How to Apply for a United Kingdom Visa If You're a Filipino

Is the United Kingdom on your travel bucket list? Whether you fancy frolicking in the Scottish highlands or in the bustling capital of London, Great Britain is a feast for history enthusiasts and big-city seekers. But before you step foot into the Great British Isles, you’ll be needing the essential piece of paper: the United Kingdom visa.

Below, check out our guide to scoring a standard tourist visa for Philippine passport holders.

When should I apply for a United Kingdom visa?

For a standard visitor visa, the earliest you can apply is three months before your intended travel date.

How long is the validity of a United Kingdom visitor visa?

For tourists and regular visitors, standard visitor visas are available in short-term (valid up to six months) and long-term (valid for up to two, five, or 10 years). All have a maximum length of stay of six months per visit.

What are the basic document requirements for a United Kingdom visitor visa?

All documents can now be uploaded when you apply online. But if you need help, you can bring the hard copies to the visa application service center and use its Document Scanning Assistance service. They can scan your documents for you with additional fees.

Reminder: Supporting documents should be in A4 size.

1. Valid national passport

• With at least six months validity from intended travel and must contain at least two blank visa pages.

2. Previous passports which show previous travel

3. Proof of employment status 

• Certificate of employment: A letter from your employer on company headed paper, detailing your role, salary, and length of employment

• If student: A letter from your education provider, on headed paper, confirming enrollment and leave of absence

• If self-employed: Business registration documents or recent invoices that confirm on-going self-employment

4. Proof of financial status - These show that you have sufficient funds available. These must also clearly show that you have access to the funds, including:

• Bank statements and bank certificates

• Income tax return

• Proof of earnings, such as a letter from the employer confirming employment details (start date of employment, salary, role, company contact details)

• Payslips from the last 6 months

5. Sample travel itinerary

6. Flight ticket reservation - We highly recommend not paying for this yet before your visa is issued!

7. Hotel or Accommodation reservation

How do I book an appointment?

First, you’ll have to complete your application form through the GOV.UK site, where you can also submit your scanned documents and pay your visa fee. Don’t worry about finishing it all in one sitting, as you can always save your progress and return to where you left.

Once that’s done, you’ll be automatically directed to the VFS Global site to book an appointment at your chosen visa application center. You can also book an appointment by heading to this link. Don’t forget to input the GOV.UK-generated reference number!

How much is the visa fee?

The visa fee depends on which visa type you’re applying for. The fees below are in US Dollars, and can be paid in Philippine pesos based on the current exchange rate.

• Short-term (up to six months, single or multiple entry) - $130
• Long-term (valid for up to two years) - $489
• Long-term (valid for up to five years) - $871
• Long-term (valid for up to 10 years) - $1088

What are the other fees I have to pay?

Aside from VFS Global’s service fee in Cebu (£55, approx. P3800), the visa application center also offers services meant to ease the process.

• Gold Premium Package - P9508

  • Includes Lyca sim, walk-in without an appointment, access to premium lounge and travel insurance

• Silver Premium Package - P6526

  • Includes Lyca sim, walk-in without an appointment, courier service, SMS service, and travel insurance

• Bronze Premium Package - P1772

  • Includes courier service, SMS service, and travel insurance

• Priority Visa Service - P18,083

  • Receive your passport within five days after submitting biometrics

• Super Priority Visa Service - P69,150

  • Receive your passport on the next working day after submitting biometrics

• Digital Application Submission - P4999

  • Allows remote submission of UK visa application 

    ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW

• On Demand Mobile Visa - P11,750

  • Submit your visa application application from home, office, or any preferred location

• Keep My Passport When Applying - P4761

  • Retain your passport while your visa is processed. You can submit your passport once a visa decision has been reached.

• Premium Lounge - P4554

  • Access to a separate lounge with personalized service and dedicated staff

  • Includes refreshments, photocopying service, courier return of passport, and SMS alert

• Walk-in without appointment - P4400

  • Submit your visa application during business hours without a prior appointment. This is recommended for those who have to travel urgently, have missed their appointment, and can't book their appointment on their desired day and time

• Prime Time Appointment - P4140

  • Apply for your visa outside of working hours

• Travel Insurance - P3447.5

• Document Scanning Assistance - P925

• International Sim Card - P925

• Courier service - P794

• Extended Hours Passport Collection - P276

• SMS updates - P207

• Printing service - P15

• Photocopying - P8

Where should I submit my application?

United Kingdom visa applications should be submitted at their respective VFS Global centers in Manila or Cebu. Both centers are open from Monday to Friday (excluding holidays), from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Manila

VFS Global Services Philippines Private Inc.

Mezzanine Floor Unit M01

Ecoplaza Building

2305 Chino Roces Avenue Extension 

Makati City, Metro Manila 1231

Cebu

VFS Global Services Philippines Private Inc.

Unit 905

9th Floor Kepwealth Center

Samar Loop cor. Cardinal Rosales Avenue

Cebu Business Park

Cebu City 6000, Philippines

VFS Global also offers an on-demand mobile visa service, where applicants will be able to submit their documents from their home, office, or any other preferred location. This is priced at P11,750.

What should I know before entering the visa application center?

1. Bring your passport, supporting documents (if you opt to scan and submit them at the center), the printed appointment confirmation and checklist, and some cash for unpaid fees.

2. Be there 15 minutes early before your appointment time.

3. According to VFS Global, phones are allowed inside the visa application center, but they must be switched to silent or vibrate mode. They should be switched on before entering the center, and devices that can’t be switched on aren't allowed to be taken inside. Phones, however, will still have to be put away when dealing with staff.

4. Battery-operated and electronic items like cameras, laptops, hard drives aren’t allowed inside, as well as sealed envelopes.

5. Your biometrics will be taken inside the center, including your fingerprints and a digital photograph. Remove any jewelry and contact lenses here.

I’ve submitted my application! How long should I wait for my passport?

Congrats! More often than not, you should get a decision on your visa within three weeks after lodging your application. If you’ve applied for priority services, you can get it in five working days or even the next working day.

You can track your application through an email update sent by the center. If you opted for SMS updates, you’ll get regular texts about your application status.

I opted for pick-up. When should I go to the center?

Once you receive the notification in your email or through text, head to the visa center with your receipt and a government ID to claim your passport during the indicated hours.

Good luck and happy travels!

Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!