:50 pm

I love your site and have found great ideas for my family’s upcoming trip.

One question: We are doing a home exchange with a family who has offered to let us use their car–which is great. But we have looked (quite a bit!) online, and it seems to be very difficult to get insurance on anything other than a rental car. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks, Rosemary

23rd March 2019 at 7:10 pm

Hi Rosemary!

Thanks very much 🙂 So this is an interesting question. Normally in the UK the car insurance policy is associated with a specific driver (normally the owner and then any other drivers) rather than some countries where you insure the car and then anyone can drive it.

My initial response is that I’m not sure exactly how you would go about doing this. Based on my experiences driving friends cars in the UK, they have had to ring their insurance to add me as a named driver. However, I don’t know exactly how this works with non-UK licenses, nor do I know how it might affect their insurance should something happen.

I did a search, and whilst this service does exist, it doesn’t seem to cover US license holders, only holders from specific countries like those in the EU, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand.

The only company I found that does seem to include US drivers was this one: https://www.hertsinsurance.com/walkabout/

I have never used them and I can’t comment on what they cover or if they are any good, but it might be worth a try!

Good luck 🙂

13th January 2019 at 2:36 am

Wow, just found your itinerary and I’m going to follow it, with a couple minor tweaks to the schedule when I go June 1st with my husband and son. Thanks for all the great advice and mapping it out. Mona

13th January 2019 at 9:48 am

Our pleasure Mona – have a great trip, and let us know how it goes!

Paul Gadsdon says

23rd December 2018 at 4:24 pm

You will find UK car hire half the price of the US. You can get a small car for £80 a week

Also dont forget all UK national museums (about 300 or so), are free

23rd December 2018 at 4:32 pm

Thanks for your input! I’ve updated the budget hire car price. I think £100 – £150 is reasonable, I’ve taken a look on various sites and for various dates, and it’s a definite struggle to get a week of car hire with unlimited mileage for much less than that.

I’ll make a point about the free museums too 🙂

Thanks again!

Cheang PY says

26th November 2018 at 2:00 pm

Awfully glad to have found your website. Very informative. 6 of us retirees (age 57-80) are planning to self-drive UK for 2 weeks, visiting Cornwall and Wales. Would like advice on accommodation (homestay/airbnb?), etc. Thank you.

27th November 2018 at 11:21 am

Our pleasure. With a group, an AirBnB or similar would be a great idea, as you can usually get more for your money. Our only advice is to only book places with good reviews. The best option is simply to search a site like AirBnb (we also have a list of Airbnb alternatives here, ) for the dates and number of people for the destinations you want to visit, and work from there.

Have a great trip!

19th January 2019 at 4:14 pm

Thank you for your suggestions. We are also looking at mpv for hire for six. Is it cheaper to get the vehicle at the airport? Thank you.

19th January 2019 at 4:24 pm

My pleasure. If you mean in comparison to booking in advance, I would say in general it will be more expensive booking car hire at the airport.

If you mean will it be cheaper picking up from the airport or from another location, usually it is cheaper to pick up a car from an location different to the airport, as airport car hire is nearly always more expensive than city locations, due to the convenience.

Samara says

29th July 2018 at 9:55 am

Great read! I appreciate the in depth breakdown. Just got to London and am going to be following your 2 week itinerary religiously!

29th July 2018 at 12:28 pm

Thanks very much! Have a great trip – do let us know if you have any questions 🙂

Ryan Smith says

3rd May 2018 at 3:03 pm

Thanks a ton for all the useful information about cost of traveling in UK, it saves me so much time Googling for the guide like this. Thank you 🙂

3rd May 2018 at 7:11 pm

My pleasure – have a wonderful trip!

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• Travel Planning Guide

United Kingdom Travel Budget - Visit United Kingdom on a Budget or Travel in Style

• Is the United Kingdom Expensive?
• How much does a trip to the United Kingdom cost?
• UK On-Your-Own Itineraries
• Northern Ireland
• UK Hotel Prices
• UK Cities: Hotel Prices by City
• Best Family-Friendly Hotels in the United Kingdom
• Best Hotels for One Week in the United Kingdom
• Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in the United Kingdom
• Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in the United Kingdom
• Best Beach Hotels in the United Kingdom
• Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in the United Kingdom
• Best Hotels for One Night in the United Kingdom
• Best Hotels for Skiing in the United Kingdom
• Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in the United Kingdom
• Best Adults Only Hotels in the United Kingdom
• Best Party Hotels in the United Kingdom
• Best Luxury Hotels in the United Kingdom
• Best Cheap Hotels in the United Kingdom
• Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in the United Kingdom
• Best Business Hotels in the United Kingdom
• Hostel Prices & Reviews
• UK Activities
• UK Tour Prices
• The Best Family-Friendly Tours to UK
• The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in UK
• The Best Historical Tours in UK
• The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in UK
• The Best 3-Day Tours in UK
• The Best Bicycle Tours in UK
• Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in UK
• The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in UK
• The Best Coach Bus Tours in UK
• The Best Adventure Tours to UK
• The Best Eco Tours in UK
• The Best Sightseeing Tours in UK
• The Best Cultural Tours in UK
• The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in UK
• The Best Tours Under $1000 in UK
• The Best Luxury Tours to UK
• The Best Budget Tours to UK
• The Best Tours for Seniors to UK
• Lake District National Park
• How much does it cost to travel to the United Kingdom? (Average Daily Cost)
• The United Kingdom trip costs: one week, two weeks, one month

How much do package tours cost in the United Kingdom?

Is the united kingdom expensive to visit.

• How much do I need for a trip to the United Kingdom?
• Accommodation, Food, Entertainment, and Transportation Costs
• Travel Guide

How much does it cost to travel to the United Kingdom?

