UK Standard Visitor Visa 2026: Fees, Documents, Processing Times

The United Kingdom is not part of the Schengen area: even with a Schengen visa in your passport, you need a separate British authorisation. For tourism, family visits, business or a short course of study, that is the Standard Visitor visa. Fully online application, biometrics at an approved centre, a decision in about three weeks: here is the 2026 guide for applicants from French-speaking Africa, backed by official UK government figures.

Since 8 April 2026, the Standard Visitor visa costs £135 — about €160 — for a 6-month visa (source: gov.uk). Key points:

• The visa allows stays of up to 6 months, for tourism, family visits, business (meetings, conferences, negotiations), private medical treatment or short studies.
• Long-term visas (2, 5 or 10 years) exist for frequent travellers; they cost more and each stay remains capped at 6 months. Check the current fee on visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk on the day you pay.
• Fees are not refunded if the application is refused.
• Paid priority services are available at some centres, at extra cost.

The UK file looks lighter on paper than a Schengen file — but the substantive assessment is stricter:

• Fully online application — no paper form;
• Fee payment online by card;
• Biometric data: fingerprints and photo, taken at the application centre;
• Proof of sufficient funds to finance the trip without working;
• Employment certificate or proof of activity: employer letter, business registration, school enrolment certificate;
• Proof of accommodation: hotel booking or invitation letter with a full address.

Add a valid passport with at least one blank page, and have every document written in French translated into English (certified translation): this UKVI requirement is often overlooked and causes avoidable refusals.

1. Check whether you need a visa for your nationality on izivisas.com — some African passports (Mauritius, Seychelles, Botswana…) are exempt and fall under the ETA instead (see below).
2. Complete the online application on gov.uk, in English. Allow 30 to 60 minutes: the questions cover your professional, financial and family situation, your travel history and the planned stay. Be rigorously accurate — any inconsistency with your documents will count against you, and a false statement can lead to a 10-year ban.
3. Pay the £135 online.
4. Book your biometrics at a TLScontact or VFS Global centre (Dakar, Abidjan, Douala, Yaoundé, Cotonou, Lomé, Kinshasa, Libreville, Antananarivo…).
5. Upload your supporting documents before the appointment, or have them scanned at the centre (often a paid service).
6. Attend the appointment with your passport; fingerprints and photo are collected.
7. Wait for the decision, notified by email, then collect your passport with the vignette.

The UKVI standard is a decision within 3 weeks (15 working days) after the biometric appointment (source: gov.uk). You can apply up to 3 months before travel. In summer and before the end-of-year holidays, both appointments and decisions stretch out: start the application 6 to 8 weeks before departure, and do not book non-refundable tickets before the decision.

The most common refusal is issued under paragraph V 4.2 of the UK Immigration Rules: the caseworker is not satisfied that you are a genuine visitor who will leave at the end of the stay. Unlike Schengen, there is no official daily amount: the officer assesses the overall consistency of your profile. To convince them:

• 6 months of bank statements showing regular income and a balance consistent with your standard of living. A large, unexplained deposit just before applying is the classic red flag.
• Employer letter stating position, salary, length of service and approved leave; for the self-employed, business registration and tax returns.
• Strong ties: family remaining at home, employment, property, a business, ongoing studies.
• A realistic budget: two weeks in London is expensive; a budget out of proportion with your declared income raises doubt.
• A UK sponsor: possible (invitation letter, proof of the sponsor's status and income), but it does not replace your own ties — the officer assesses your profile first.

If refused, there is no appeal for this visa in most cases: you must submit a new application — and pay again — responding point by point to the grounds in the refusal letter.

The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) only concerns nationalities exempt from the visitor visa: for example Mauritius, Seychelles or Botswana on the African side, plus the EU, the United States and the Gulf states. It is an electronic authorisation, not a visa: £20 since 8 April 2026 (source: Home Office), applied for via the UK ETA app, with a decision usually within minutes to 3 working days, valid 2 years with multiple entries. If your nationality needs a visa — the case for most French-speaking African countries — the ETA does not apply to you: beware of websites selling an “ETA” to nationals who are subject to the visa requirement.

• Does a UK visa let me enter Ireland or the Schengen area?

No. The Schengen area requires its own visa, and Ireland runs its own regime; the British-Irish Visa Scheme only covers certain nationalities and visa types. Check before planning a combined trip.

• Can I work on a Standard Visitor visa?

No. Any paid work, employed or self-employed, for a UK entity is prohibited; only certain business activities (meetings, negotiations, conferences) are permitted.

• What happens if my application is refused?

The £135 is lost. The refusal letter details the grounds: fix each point (most often funds or ties) before reapplying. Previous refusals must be declared in any new application — for the UK and elsewhere.

• Are my documents in French accepted?

No: every document must come with a certified English translation, including the translator's name, the date and a confirmation of accuracy.

• Is a 2, 5 or 10-year visa worth it?

If you travel to the UK every year (family, business), yes: the cost per trip drops sharply. But a first long-term application may be downgraded to a 6-month visa if your travel history is thin.