What are the types of UK visas that I can apply for?

The United Kingdom has long been a strong magnet for migrants and travelers alike through the ages. Great Britain has had a strong historical connection, brought on by colonization, with many countries around the world, and these unofficial ties continue to endure to this day. Apart from this, the UK exerts a strong influence in the arena of arts, culture, education, lifestyle and many other areas. These are attractive to many people, and hence, the country figures on the wish list of many a migrant and tourist alike.

However, before you decide to make a trip to the UK, you must first understand the 

UK visa application formalities. There are several types of UK visas – picking the right one depends on the duration of your visit and purpose of stay. Broadly, you can consider the following categories of UK visas:

Work visas:  General (currently closed), Investor, Entrepreneur, Graduate Entrepreneur, Skilled talent, Post Graduate work (currently closed)

Work permit or Certificate of Sponsorship: General, Company transfers (from one location to UK-based one)

Other work categories: Youth mobility scheme, creative participation and sporting visas, Government authorized exchange, charity worker, religious worker, international agreement.

Study visas: Student visas, student visitor (limited duration in terms of days or weeks), Doctoral extension scheme

Family visas: Visas obtained by way of ties with spouse, fiancé, dependent citizen, unmarried partners and ancestry.

UK Tourist visa: Standard (not similar to business, academic, family and general visa), permitted paid engagement (for those invited to UK for lectures and speaking assignments, for example), short term study.

Getting your UK tourist visa is easy if you follow the procedures and file your paperwork diligently. You must have a valid passport and bank statements to prove that you can finance your trip to the UK comfortably. At least one page in your passport must be blank (last page is not considered) on both sides while applying for the UK visa.

The UK visa application formalities also include furnishing information on your travel dates and itinerary, your place of stay in UK, your overall travel expenses, permanent residential address, details of parents’ address and contact numbers, your annual income, details of persons accompanying you on the trip, details of trip sponsor (if any) and details of relatives or friends based in the UK.