You should plan to spend around $192 (£153) per day on your vacation in the United Kingdom. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

• $47 (£37) on meals
• $36 (£29) on local transportation
• $191 (£152) on hotels

A one week trip to the United Kingdom for two people costs, on average, $2,688 (£2,142) . This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

• Travel Style: All Budget (Cheap) Mid-Range Luxury (High-End)
• Average Daily Cost Per person, per day $ 192 £ 153
• One Week Per person $ 1,344 £ 1,071
• 2 Weeks Per person $ 2,688 £ 2,142
• One Month Per person $ 5,759 £ 4,590
• One Week For a couple $ 2,688 £ 2,142
• 2 Weeks For a couple $ 5,375 £ 4,284
• One Month For a couple $ 11,518 £ 9,179

How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to the United Kingdom cost?

A one week trip to the United Kingdom usually costs around $1,344 (£1,071) for one person and $2,688 (£2,142) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to the United Kingdom on average costs around $2,688 (£2,142) for one person and $5,375 (£4,284) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in the United Kingdom will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to the United Kingdom on average costs around $5,759 (£4,590) for one person and $11,518 (£9,179) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.

Organized tours are usually more expensive than independent travel, but offer convenience and peace of mind that your trip has been planned by a travel expert.

The average price for an organized tour package in the United Kingdom is $285 per day. While every tour varies by total price, length, number of destinations, and quality, this is the daily average price based on our analysis of available guided tours.

• 3-Day Lake District Explorer Small-Group Tour from Manchester 3 Days - 10 Destinations $ 499
• 4 Day Cornwall, Devon & Stonehenge Small-Group Tour from Bristol 4 Days - 16 Destinations $ 814

Independent Travel

Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

The United Kingdom is a moderately priced destination to visit. It's about average with most other countries for travel costs. The prices for food, accommodation, and transportation are all fairly reasonable.

Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, the United Kingdom is moderately priced compared to the other countries. The overall cost of travel here is comparable to the Netherlands or Denmark.

For more details, see Is the United Kingdom Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to the United Kingdom?

The average United Kingdom trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these United Kingdom travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

Accommodation Budget in the United Kingdom

Average daily costs.

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in the United Kingdom is $96 (£76). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in the United Kingdom is $191 (£152). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.

• Accommodation 1 Hotel or hostel for one person $ 96 £ 76
• Accommodation 1 Typical double-occupancy room $ 191 £ 152

Hotel Prices in the United Kingdom

Looking for a hotel in the United Kingdom? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

Actual Hotel Prices The average hotel room price in the United Kingdom based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $113. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.

Recommended Properties

• Abergavenny Hotel Budget Hotel - Kayak $ 173
• East Horton Farmhouse Luxury Hotel - Kayak $ 114

Local Transportation Budget in the United Kingdom

The cost of a taxi ride in the United Kingdom is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $36 (£29) per person, per day, on local transportation in the United Kingdom.

• Local Transportation 1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc. $ 36 £ 29

Recommended Services

• One-Way Taxi Transfer from Stansted Airport to London Viator $ 147
• Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Transfer Only - Pickup & Return Viator $ 296

What did other people spend on Local Transportation?

Typical prices for Local Transportation in the United Kingdom are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Local Transportation prices in the United Kingdom, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Oyster Card £ 27
• Train to Gatwick Airport (2) £ 22
• Toll Way - Mersey tunnel £ 1.70
• Parking £ 1.70
• Parking in Manchester £ 3.00
• City bike hire Liverpool £ 6.00
• Parking £ 2.00
• Ferry to Isle of Wight £ 16

Food Budget in the United Kingdom

While meal prices in the United Kingdom can vary, the average cost of food in the United Kingdom is $47 (£37) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in the United Kingdom should cost around $19 (£15) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in the United Kingdom is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

• Food 2 Meals for one day $ 47 £ 37

Recommended

• Traditional English Walking Food Tour With London Food Tours Viator $ 96
• Durham Food Tour Viator $ 96

What did other people spend on Food?

Typical prices for Food in the United Kingdom are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Food prices in the United Kingdom, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Lunch for 2 £ 23
• Lunch for 2 £ 46
• Nice lunch at Fleece £ 61
• Coffee (2) £ 4.80
• Turkish Delight £ 1.40
• 2 Coffees and Scones £ 5.80
• Soup at the Pub £ 5.90
• Lunch for 2 £ 17

Entertainment Budget in the United Kingdom

Entertainment and activities in the United Kingdom typically cost an average of $34 (£27) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.

• Entertainment 1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc. $ 34 £ 27

Recommended Activities

• Agatha Christie walking tour - the story of her extraordinary life Viator $ 25
• Cotswold Walks & Villages Tour from Stratford-upon-Avon or Moreton-in-Marsh Viator $ 110

What did other people spend on Entertainment?

Typical prices for Entertainment in the United Kingdom are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Entertainment prices in the United Kingdom, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Lunch £ 12
• Comedy Show £ 8.00
• London Pass £ 47
• Warwick Castle (2) £ 59
• Thermal Bath Spa £ 35
• Luss Highland Games Entrance Fee (for 2) £ 12
• Two Bike Rental £ 34

Tips and Handouts Budget in the United Kingdom

The average cost for Tips and Handouts in the United Kingdom is $32 (£25) per day. The usual amount for a tip in the United Kingdom is 10% - 20% .

• Tips and Handouts 1 For guides or service providers $ 32 £ 25

Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in the United Kingdom

Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in the United Kingdom is $93 (£74), as reported by travelers.

• Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps 1 $ 93 £ 74

Alcohol Budget in the United Kingdom

The average person spends about $16 (£13) on alcoholic beverages in the United Kingdom per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.

• Alcohol 2 Drinks for one day $ 16 £ 13
• Shakespeare Distillery Tour - 11am Ticket Viator $ 25
• Tayport Distillery Tour & Tastings Viator $ 19

What did other people spend on Alcohol?

Typical prices for Alcohol in the United Kingdom are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Alcohol prices in the United Kingdom, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Half Pint at Tollbooth Tavern £ 1.65
• Ciders at Kilted Skirlie £ 3.50
• Bottle of Wine £ 12
• Drinks at the Walnut Pub (for 2) £ 10
• Pitcher of Pimms £ 15
• Drinks at the Pub (for 2) £ 7.55
• Beer & Wine £ 14
• Beers £ 8.00

Water Budget in the United Kingdom

On average, people spend $5.02 (£4.00) on bottled water in the United Kingdom per day. The public water in the United Kingdom is considered safe to drink.

