Who would not be eager to explore the marvels of the United Kingdom and spend a vacation ravishing oneself with its magnificence? Who would hesitate to enrich themselves with the breathtaking greatness of Stonehenge, the awe-inspiring grandeur of Windsor Castle, the historic splendidness of the British Museum, the monumental glory of Buckingham Palace, or the iconic beauty of Tower Bridge, not to mention the numerous other exquisite places to experience?
But without proper guidance, the process of acquiring a visa and other necessary travel documents can be a huge turn-off for any traveller. The Visa Guy is here to make travel easy for everyone, and here is our simple step-by-step guide to getting a UK tourist visa from the UAE.
How to Get a UK Tourist Visa from UAE
The application process for a UK tourist visa mainly involves an online application form and an appointment at a visa application centre. First, you have to choose from the pool of different types of UK visas and determine the kind of visa that suits your requirement as a tourist from UAE. The following step-by-step guidelines shall help you navigate the process of getting a UK tourist visa from start to end.
1. Determine Your Required Visa Type
Different types of UK visas
There are numerous types of UK visas depending on your nationality, purpose of visit, duration of stay, and personal circumstances and skills. There are standard visitor visas, work visas, student visas, marriage visitor visas, family visas, ancestry visas etc. However, there are three possible visa options for a tourist to consider and determine the suitable one.
– Visa Not Required
The first thing to determine is whether you need a visa to enter the UK. Depending on your nationality, as per your passport, you might not require a visa at all. For example, if you are a Canadian national residing in the UAE, you are exempted from the visa requirement to travel to the UK for a stay shorter than 6 months. Similarly, citizens of the USA, EU member states, and certain commonwealth countries do not need a visa to stay in the UK for no longer than 6 months.
You can check whether you require a visa to enter the UK here.
– Electronic Visa Waiver
Instead of a Standard Visitor Visa, nationals of some middle-eastern countries, including the UAE, have the option to enter the UK with an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW). The UK Electronic Visa Waiver, a digital alternative to regular visitor visas, can be availed by the nationals of the following countries if their stay is no longer than six months for tourism, business, study, or medical treatment:
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- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
If you are a national of one of the six countries mentioned above and residing in UAE, the easiest option is to go for an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW).
– Standard Visitor Visa
Suppose you belong neither to any nationalities exempted from the UK visa requirement nor to the nationalities that can avail of an Electronic Visa Waiver. In that case, you must get a Standard Visitor Visa to travel to the UK as a tourist. Those eligible for an Electronic Visa Waiver can also get a UK Standard Visitor Visa. You can usually stay up to 6 months in the UK with a standard visitor visa. However, in certain circumstances like academics and medical treatment, you might be permitted to stay longer than six months.
To get a UK Standard Visitor Visa, you must apply online and attend an appointment at a visa application centre before you travel to the UK. Suppose you plan to visit the UK as a tourist regularly. In that case, you may opt for the long-term standard visitor visa, which will help you avoid the visa application process each time you travel, although the maximum stay per visit would remain 6 months.
The earliest you can apply for a visitor visa is three months before your journey. You should begin your visa application process as soon as possible to relax and prepare for your travel comfortably.
2. Gather the Required Documents
You must keep the following documents ready for a seamless visa application process. Check the documents required for a UK tourist visa from UAE.
List of Required Documents
1. Passport
Your passport must be valid during the entire course of your ijju stay in the UK. It must also have at least one page blank for your Standard Visitor Visa.
2. Proof of Accommodation
Proof showing where you will be staying in the UK. Documents such as hotel reservation, host invitation, confirmation by a tour operator or rental agreement/contract will qualify as sufficient proof of accommodation.
3. Proof of Financial Means
To show that you have sufficient funds to live in the UK, you should produce bank statements or proof of earnings (such as a letter from your employer)
4. Proof of Travel History
Previous travel documents/passports which indicate your travel history.
5. Proof of Legal Residence
If you are not a UAE national or your right to reside in UAE is not mentioned in your passport, you should furnish documents to confirm your legal residence in the UAE, to apply for a UK visitor visa from UAE.
6. Proof of Employment/Education Status
To demonstrate your employment or education status, you must produce either of the following.
- If you are an employee, a letter from your employer on company letterhead, with information regarding your role, salary, and duration of employment.
- If you are self-employed, business registration documents or recent invoices.
- If you are a student, a letter from your institution on official letterhead confirming your studentship and leave of absence.
Additional Documents Required if You Are Under 18
1. Document Showing the Relationship between You and Your Parent
Such as birth certificates, adoption papers etc.
2. Copy of photo page of Guardian’s Passport (if parents are not applying for the visa)
Ensure that their passport number and signature are included. If they don’t have a passport, produce another document with their signature.
3. Signed letter from your parent (if you are not travelling with your parent)
Additional Documents Required if You Have a Sponsor
If someone in the UK is providing your travel or accommodation, you must produce:
- Letter of invitation from the host
- Document showing the relationship between you and the sponsor (family, employer etc.)
- Legal residence document of your sponsor
Understanding the UK Visa Application Fee
- The Electronic Visa Waiver costs 30 Euros, which is approximately 120 AED.
- The fee for a UK Standard Visitor visa is approximately equivalent to 500 AED.
