The UK entry requirements for Indians in 2025 can be quite easier to navigate when you have the right information to help you plan. Over the last decade, many more Indians have continued to migrate into the UK for work, business, study or family using the UK visa route.
Whether you are considering a visa option that allows you a temporary visit, or a long term stay in the UK – you have to comply with the documentation and entry requirements stipulated by the UK immigration rules for Indians. This article will help you familiarize with the updated UK entry requirements to achieve a stress-free application process in 2025.
What Are the Updated UK Visa Options for Indians in 2025?
Work, study, business or family dependent? This section will provide adequate insight on the updated UK visa option you can explore as an Indian immigrant in 2025.
The UK Skilled Worker Visa
If you are a highly skilled Indian professional that has received an employment offer from a registered UK company, this is the ideal visa category for you! Your employment contract must be within the minimum salary threshold of £38,700 and the company must be ready to issue you a CoS(Certificate of Sponsorship) to aid your application process.
This visa category allows you to work and live in the UK for a duration of 3 to 5 years while offering you the flexibility of changing employers within the same sector during your stay. and includes work rights for dependents. You can expect to get feedback on your application status within the next 4-8 weeks, with priority services available for faster processing.
India Young Professionals Scheme
This visa category is for young Indian professionals between the age of 18 – 30 years who wish to work in the UK for a duration of two years without a certificate of sponsorship from a UK employer. As a way to improve the bilateral relations between both countries, this scheme was specifically created by the UK government to provide 3,000 visas to young Indians every year. If your application is approved, you have the liberty to work in any industry niche in the UK.
High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa
If you or any Indian you know studied or graduated from a top global university, please recommend this visa route to them. Qualified Indian graduates have the opportunity to work in the UK even if they haven’t received a job offer prior to their application. They’ll be granted a UK visa with a two-year duration of stay or three if they have a PhD degree in any field. This visa immigration route aims to attract foreign talents to work and live in the UK so it’s a great idea to maximize it if you fall into the category.
UK Graduate Route
Perfect for Indian students who are about to complete their studies in a licensed UK institution of learning. With this visa option, you’ll have the opportunity to live, work or start a business in the UK for a period of 2 years, or 3 years for PhD holders. Many more Indian students in the UK are beginning to prioritize this option because of the flexibility and ease it offers with the visa application and requirements.
The UK Scale-up Visa
Similar to the skilled worker visa, this UK visa category also allows highly skilled Indian professionals to join a UK company and work with them for a duration of 5 years with an opportunity to file for permanent residency in the UK. Indians on this visa route can equally change employers after the first six months of working with a UK company.
The UK Global Business Mobility Visa
If you already run an active business in India and wish to start up a new UK branch or, send a senior executive/ graduate trainee in your company to an already existing UK branch of your business, this visa category affords you that opportunity. Indian businesses establishing presence or transferring staff to the UK.
The UK Digital Nomad Visa
For Indian remote workers who want to live in the UK and work remotely with different employers across the globe, this UK digital nomad visa is a friendly option to explore for digital skilled Indian workers.
The UK Family Dependent Visas
If you are a spouse, fiance or family to UK residents with a legal permit to live in the UK, the UK family dependent visa allows you to join them for a long-term stay and eventually earn the right to live, work and study in the UK.
With this visa pathway, you no longer have to separate from your Indian family relations in the UK. Application process and pricing relatively varies with the kind of dependent visa you are opting for(spouse or sibling) and duration of stay.
For more detailed information on the application process, cost and UK immigration rules for Indians considering any of these visa options, check here.
What Indians Need to Know About UK Entry Requirements in 2025
Here are the UK entry requirements for Indians traveling to the UK from India in 2025;
- A UK visa. To be legally permitted to enter into the UK for whatever reasons, you would need to apply and be approved for a UK visa. You can consider consulting with an immigration lawyer on the visa option that suits you best.
- UK immigration health surcharge(IHS). You are mandated to pay the fee as an immigrant so you can access quality healthcare in the UK.
- Evidence of adequate funds to support your finances during your stay in the UK. The standard amount varies with the visa category but note that you would need a bank statement from your Indian account to support your claims.
- Evidence of proficiency in English Language or a pass score on the IELTS / TOEFL test.
- A tuberculosis test certificate that certifies that you do not have tuberculosis.
- Police clearance certificate to prove your criminal record history
- (Not compulsory) Travel insurance that allows you access medical care during emergencies or refunds for trip cancellations.
- No banned goods, weapons (not even a pepper spray), food products, substances or cash more than €10,000 in your personal baggage.
Important Documents for Indians Entering the UK in 2025
Here is a list of important documents for Indians traveling into the UK from India. Please make sure all documents are clearly written in English or properly translated by a certified translation service.
- A six months valid passport showing previous travel history
- A copy of your recent passport photographs
- Evidence of housing or accommodation arrangements.
- Evidence of payment for IHS
- Legally binding marriage certificate (If applicable)
- Certificate of Sponsorship (If applicable)
- Biometric information documents