• Water 2 Bottled water for one day $ 5.02 £ 4.00

Expert Advice from Local Travelers

We're asking our community members and registered users to contribute their experiences about the United Kingdom.

Why would you recommend the United Kingdom to budget travelers? Or, why not?

This was one of the more expensive countries that we visited in Europe. If you really need to save money, avoid London, which was crazy expensive.

How can you save money during your time in the United Kingdom?

We got the family pass for the trains, which saved us a ton of money on train tickets. We bought it before we arrived and used it on all of our tickets.

Are you an experienced traveler? Help other travelers! Answer a quick question about your past travels. + Add Comment

Related Articles

The united kingdom on a budget.

At A Glance

• London is notoriously expensive. It's easily the cheapest city to fly into, but once you arrive you'll find your money quickly disappears. If you're hoping to keep costs down, spend more time in the other areas around the United Kingdom and less time in London. In the more rural communities you'll find that your expenses are far less.
• The countries that make up the United Kingdom each have their own set of bank holidays. Look at a calender before you schedule your trip to make sure that your vacation does not overlap any of these bank holidays. If it does, you will find that prices are higher and attractions are more crowded.
• There are many discount airlines that fly into and out of London and the United Kingdom. If you book tickets through one of these airlines, make sure that you understand all of the restrictions as well as what's included in the price. Some flights fly into inconvenient airports as well, so confirm that there are transportation connections available to where you need to go.
• If you're traveling by train, there are usually discounts available for children or groups. Also, there are regional railcards available if you plan to take several different trips within the area. Research all of the restrictions on these cards prior to purchasing them. If you do decide to buy single tickets, it is best to buy them in advance when the prices are often lower. Great Britain is an area where you will benefit from having a set schedule and itinerary in advance of your trip.
• There are several different bus companies available throughout the country. The buses are usually of high quality and they generally run on schedule. The more popular bus companies include National Express, Megabus, CityLink, and Dot2Dot. Some companies are focused on specific regions, while other serve the entire country. Some companies are also notoriously cheaper than others.

Top Tourist Attractions

Popular foods, more related articles.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works .

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• UK Tourist Visa Requirements: Explore Your Travel Requisites

UK Tourist Visa Requirements: Guidelines for the UK Tourist Visa

Updated On May 17, 2024

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Table of Contents

Eligibility Requirements for a Tourist Visa to the UK

Documents required for the uk visit visa from india, additional requirements for tourist visa for the uk as per employment status, united kingdom visit visa requirements for minors, how to apply for a uk visitor visa from india, tourist visa cost to the uk from india.

Are you planning a trip to the UK? Navigating the UK tourist visa requirements can be a crucial step in ensuring a smooth and hassle-free journey. From essential documents to application procedures, understanding the guidelines is key to obtaining your UK tourist visa with confidence.

Let's delve into the specifics of the UK Visa Tourist Visa requirements to help you prepare effectively for your visit.

Navigating the eligibility requirements for a tourist visa to the UK is essential for a seamless travel experience. Understanding the tourist visa requirements for the United Kingdom is pivotal in ensuring your application meets the necessary criteria.

Let's explore the United Kingdom visit visa requirements in detail to help you prepare effectively for your journey.

• Valid Passport: Should possess a current passport that is valid for 6 months, has 2 blank pages, and has 6 months remaining.
• Financial Stability: They should have enough money in the bank to support themselves and their family
• Only for Travel Purpose: Should not plan to look for work
• Criminal Records: No history of criminal activity

Applying for a UK visitor visa from India requires careful preparation and the right documentation to demonstrate your eligibility and purpose of visit. Ensuring you have all necessary documents can streamline the application process and help avoid any delays. Let's explore the essential documents needed for a successful UK tourist visa application to ensure a smooth and memorable trip to the United Kingdom.

• A pplication Form for UK Travel Visa: Depending on the kind of UK visa you are looking for, you may need to submit an online form through the official website or an in-paper application.
• Photos: Color images that were shot no more than 6 months ago should be used.
• A Valid Passport: It needs to be good for an additional 3 months after the date you intend to depart the UK following your trip. Additionally, the visa must include at least 1 blank page. It may not be possible for you to travel if your passport has expired.
• Financial Evidence: Evidence showing you have the money necessary to pay for your living expenses while in the UK. These could be your pay stubs from the same time period or your bank statements from the previous six months.
• Proof of Accommodation: A document indicating your accommodations while in the UK must be presented. It should be noted that obtaining a visa does not require you to pay in full for a hotel or hostel stay in the UK beforehand.
• A comprehensive itinerary for travel: Send in a travel itinerary detailing everything you intend to do and where you want to go in the United Kingdom. Include the dates of your trip, the locations you plan to visit, the schedule for your meetings, any scheduled tours, festivals, etc.
• Test results for tuberculosis: A tuberculosis test request must be submitted by citizens of various nations in order for them to be eligible for a UK visa.
• Biometric Data: You must provide your biometric data when applying for a visa that will allow you to stay in the UK for a period longer than six months. Providing your fingerprints and a digital photo taken at the relevant application center are part of this
• Invitation letter for UK visa: (If applicable). It is customary to send a letter of invitation if you are spending your stay/part of your stay with friends or family. Your host needs to be a citizen of the United Kingdom or a lawful permanent resident.
• Cover letter from the UK, if applicable: A handwritten note explaining the applicant's background and the reason for the visit, which is attached to the visa application. In order to demonstrate the applicant's sincere intentions and increase their chances of receiving the intended visa, it acts as a crucial supporting document.
• Paid the fees for the UK visa: The receipt attesting to your payment of the necessary visa fee should be submitted
• Official translations of any document not written in Welsh or English.

