The Online UK Visa initiative serves multiple purposes. The pre-arrival screening process aids in enhancing the UK border protocol and security. It also helps gather information about travellers who are visiting the UK. The collected information will be useful to analyse the eligibility and potential risk of travellers entering the United Kingdom. The process of getting a Online UK Visa is designed to streamline the entry process of UK visitors and offers a seamless experience for travellers.
United Kingdom ETA is a digital entry permit that decides the eligibility of travellers to visit and stay in the United Kingdom. It simplifies the entry process for the nationals who are exempted from UK visas for their short stays or visits to the country. Online UK Visa is not specified under the category of UK visa, it is designed to permit only short stays.
The nationals of UK visa requirement exempt countries can apply for Online UK Visa. Currently, the nationals of the below-mentioned countries travelling to the UK must apply for Online UK Visa.
Travellers must check the full eligibility list to verify if they need a Online UK Visa with respect to their UK trip date. Online UK Visa should be acquired before a traveller’s arrival in the United Kingdom. Every traveller who is eligible must get a separate Online UK Visa to enter the UK.
Online UK Visa has not been made mandatory for many travellers visiting the United Kingdom. Citizens of the following categories are exempted from the Online UK Visa requirement.
Besides being citizens of eligible countries for applying to Online UK Visa, travellers must meet the below requirements to obtain Online UK Visa.
A Online UK Visa will be valid for two years starting from the issuance or approval date, but it also comes with certain conditions. If the applicant’s passport expires within the validity of the Online UK Visa, then the applicant's Online UK Visa will become invalid. If so, applicants are required to apply for a new Online UK Visa.
Online UK Visa is designed for short stays. Travellers can stay for a maximum of 180 days (six months) in the United Kingdom for short-term studies, tourism and business activities or visiting friends or family members. Online UK Visa only permits 90 days (three months) of stay for Creative Worker visa concession only when they have valid temporary work in the United Kingdom.
Online UK Visa facilitates multiple visits for travellers, in terms of using it travellers can stay for 6 months for each entry into the United Kingdom.
The Online UK Visa only requires a minimal documentation process. Ensure to have the following documents.
Knowing the validity and processing time is important to calculate the ideal time to apply for Online UK Visa. Applicants usually receive their Online UK Visa within three days. The validity of Online UK Visa is 2 years. Applicants must submit their Online UK Visa application at least 5 days or a week before their planned travel date.
Please note that travellers opting for Online UK Visa for their UK trip must obtain it prior to their departure to the United Kingdom. If travellers are travelling with the group, each individual should submit a separate Online UK Visa application form, and the processing time differs for each person. In such cases, apply early to ensure everybody in the group has an approved Online UK Visa.
The application procedure for Online UK Visa is simple, all eligible applicants can follow the process below.
Travellers should wait till the Online UK Visa processing time (which is usually three days). Upon the approval of the Online UK Visa application travellers can receive it via their email ID. Travellers who wish to know their application process status during the Online UK Visa processing time can check their Online UK Visa application status online. For checking the status travellers should enter their application number or date of birth and passport number.
The Online UK Visa application requires only minimal details which are listed below
The Online UK Visa application form also has questions about criminal convictions, employment status, etc. Answering the questions is important because it helps the UK authorities to assess traveller’s eligibility to enter the United Kingdom. Please note travellers are mandated to disclose their criminal convictions, if any.
The Online UK Visa allows travellers for multiple entries and exits into the United Kingdom till the expiry of their passport or Online UK Visa (whichever happens first). Once the Online UK Visa is approved, travellers can visit the UK multiple times and for each entry they can stay for a maximum of six months. The six-month stay duration applies only for business, short-term study or tourism travel purposes.
There is no need for reapplication for each entry into the United Kingdom. However, travellers must adhere to the entry requirements and immigration checks and regulations each time they enter the UK with their Online UK Visa.
Travellers cannot extend their Online UK Visa. If they wish to stay longer in the UK, they should leave the country first and get an appropriate UK visa that allows an extension or fits their desired stay duration in the United Kingdom. Travellers can visit the UK multiple times with their Online UK Visa, but they must plan the return journey within the authorized six months (for each entry).
Staying beyond six months will affect the traveller’s future travels and visa applications. Travellers overstaying the Online UK Visa are breaching the UK immigration law and it will lead to serious consequences such as penalties, imprisonment, deportation, etc. In case of an emergency situation, contacting the relevant UK authorities to report the emergency is essential.
The Online UK Visa does not offer a renewal facility. Travellers must get a new Online UK Visa upon expiry of their current Online UK Visa.
Certain circumstances which demand travellers to apply for a new Online UK Visa are mentioned below.
Children and minors accompanying their parents to the United Kingdom must have their separate Online UK Visa. The adults (guardians or parents) can submit a Online UK Visa application form on their child’s behalf. The Online UK Visa application form will require parent's or legal guardian’s details. The fee and application process are similar for both adults and children.
If the Online UK Visa application process exceeds the approximate time (which is three days), it becomes essential to address the situation. Check the application status online. The tracker provides the status of the application, such as reviewing, approved or rejected. Contact the respective authorities to get additional information or updates regarding the delay in the application process.
All eligible travellers are mandated to apply for Online UK Visa for their UK trip. Travellers can still enter the United Kingdom even if their Online UK Visa application is rejected or denied by applying for other UK visas. Please note that travellers getting a UK visa (after the rejection of their Online UK Visa application) must have it approved before arriving in the United Kingdom.
Knowing the steps to follow after the Online UK Visa rejection will be helpful to address the situation. Review the Online UK Visa rejection letter carefully to know the reason for rejection. Understanding the specific reason for application denial will help to correct or address the issues. Consider applying for a UK Visitor visa.
Having a Online UK Visa makes travellers eligible to stay or enter the UK. However, travellers with a Online UK Visa must still follow the border control protocol and immigration check after their arrival in the United Kingdom.
Once approved, the Online UK Visa will be directly linked to a traveller’s passport, so carrying a physical copy will not be necessary. The UK immigration authorities will use traveller’s passport to check their Online UK Visa. Even though having a physical copy is not mandatory, it is recommended to travellers for documentation purposes, it will benefit the travellers in various ways.
Travellers cannot submit a group application for the Online UK Visa. Each individual in the group (if travelling with a friend group or others) must submit their Online UK Visa application. Please note that even if all the members in the group submitted their application at the same time, the application process time varies for each individual. Each individual might receive their Online UK Visa application decision at different times.
Group travellers applying for Online UK Visa are advised to apply early to ensure all the members in the group get their Online UK Visa approved before their planned travel date.
Individuals who hold both British and Irish citizenship are exempted from getting Online UK Visa to enter the United Kingdom.
Travellers entering the United Kingdom through the sea route via a cruise do not need to get a Online UK Visa. The regulations clearly state that the Online UK Visa requirement is mandatory only for travellers entering the UK by air.
All the travellers applying for Online UK Visa must adhere to the digital photo requirements, which are mentioned below.
Individuals can submit a Online UK Visa application for their friends or family members. In such cases, before starting the application process, gather all the necessary documents from the respective person. When entering the details in the application form, provide accurate details and documents.