- The fee for a 2-year long-term standard visitor visa is approximately equivalent to 1800 AED.
- The fee for a 5-year long-term standard visitor visa is approximately equivalent to 3200 AED.
- The fee for a 10-year long-term standard visitor visa is approximately equivalent to 4900 AED.
3. Complete the Online Application Form
The online application form is the key step to getting your UK standard visitor visa before attending an appointment at a visa application centre. Once you start the online application form, you can save it any time and finish it later by signing back in. The following is a step-by-step breakdown of filling out your online application form for the UK standard visitor visa.
Tips to avoid common mistakes while filling out the form
- Keep some of your original documents/ID proofs next to you while filling out the form to verify the spelling of your particulars against your ID proofs.
- While answering yes or no questions regarding your legal, criminal and immigration history, ensure you don’t get confused.
It’s always preferred to contact a visa assistance service like Visa Guy to fill out your application form to ensure everything is filled out correctly.
4. Schedule Your Appointment at Visa Application Centre (VAC)
How to Schedule your Appointment at the UK Visa Application Centre
- Open the VFS-Global website and find the UK Visa Application Centres list in UAE.
- From the list, click on the centre that is nearest to you.
- Read and understand the opening hours and regulations of the Visa Application Centre you have chosen, and proceed to book by clicking on the Book Now tab.
- Give the online application credentials asked.
- Choose a feasible date and reserve your appointment.
Understanding the Biometrics appointment
The appointment at the Visa Application Centre for identity verification and biometric information is a crucial step in your visa application process. It is a mandatory process which you must directly appear for. Your fingerprints and photograph will be collected at the Visa Application Centre. Both your photograph and fingerprints of all 10 digits will be collected by a digital scanner, and your documents shall be verified to confirm your identity.
Preparing for Your Appointment
After booking your appointment, in the following days, ensure that you have collected all documents required for the appointment. You will need to take the following documents to the Visa Application Centre.
- Printout of the Appointment Confirmation letter ( from VFS Global)
- Valid Passport (with at least one blank page)
- Printout of your checklist (from your completed visa application form)
- Supporting Documents
- Evidence of permission to be in UAE (if you are not a UAE national)
- Evidence of your sponsor’s legal residence in the UK (if you are applying as a dependant)
5. Attend the Appointment
At the Visa Application Centre, biometric scans and document verification will occur. It is important to know about the procedures in the Visa Application Centre to avoid any last-minute confusion. Make sure that you reach your Visa Application Centre on time. Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. Don’t forget to take your passport and other documents to the Visa Application Centre. For the biometric information collection, keep the following in your mind.
- Your full face must be visible in the photo. Sunglasses, tinted glasses or head coverings are prohibited unless worn for religious or medical reasons.
- Ensure your face is properly visible without any hair falling across the eye.
- Ensure that your fingertips do not have any cuts or abrasions- this may affect the scan.
- Children below the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult (18+)
- You can use the Document Scanning Assistance Service at the Visa Application Centre to upload the supporting documents for the appointment.
Priority Visa Service- for Getting Faster Decision on your Application.
You might be able to get a faster decision on your visa application by opting for the priority visa service. Depending on the availability of the service in each Visa Application Centre, you can get a faster decision by paying a service charge for the same.
6. Waiting for the Visa Decision
The waiting begins once you have completed your appointment and provided your biometric information. The waiting time ends when you get a mail consisting of the visa decision. Meanwhile, you can track your application to get updates about its progress.
Usual Processing Times for UK visitor visas
Normally you should get your visa decision within 3 weeks after you attend the appointment at the Visa Application Centre. However, as mentioned earlier, you can make a faster decision using the priority services. The ‘Priority Visa’ option will give you a decision within 5-7 working days, whereas the ‘Super Priority Visa’ will give you a decision by the next working day.
Acceptance or Refusal of Application
The result of your visa application shall be conveyed to you by email or a letter. The letter or email will describe what to do next. If you do not receive any mail even after enough time, check the spam or junk folders of your email.
What to do if your application is approved.
If your Visa Application Centre has collected your passport, they will return it with a sticker (vignette) once your application is approved. If you keep your passport, you have to take your passport to the Visa Application Centre to get the vignette in the passport. The vignette will show the visa type you have been granted, the validity dates, and the visa conditions. If you encounter any error in your vignette, contact your Visa Application centre and get it corrected as soon as possible.
What to do if your application is denied.
If your Visa application is refused, you will receive an email or a letter explaining the denial. If the Visa Application Centre keeps your passport, it will be returned to you. The letter will mention if you can appeal the rejection decision.
Read our article here to learn more about why UK visa applications are rejected and how to avoid them.
Conclusion
With proper guidance and some attentiveness, you can nail the UK visa application and pack your bags worry-free to explore the incredible gorgeousness of the UK.
As a traveller, the application process and paperwork can be hectic and energy-wasting. But The Visa Guy has got your back. You can focus on other preparations for your travel and pack bags for your exciting days, cherishing the elegance of the UK while The Visa Guy takes care of your visa application and documentation process. We will make sure that your application process is carried out in a steadfast and hassle-free manner. The Visa Guy wishes you an unforgettable time in the UK, and we are waiting to help you in your journey.