For Full details about the UK Tourist Visa, Read: UK Visitor Visa from India in 2024: Types & Fees

Delving into the additional requirements for a tourist visa for the UK based on employment status adds another layer of detail to the overall process. Understanding the specific documents needed for the UK visit visa application is crucial in meeting the United Kingdom visit visa requirements effectively

Let's explore the essential UK visa documents required for a tourist visa, considering various employment statuses, to ensure a thorough and successful application process.

• If you are employed: A letter from your place of employment. This letter should attest to your employment status, pay scale, and duration of service.
• If you are self-employed: Have copies of the Business registration documents of the company. They ought to verify the name of the company's owner and the launch date of the enterprise.
• If you are a student: An announcement from your education provider. The letter ought to serve as verification of your enrollment and leave of absence.

Exploring the United Kingdom visit visa requirements for minors entails meticulous attention to the essential documents needed. From ensuring compliance with UK immigration regulations to facilitating a smooth travel experience, understanding these UK tourist visa requirements is paramount.

Let's delve into the comprehensive guidelines and specific documentation required for minors applying for a UK visit visa, ensuring a seamless journey for young travelers and their families.

• Birth Certificate.
• Adoption papers (if applicable).
• If you are going alone or with someone other than your parent(s):
• A signed letter from the parent(s) verifying the information of any visitors who are going with the minor.
• A copy of the passport biographical page belonging to the parent(s) or legal guardian.

Navigating the process of applying for a UK visitor visa from India is a crucial step in planning your trip to the United Kingdom. Whether you're visiting friends or family, exploring tourist attractions, or conducting business, understanding the application procedure is essential for a successful outcome.

Let's explore the comprehensive steps involved in applying for a UK visitor visa from India, ensuring you're well-prepared to start on your journey with confidence.

• Step 1: UK Visitor Visa Application Form: You have 2 options for completing the UK visitor visa application form: online or in hard copy. Online forms are available on the websites of the British High Commission and Consulate.
• Step 2: UK Visitor Visa Application Submission: After submitting the UK visa form from India at the appointed time and date, the applicant needs to go to a visa application center to have his or her biometric information (photo and fingerprint scan) taken.
• Step 3: Appear at the Visa Application Center: To submit the UK visitor visa application, the necessary documents, the UK visa fee, and any supporting records, the applicant must physically appear at the Visa Application Center.
• Step 4: Acknowledgment on Submission: Following the completion of the filing process, an acknowledgment will be provided. The acknowledgment needs to be made when compiling the documents that were submitted.
• Step 5: Approval and Updates: The applicant will receive an update on the status of their UK visitor visa application within three weeks of submitting the UK visa form from India.
• Step 6: UK Tourist Visa Collection: You can collect your UK Visitor Visa on Approval.

Know the full details about the Visa Processing Times here! Don’t miss to read: Everything You Need to Know About UK Visa Processing Time

Understanding the tourist visa cost to the UK from India is essential for planning a budget-friendly trip. Navigating through the fees associated with the UK tourist visa ensures a well-prepared application process.

Let's explore the breakdown of expenses and associated costs for obtaining a tourist visa to the UK from India, ensuring a smooth journey without financial surprises.

Get Your Visa in a Hassle-Free Manner! With our package of interview questions: UK Visa Interview Questions and Answers

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

What are the new EU travel rules and how will they impact Brits?

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A staggering number of British holidaymakers are unaware of changes happening this year to the way we travel to EU countries.

Nearly two thirds said they of people questioned said they didn’t know about the introduction of fingerprints and facial scans when crossing borders.

The Entry/Exit Scheme (EES) will come in tandem with us needing to buy a visa waiver to visit EU and Schengen countries.

Here, we break down what the new border control system is and what to expect when going on holiday in Europe.

What is EES and how is it different to ETIAS?

EES is an automated system to register travellers from non-EU countries every time they cross a border into or out of the EU. 

The system will register the person’s name, the type of travelling document they’re using, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images), and the date and place of entry and exit. 

Once the data has been captured, it’s expected to remain in the system for three years. After this time has passed, it will be erased from the system.

Travellers won’t need to re-register this data if they travel to multiple Schengen Zone countries within the three-year period.

The EU says on its website that ‘the main advantage of the EES is saving time,’ because it replaces passport stamping and ‘automates border control procedures’ to make travelling more efficient.

It remains to be seen how the system will impact travel, but in the poll by Co-op insurance, 46% of British travellers said they felt put off by the process of storing this type of data for three years.

The EES scheme is different to the European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (ETIAS), which will run alongside the former and require British travellers to apply for a visa waiver to visit most EU countries.

The expected fee of the visa waiver is €7 (£6) to visit any country in the Schengen Area .

Will UK citizens need to use EES?

Yes. As a result of the UK voting to leave the European Union, Brits will have to follow the same rules as other countries outside of the EU.

You will have to scan your passport at an automated self-service kiosk before crossing the border.

This process will sadly replace the manual stamping of passports for visitors to countries in the EU and Schengen Area, who are not themselves nationals of EU or Schengen countries. 

EES will apply when entering the 25 EU countries and four non-EU countries below:

The countries where EES will apply

• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland

EES will also operate at the Port of Dover, Eurostar and Eurotunnel terminals.

Schengen rules restrict visitors who are not nationals of EU or Schengen countries to short stays of 90 days within a 180-day period. EES will make sure people follow this rule and will record those who overstay while EES data will be used to record refusals of entry.

What date will the new EES and ETIAS rules start?

The exact date for both changes is still to be confirmed.

The introduction of EES has already been delayed several times; it was originally meant to be implemented in 2022, and was then scheduled for May 2023 before it was pushed back to the end of last year.

It’s now slated to come into effect from October 2024 after France requested that it be pushed back until after the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris this summer. 

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ETIAS, which was slated to be implemented later this year, is now set to begin in mid-2025.

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Moving to Australia is now easier for millions of Brits after recent visa change

If you've been craving a change, now's the time.

