UK issues over 5 lakh visas to Indians
More than 500,000 visas were granted to Indian nationals travelling to the UK in the year ended March 2026, underscoring India's position as one of
More than 500,000 visas were granted to Indian nationals travelling to the UK in the year ended March 2026, underscoring India's position as one of Britain's largest overseas travel markets even as the country shifts entirely to a digital visa system. From now on, successful applicants will be issued with an electronic visa (eVisa) rather than a physical visa sticker as has been done before. The milestone comes as there is a growing trend in travel between India and the UK, supported by increasing air connectivity and tourism demand. The UK government is aiming for the digital immigration system to improve the ease of travel for visa holders, enabling them to access and prove their immigration status online, and VisitBritain predicts that Indian visitors to the UK will increase to almost a million a year by 2030.
Also Read: Trump signs orders to limit US birthright citizenship, despite Supreme Court rulingThe UK's full digital visa system means that there will be no visa vignette in the passport of any visa applicant granted a visa, but instead, they will receive an eVisa, a secure digital document recording who they are and their status as a visa holder. Applicants will need to complete the visa application online, attend a Visa Application Centre to provide biometrics and when their visa is granted, they must register an account with the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and use the app UK Immigration: ID Check to access the eVisa. Also Read: New Zealand eases resident visa health rules; Hepatitis B, C no longer automatic hurdleThe UK said there is no fee to access an eVisa.
Travellers have been advised to make sure their passport is linked to their UKVI account and that all their details are accurate prior to travel; they are warned of delays at the border and airline check-in if any discrepancies pertain.According to Home Office Immigration Statistics cited in the release, over 500,000 visas were granted to Indian citizens in the period leading up to March 2026. By 2030, VisitBritain estimates that Indian travellers could visit the UK 959,000 times, valued at £1.5bn. There has also been an increase in air connections between the two nations. During 2026, British Airways added new routes resulting in an increase in the average number of weekly flights between India and the UK to 178 from 155 last year, according to the release.The UK said most standard visitor visa applications are processed within three weeks and advised travellers to apply well ahead of their intended travel dates with all supporting documents.
The BriefWire