Standard Visitor visa: photo and application guide
Short trips to the UK for tourism, business meetings, family visits, private medical treatment or a one-off academic activity, up to 6 months per visit.
Quick answer
45 × 35 mm photo · £135 for a visit of up to 6 months · biometrics at VAC
Photo specification is the shared UK 45 × 35 mm format. Biometric photo is captured at the Visa Application Centre during your appointment. Fee £135 for a visit of up to 6 months; long-term visitor visas valid 2, 5 or 10 years cost more. Processing 3 weeks standard; priority service for an extra £500 usually gives a decision in 5 working days; super priority service for an extra £1,000 usually gives a decision by the end of the next working day. Last reviewed .
Application route
| Full name | UK Standard Visitor Visa |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Short trips to the UK for tourism, business meetings, family visits, private medical treatment or a one-off academic activity, up to 6 months per visit. |
| Application route | Online application via GOV.UK / UKVI |
| Fee | £135 for a visit of up to 6 months; long-term visitor visas valid 2, 5 or 10 years cost more |
| Processing time | 3 weeks standard; priority service for an extra £500 usually gives a decision in 5 working days; super priority service for an extra £1,000 usually gives a decision by the end of the next working day |
| Biometric appointment | Yes — appointment at a visa application centre; the centres are run by contractors (TLScontact or VFS Global depending on the country) and the GOV.UK application shows you which one to attend |
| Official portal | GOV.UK — Standard Visitor visa ↗ |
Photo specification
The Standard Visitor visa uses the shared UK biometric photo standard. The digital photo uploaded with the online application is checked against this spec; the biometric capture at the visa application centre takes a fresh photo for the Home Office record.
| Size | at least 600 × 750 px, portrait orientation |
|---|---|
| Head height | head, shoulders and upper body in frame — do not crop |
| Background | plain light-coloured, with your face in clear contrast to it |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed (no smile) |
| Glasses | Only if you have to wear them; not tinted, eyes clearly visible |
| Digital file | jpg or jpeg, at least 600 × 750 pixels, vertically orientated, file from 50KB to 6MB |
| Checked against primary sources. Updated . | |
What to watch out for with the Standard Visitor visa
The Standard Visitor route consolidated several older visit categories in 2015. The biometric photo and fingerprints are taken at the VAC; the GOV.UK upload is for the digital application file, not the printed photo at the appointment. Bring no printed photo — UKVI captures everything at the VAC.
Frequently asked questions about the Standard Visitor visa
01What size photo do I need for a Standard Visitor visa?
at least 600 × 750 px, portrait orientation, file size 50KB to 6MB, in jpg or jpeg. The Standard Visitor visa uses the UKVI digital standard: head, shoulders and upper body in frame — do not crop, background plain light-coloured, with your face in clear contrast to it, neutral expression. The biometric capture itself happens at the visa application centre appointment.
02How much does the Standard Visitor visa cost?
£135 for a visit of up to 6 months; long-term visitor visas valid 2, 5 or 10 years cost more. The visa fee is paid online during the application; the VAC service fee and Immigration Health Surcharge are separate charges.
03How long does the Standard Visitor visa take to process?
3 weeks standard; priority service for an extra £500 usually gives a decision in 5 working days; super priority service for an extra £1,000 usually gives a decision by the end of the next working day. The clock starts after you attend the biometrics appointment, not when you submit the online application.
04Is the biometric appointment mandatory for the Standard Visitor visa?
Yes — appointment at a visa application centre; the centres are run by contractors (TLScontact or VFS Global depending on the country) and the GOV.UK application shows you which one to attend.
05Will I receive a card with my photo on it?
No. Plastic cards (Biometric Residence Permits) are no longer issued: Standard Visitor visa status is held as an eVisa in your UK Visas and Immigration account. You prove it with a share code through the "view and prove" service — that is what border officers, employers, banks and landlords check.
Other UK visa categories
Prepare your Standard Visitor visa photo
Upload a portrait — Anfas.Pro applies the UKVI 45 × 35 mm format and biometric framing automatically.