Lucy Devine

If you've always wondered what it would be like to live overseas, then the recent economic crisis in the UK has probably made you consider it a little more seriously.

After all, in the past couple of years, the cost of living has soared in the UK , interest rates have rocketed and the NHS is on its knees.

So if you were thinking of emigrating , well, who could blame you?

The likes of Australia and New Zealand have always been a popular choice for Brits.

And now, with the visa process a little easier, the prospect of staying long-term is a lot more feasible for those who fancy the change.

Whether moving temporarily or planning on staying for the long term, there are now more options.

The age limit for British nationals looking for a 'working holiday' visa has been raised up to 35, meaning that millions more people are now eligible.

This means that from 1 July 2024, British nationals will be able to live and work in Australia for up to three years.

There's also been a change to the type of work that can be done, too.

Prior to this, anyone looking to come into the country on this particular visa had to commit to 88 days of agriculture work a year, which would need to be carried out for every additional year the person wanted to stay.

We all know someone who's moved to Australia, absolutely loved it and ended up staying for years - if not permanently.

Data from Tourism Australia suggests that as many as 35,000 British people arrive in Australia each year on the working holiday visa and many of these people do choose to stay on.

In fact, since 2016, the number of people emigrating to Aus has been increasing every year.

According to the Office of National Statistics, 557,000 people emigrated from the UK in 2022, with 92,000 of them being British nationals leaving the UK.

It's unsurprising really, especially when you consider the higher wages and better weather .

It can also be a popular choice for Brits due to the lack of language barrier.

Sally Cope, UK regional general manager for Tourism Australia, explained there's been heaps of interest in travelling to Aus recently, thanks to some of the big sporting events, including the FIFA Women's World Cup which took place last year.

"It's an exciting time and these big sporting events, like the FIFA women's football world cup and Olympics in Brisbane in 2032, offer the temporary contract type work that young visitors want," she said.

Topics:  Australia , Travel , World News , UK News

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• About the UAE
• Visa and Emirates ID

Tourist visa

A tourist visa is for those who are not eligible for  visa on arrival  or a  visa-free entry  to the UAE. You can apply for a tourist visa through airlines, hotels and travel agents. Read about the eligibility criteria and the steps to apply.

Multiple entry 5-year tourist visa

Who is a tourist visa for, who can apply for your tourist visa, related eservices.

The multiple entry 5-year tourist visa enables tourists to enter the UAE multiple times on self-sponsorship and remain in the country for 90 days on each visit, and can be extended for further 90 days. This type of tourist visa can be issued for all nationalities.

To obtain this visa, the applicant must have:

• a bank balance of 4,000 USD or its equivalent in foreign currencies during the last six months
• a valid health insurance policy applicable in the UAE
• a ticket to and from the UAE

Documents required

To apply for the multiple entry tourist visa, the applicant must provide the following:

• a colored photo
• a copy of the passport
• medical Insurance
• bank statement for the last 6 months with a balance 4,000 USD or its equivalent in foreign currencies
• tour programme
• a ticket for onward journey.

Read related news coverage on  WAM .

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Tourist visa is for those who are not eligible for  visa on arrival  or a  visa-free entry  to the UAE. Tourist visa can be obtained for eligible individual tourists from around the world. Females below the age of 18 are not eligible to apply for this type of visa unless they are travelling with their parents.

According to a Cabinet resolution passed in July 2018, children under the age of 18 years who are accompanying adults, can get a  free visa for their visit from 15 July to 15 September each year.

Tourist visas through airlines

Each airline has some conditions, which must be met in order for your visa to be arranged by them. One of the conditions is flying with them. For more updated and specific information, check the following UAE-based airlines for visa types, facilities, terms and conditions:

• Visa services from Etihad Airways  - Etihad Airways
• Visa Services offered by Emirates Airline  - Emirates Airline
• Visa services from Fly Dubai  - Fly Dubai
• Visa services from Air Arabia  - Air Arabia

Tourist visas through agencies and hotels

Licensed travel agents and hotels in the UAE can arrange a tourist visa for you provided you purchase the ticket through them and maintain hotel reservation with the specific hotel.

You can also contact travel agencies in your country for any tourist packages available to the UAE in collaboration with a local tour operator.

It is important to check the authenticity of travel agents you are dealing with and refrain from paying or sending copies of your official documents until after you are 100 per cent sure the tour operator is genuine. You can seek the help of the  UAE embassy in your country  for verification.

Note: The UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas. In order to get a tourist visa to the UAE, you need to get in touch with one of the UAE-based airlines, a tour agency or a hotel (where you intend to stay) in the UAE who will apply for visa on your behalf to the official  visa-issuing authorities  in the UAE.

• Tourist visa from Etihad Airways  - Etihad Airways
• Tourist visa from Emirates Airline  - Emirates Airline
• Tourist visa from Fly Dubai  - Fly Dubai
• Tourist visa from Air Arabia  - Air Arabia

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The best (and worst) budget airlines in the UK

T hey’re the airlines we love to hate, whisking passengers to Europe and beyond for miniscule fares with incredible regularity – in theory, at least. But the reality of “budget” airlines , as all-too many of us know, can be fraught with hidden fees, confusing baggage allowances and copious delays.

However, not all budget airlines are created equal. In a bid to find the best low-cost carrier, we’ve compared Wizz Air, Jet2, easyJet and Ryanair on all of the key credentials. There is a clear winner – and loser – but do you agree? Have your say in the poll and comments below. 

Explore the categories

Best for routes and connections, best prices for summer 2024, best for seat comfort, best for punctuality, best for hand baggage allowance, best for fines and fees, best for priority boarding, best rated on trustpilot , best rated by the telegraph readers, the verdict.

By passenger numbers, Ryanair is Europe’s largest airline group: it carried 182 million people in 2023. This summer, it will have a fleet of 600 aircraft – by far the biggest of our survey, serving more than 250 airports across 40 countries.

Ryanair is also the best-connected of the bunch. It flies from 22 UK airports, including lesser-served ones such as Newquay and Teesside, so we’re rating it top for UK range. Its routes include rarer low-cost destinations too, such as Jordan, Montenegro and Morocco . 

Currently operating from 18 UK airports, easyJet serves 155 airports across 36 countries. It is Europe’s second largest airline by passenger numbers (pipped by Ryanair), with a large fleet of 336 planes.

In March, easyJet opened a new three-aircraft base in Birmingham – joining the likes of Liverpool, Newcastle and Edinburgh . For connectivity, it comes second place to Ryanair.

In third place is Wizz Air, which serves 95 routes to and from the UK, to more than 30 countries – including cities in North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. 

There are 207 aircraft in the Wizz Air fleet, and it has hubs at London Luton and Gatwick. It flies from a further six UK airports: Glasgow, Birmingham, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Leeds and Liverpool, so has a fair regional coverage.

For routes and connectivity, Jet2 ranks fourth. It flies to over 65 European destinations from 11 UK airports, with a new base at Liverpool opening in March. Other hubs include Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Stansted.

It operates 119 aircraft, and is the UK’s third largest scheduled airline; notable destinations include Norway , Morocco, Cyprus and Iceland . 

The winner: Ryanair

The loser: Wizz Air has a higher number of destinations than Jet2 – but the latter scoops Wizz on its choice of UK airports. It’s a tie.

Let’s say you want to fly from London to Malaga this summer, 13 to 21 July – hand luggage only , on the lowest-cost tariffs. Which airline has the cheapest return fares? 

The price per adult offered by Ryanair currently starts from £127.90 (departing Stansted, though you’ll need to leave Malaga at 5.55am); with easyJet it is £133.98 (from Gatwick, arriving in Malaga just after midnight). 

Wizz Air’s fares start from £219.98 (leaving Gatwick at 5.55am); Jet2’s start from £231 (departing Stansted at 9am). 

Prices were sourced directly from the airlines on April 18, 2024, and are inclusive of booking fees.

The winner: Ryanair, for a superb £127.90 per adult fare, return.

The loser: Jet2. However, this was the airline with the most “decent” flight timings for its cheapest tickets: departs Stansted at 9am, and departs Malaga at 8.25pm.

When it comes to seat width (which the industry generally measures in inches), our four airlines are pretty much equal. On Wizz’s Airbus A320 and easyJet’s Airbus A321neo, the seats are 18in wide. Opt for Jet2’s Boeing 737-300 or Ryanair’s Boeing 737-800, and you’ll miss out on an inch: their seat width is 17in.

But when it comes to seat pitch, there’s a clear winner. This is the distance between any point on one seat and the same point on the seat in front – so is a good measure of not only leg room, but “headspace” and perception of roominess in the cabin. According to Seat Guru, and verified by the airlines, Wizz’s seat pitch is 28in, easyJet’s 29in, Ryanair’s 30in, and Jet2’s 31in. 

The winner: Jet2

The loser: Wizz Air

If you boarded a flight anywhere last summer, chances are it was delayed or cancelled . Airport strikes, wildfires, air traffic meltdowns: which airline fared best against the odds?

The aviation analysts at OAG provided Telegraph Travel with data across more than half a million flights from June 1 to September 3, covering airlines departing from 48 UK airports. 

Ryanair operated 91,897 flights, of which 31.8 per cent arrived or departed on time. For easyJet, 44.7 per cent of its 111,551 flights were on schedule, while 57.7 per cent of Jet2’s 38,986 services ran as planned. 

The data from OAG suggested that Wizz Air managed to depart or arrive on time on just 7.8 per cent of its services. The airline contested the figure, insisting that “almost half” of departures and “almost 40 per cent” of arrivals were on time. It added: “The majority of delays were due to issues outside of Wizz Air’s control, such as the recent air traffic control fault, meaning these statistics are not an accurate representation of our overall performance.”

The loser: According to OAG, Wizz Air experienced the most disruption – though this figure was disputed by the airline – therefore it’s a tie between Wizz Air and Ryanair.

We compared the size and weight limits for free hand baggage, on a standard ticket. 

Jet2: 56 x 45 x 25cm (total volume 63,000cm3); maximum 10kg.

easyJet: 45 x 36 x 20cm (total volume 32,400cm3), “which needs to fit in our baggage gauge and under the seat in front of you”. Maximum 15kg.

Wizz Air: 40 x 30 x 20cm (total volume 24,000cm3), and “must be placed at the feet of the passenger under the seat in front of them”. Maximum 10kg.

Ryanair: 40 x 20 x 25cm (total volume 20,000cm3); no weight limit is listed.

The winner: easyJet’s 15kg limit is the most generous weight – but for size, Jet2 is the best. Its volume allowance is more than three times the size offered by Ryanair.

The loser: Ryanair

Best for checked-in luggage

When you pay to bring a suitcase, the fee structure varies wildly. For ease of comparison, the following covers luggage weighing 20kg or more, booked at the same time as your flight. 

With Ryanair, a 20kg bag costs £18.99 to £59.99, according to your route and travel dates – the lowest weight allowance of our four airlines. Excess baggage ranges from £9 to £11 per kilo, the cheapest fee in this comparison.

Jet2’s baggage add-on covers bags up to 22kg: costs vary, and it doesn’t quote a ballpark fee online if you don’t have a booking. According to mybaggage.com, the average cost is £21 each way. Excess weight is £12 per kilo.

Wizz charges between £8.25 and £87.11 for a 20kg bag, in peak season, with an excess fee of £12 per kilo. On easyJet, 23kg of hold luggage costs from £9.49 per item; excess weight is £12 per kilo.

The winner:  The varying prices make it hard to compare fees, but easyJet’s baggage allowance is the most generous, at 23kg.

The loser: It’s a tie: Ryanair and Wizz Air offer 20kg each. The latter’s upper threshold is the most costly, though Jet2 isn’t transparent about its fees unless you have a booking with them.

To change a name on a booking, Ryanair charges £115 per flight. To change your flights costs £45, plus any additional fare. To check in at the airport rather than on the app, Ryanair charges £30 or £55 if flying from Spain. Boarding pass reissue is £20.

Name changes with Jet2 cost £35; flight changes are £35, plus any additional fare. No charge for airport check-in or boarding pass print-out.

With easyJet, name changes cost £55; flight changes are £25 if more than 60 days before travel, or £49 if within 60 days, plus any additional fare. There is no charge for airport check-in or boarding pass print-out. 

Name changes with Wizz cost £55; flight changes cost £36.50 to £46, plus any additional fare. If you want to check in at the airport, you can pre-book online for £11.50 per flight; airport check-in without pre-booking costs £35.50.

Be warned: in many instances, the above fees are higher if arranged via a customer services agent, rather than online. 

Jet2 is the only airline not to offer speedy boarding as an optional add-on. But if you want to board first (or at least be in the queue to board first), Ryanair’s priority access costs from £6 to £36, and includes two cabin bags.

Wizz’s package costs up to €58.80 (£50.62) when booked in advance, and includes priority boarding and check-in, plus a carry-on wheelie. To get “Speedy Boarding” on easyJet, you’ll need an easyJet Plus card (£215 annually), pay for a Standard Plus or Flexi fare, or add a large cabin bag to your booking – priced “from £5.99”.

The winner: There really isn’t much between easyJet and Ryanair

The loser: Jet2, for not offering the option

On customer review website Trustpilot, Jet2 is by far the best-rated of the airlines – scoring an overall 4.5 (“Excellent”) out of a possible five. It has five-star reviews from 72 per cent of reviewers; four stars from 14 per cent; and one star from 7 per cent. 

“Pleasant and attentive cabin crew,” reads one verified Jet2 customer review. “Friendly and informative captain. Took off an hour late but we made up 25 minutes. Excellent.”

It’s a different story for the rest of the pack. Ryanair and easyJet both score 1.4 stars overall, and Wizz Air 1.3 stars (out of five). A total of 89 per cent of Wizz customers awarded it just one star.

“Robbery,” states a reviewer of one of the airlines. “I don’t understand why people still buy ticket[s] from that airline… [it] should not be allowed to operate in our society.”

The loser: Wizz

In last year’s Telegraph Travel Awards, Jet2 was voted “best short-haul airline” – scooping the top spot for the second consecutive time. Almost 30,000 readers voted in the awards, widely praising Jet2 for its clear contact with passengers, and giving refunds without fuss . 

Further down the table, easyJet took 10th place, Ryanair 22nd and Wizz Air came 23rd – the very last place. Wizz faced criticism from Telegraph readers for its slow refunds, last-minute cancellations and poor customer service .

Bravo to Jet2, which is rated consistently high for customer satisfaction, baggage allowance and comfort – while offering the lowest fees and fines among its peers. Our study suggests it doesn’t come cheap, though: in our fare comparison, it was the most expensive by £103.10.

At the other end of the spectrum, the wooden spoon goes to Wizz. It tallies three individual “loser” titles and three shared ones, and no “wins” to its name – thanks to hefty delays, terrible reviews, reportedly poor service and measly bag allowance.

A Wizz Air spokesperson said: “We do not consider these findings to be representative and the results are most certainly not what we are hearing from our customer surveys.

“Our most recent customer data shows Wizz Air’s brand consideration to be higher than our main UK competitor. We also perform better in customer service, refunds, ease of booking and information provided to customers.

“We are proud to have offered more than 90 million customers affordable airfares, getting them from A to B for the lowest price possible.

“Regarding costs, ticket prices and optional extras are clearly outlined on our website and app. We are an ultra-low-cost carrier and to keep our fares low, we offer optional add-ons at an additional charge, such as checked luggage or preferential seating. Unbundling products means that customers only pay for what they need and we can offer the most affordable and exciting travel opportunities.

“In terms of performance, 2023 was one of our strongest summers to date. We completed more than 99.36 per cent of our flights and saw a 67.4 per cent reduction in the number of cancellations. In the last fiscal year, our on-time performance was better than all but one of our major competitors.”

This story was first published in December 2023 and has been revised and updated.

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• Entering and staying in the UK
• Permanent stay in the UK
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• UK Visas and Immigration

Home Office immigration and nationality fees: 4 October 2023

Updated 10 April 2024

© Crown copyright 2024

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table/home-office-immigration-and-nationality-fees-4-october-2023

1. Visas and applications made outside the UK

2. work – applications made outside the uk, 3. study – applications made outside the uk, 4. optional premium services outside the uk, 5. optional premium services in the uk, 6. premium services at the border, 7. work – applications made in the uk, 8. study – applications made in the uk, 9. other applications made in the uk, 10. nationality, 11. sponsorship.

Application fee of £115 where the applicant is a Chinese national applying in mainland China under the Chinese visa scheme  ↩

Skilled Worker visa fees are reduced for those qualifying for Health and Care Visa and the fees after reductions are shown above  ↩   ↩ 2   ↩ 3   ↩ 4   ↩ 5   ↩ 6   ↩ 7   ↩ 8

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Additional £80 per applicant is required to cover the ceremony fee should the minor turn 18 during the application process. This will be requested at point of decision.  ↩

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Good, bad and ugly of currency exchange

By mitch strohm  • bankrate.com.

If you're not careful, currency conversion fees can cost more than you expect. To get the best bang for your U.S. dollar abroad, update your knowledge of currency exchange.

According to Douglas Stallings, senior editor for Fodor's Travel, travelers need to be aware of currency exchange options abroad because of costs. "Many options carry extraordinary hidden fees, and some places are just more difficult to negotiate since they are more cash-based than the typical American is used to," Stallings says.

In lieu of foreign currency exchange desks at airports and major hotels, there are more convenient and cheaper ways to exchange currency, Stallings says. While some desks advertise "no-fee" exchanges, they still build in a hefty profit by offering a high rate.

Before your next trip, take a look at the best and worst methods of currency exchange by following Bankrate's "thumbs-up" or "thumbs-down" rating:

Credit card: Thumbs up

Credit cards offer some of the lowest currency exchange rates. Card companies base their exchange rates on wholesale prices offered to bigger institutions, so you're bound to get a fair rate. Foreign transaction fees are a different story.

"Most people have multiple credit cards, and each could have a different fee structure. You can save money on fees by making some calls before you go and knowing which cards to use," says Tom Meyers, editor in chief of EuroCheapo.com, a guide to budget travel in Europe.

Some major card companies have eliminated foreign transaction fees on all of their cards. Others are just offering a few cards without foreign fees.

In addition to cards without fees, think about getting a card with the latest technology. Maria Brusilovsky, spokeswoman for Travelex Currency Services, says chip and PIN technology is now the preferred way of making credit card and debit card transactions in Europe, and some vendors only accept chip and PIN cards.

The "chip" refers to a microchip embedded into the card to secure account information. The "PIN" refers to a personal identification number that the cardholder enters to authorize payment.

Debit card: Thumbs up

Using your debit card at ATMs is one recommended way to get cash when traveling abroad. "We consider the ATM to be the best choice in terms of convenience, exchange rates and fees," Meyers says.

Fees vary by institution. Some charge a flat rate, others charge a percentage, and still others charge both, Meyers says. To save money, keep ATM trips to a minimum.

"If your bank charges a flat rate for the withdrawal, you should certainly minimize your trips to the ATM by withdrawing larger sums each time you go," Meyers says.

And do your homework. Stallings says if you take money out of a bank that has a relationship with your bank, you may be able to avoid some fees.

Heads up:  Meyers advises to call your bank before you go to ask about fee structures for ATM withdrawals. Each bank has its own fees for ATM debit card withdrawals.

Prepaid card: Neutral

Prepaid cards for foreign use are becoming more widespread. For example, one major card company has started to offer prepaid cards free of the typical recurring fees. It also snubs foreign transaction fees, and it charges the same rate as its regular credit card when converting currency.

Another company offers a prepaid chip and PIN card, which allows travelers to load up on euros or pounds and use it like a debit card. They can be a good option for Americans traveling without a card using chip and PIN technology.

Stallings says one upside to chip and PIN prepaid debit cards is they can be used in an automated payment machine to buy train tickets and to pay at unstaffed gas pumps and highway toll booths in Europe. You lock in the exchange rate at the time you load or reload it.

Prepaid cards are also convenient and safe since they reduce the need to carry as much currency and because a PIN is usually required to take out funds, Stallings says.

Heads up:  Stallings warns that some prepaid debit cards can come with substantial fees, may not be usable everywhere and can leave you without funds if stolen. He advises to read the fine print before purchasing.

Airport or hotel exchange desk: Thumbs down

Airport exchange desks have some of the highest currency exchange rates, which means you pay more in dollars for conversion.

Meyers of EuroCheapo.com recommends walking straight past the currency exchange counter upon arrival or in the airport baggage claim area. "These companies pay a lot of money to rent those spaces, and they make it up through service fees and lousy exchange rates," he says.

Airport exchange desks depend on their convenience to make money. You'll be better off finding an ATM in the airport and using your debit card to get cash.

Hotel exchange desks are just as pricey but for a different reason. "The hotels that still offer this service usually give awful exchange rates because the entire process is a hassle for them," Meyers says.

Heads up:  Don't be duped by the sign at the currency exchange counter claiming "no fees, no commissions." Meyers says they'll make their money through higher exchange rates, even if they don't charge you a direct fee.

Dynamic currency conversion: Thumbs down

Some credit card companies give U.S. consumers the option of paying in U.S. dollars or the local currency during a transaction abroad. It's called dynamic currency conversion. If you're not careful, dynamic currency conversion could cost you big time.

"Primarily in Europe, dynamic currency conversion allows your credit card purchase to be charged in your home currency. While this seems convenient, it is one of the worst deals in travel and should always be avoided," Fodor's Stallings says.

According to Meyers, it's always better to pay in the local currency when traveling. "The local bank there will convert it back into euros, and then your U.S.-based bank will convert it again into dollars. This adds an extra conversion, which is good for the banks but not for you," says Meyers.

The extra conversion means you will pay more in fees. "You basically pay twice for every dynamic currency conversion transaction -- once to your own bank for the privilege of using your card abroad and once to the company processing the transaction," Stallings says.

Heads up:  According to Stallings, you should insist that your transaction be charged in the local currency or just pay in cash.

Traveler's checks: Thumbs down

Sales of traveler's checks are in decline as travelers adopt new technology and more convenient methods of payment, says Brusilovsky of Travelex Currency Services. According to the U.S. Federal Reserve, traveler's checks peaked in the 1990s but have declined in use ever since. At their peak, there were more than $9 billion in traveler's checks outstanding. Now, there are only about $4 billion.

But they can still provide a safety net, Meyers says. "Many businesses abroad still accept traveler's checks, if they're made out in euros," he says. But, if they are made out in dollars, you'll need to convert them at a bank or currency counter, which can mean a fee or a lousy conversion rate.

Heads up:  A few hundred dollars in traveler's checks can be a good emergency fund if you have any trouble with your cards or lose your wallet, Meyers says.

Cash advance: Thumbs down

Getting a cash advance on your credit card is an easy way to break the bank, whether you're abroad or in the U.S.

Your card might offer a fair currency exchange rate, but the interest rate on cash advances can be high. Cash-advance interest rates are more than 20 percent on some cards, and the interest starts accruing as soon as you take out the advance. For example, one bank's reward card has a cash advance annual percentage rate, or APR, of 24.9 percent. There's also a fee tacked on for taking out the advance.

"Before you leave, call your bank and ask what it charges for cash advances abroad," Meyers says.

Heads up: If you're in a bind, it might be worthwhile to take a cash advance. Just make sure to pay it off before the interest has time to accrue.

CURRENCY CONVERTER RESOURCES

• Foreign transaction fee credit card chart
• 4 ways to minimize foreign currency risk
• Opening a foreign currency account