UK Visa Supporting Documents Required for Visiting and Tourism

1. Checklist

UK Visa Supporting Documents Required for Tourists and Visitors

Depending on the purpose of the visit and personal circumstances, an applicant may usually need provide an appropriate combination of the following supporting documents required for the UK visa application.

Checklist of UK Visitor Visa Required Supporting Documents

1. Immigration Travel Documents such as a valid passport in good condition with at least one-page blank on both sides
2. Previous Passport, if available
3. Translation of Documents not in English/Welsh
4. Trip Itinerary or Letter of Invitation
5. Hotel Booking or Accommodation Provided by the UK Sponsor
6. Copy of UK Sponsor’s Passport or Residence Permit, if necessary
7. Ticket Booking, if necessary
8. Personal Bank Statements Last 6-months
9. Personal Bank Account Maintenance Certificate
10. Investment, Savings or Shareholding Certificates
11. Residential Property Ownership or Tenancy
12. Letter of Employment or Business Registration Certificate
13. Pay Slips Last 6-months or Business Bank Account Statements
14. Tax Returns Last 3-Years
15. Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate, if applicable
16. Any evidence of family members remaining in your home country whilst you travel such a family form, child registration certificate etc.
17. Any Other Documents deem appropriate to send with the application such as a Letter of Study*

*Students

A student may provide a Letter of Study from the educational institution. The study letter for UK tourist or family visit visa application should be on the letterhead of the educational provider. Moreover, the letter of study should confirm the student’s enrollment and leave of absence due to the proposed trip.

Further Information

If the UKVI asks for more documents, then an applicant needs to furnish the requisite documents as early as possible – at the most within 28 working days.

2. Mandatory Documents

UK Visa Supporting Documents Guidance for Tourists and Visitors

1. A valid travel document (passport)
2. Translation of supporting documents, which are not in English/Welsh

Travel Documents (Passport)

A valid travel document means a national passport or any other such document that lawfully enables the holder to travel internationally. Therefore, the passport of the applicant must be in good condition and have at least one blank page on both sides for affixing the visa vignette in case of a successful outcome. if an applicant has had a UK visa previously, but this is in an old passport, then it is advisable to enclose the current as well as the previous passport with the application.

Translation

If the supporting documents are not in English/Welsh then an applicant is required to submit a translation of such documents, along with the copies of the originals. If required, the UKVI may verify the translated supporting documents independently. Therefore, the translated supporting documents with the UK visitor visa application must enumerate:

• translator’s confirmation that the translated document(s) are an accurate translation/account of the original non-English/Welsh documents
• the date on which the translation has been done
• full name and signatures of the translator

3. The Purpose of Visiting the UK

UK Visa Supporting Documents Guidance for Tourists and Visitors

1. Visiting Family in the UK:
   • An Invitation/Sponsor letter
   • Copy of the UK Sponsor’s British Passport or Residence Permit
   • Accommodation details in the UK such as Land Registry, Rental Agreement, Mortgage Deed, Hotel Booking
   • Bank statements of the UK sponsor for meeting the maintenance cost and trip expenses
2. Tourism:
   • A Trip Itinerary
   • Invitation Letter – Not Necessary
   • Hotel Booking
   • Ticket Booking

1. Tourism

For establishing the purpose of a tourist visa, an applicant doesn’t require to provide an invitation letter. Therefore, instead of an invitation letter, an applicant can submit a tentative trip plan.

2. Visiting Family in the UK

Perhaps, visiting for meeting family is quite a frequent reason. Accordingly, most of the applicants applying for family visitor visa needs to provide an invitation letter, which clearly specifies the purpose of the visit. The Sponsor Invitation Letter needs to enumerate the details of accommodation and maintenance without recourse to public funds.

4. Address in the UK

UK Visa Supporting Documents Guidance for Tourists and Visitors

An applicant needs to provide a verifiable address for staying during the trip in the online application form. Therefore, may furnish any of the following supporting documents with the UK visa application:

1. Sponsor Documents
   • Land Registry
   • Mortgage Deed
   • Rental Agreement
2. Hotel booking confirmation
3. Travel booking confirmation
4. Travel agent’s confirmation

5. Address in the Home Country for UK Visa

UK Visa Supporting Documents Guidance for Tourists and Visitors

In the online application form, the applicant needs to provide the present residential address in the Home Country. Therefore, to certify the present residential address in the home country, an applicant may furnish a copy of:

• property deed
• mortgage statements
• tenancy agreements
• land registration documents
• Affidavit from the Family Member*

*If the applicant is living with family (parents, siblings, or relatives) then needs to provide an affidavit from the family member, who is the owner or tenant of the property.

Confirmation of legal residence

If an applicant is not a national of a country from which they are applying, then only needs to furnish a copy of the document confirming the legal residence. For instance, a Pakistani or an Indian national working in Dubai needs to furnish the UAE’s residence permit as evidence of legal residence.

6. Proof of Bank Balance for UK Visa

UK Visa Supporting Documents Guidance for Tourists and Visitors

An applicant can provide following types of documents as a proof of bank balance for UK visa:

• Bank Statements 6 months
• Bank Letter
• Account Maintenance Certificate
• Balance Certificate
• Bank Book
• Term Deposit Receipts (TDRs)
• Any other evidence of financial savings

Maintenance Funds

Financial documents demonstrate that the visitor has ample and sufficient funds available for undertaking a journey to the UK. The financial documents must unequivocally show that a claimant has access to the funds. Depending on the purpose of the visit, an applicant can also use sponsor documents.

Savings in the personal bank account is the most convenient and popular method for demonstrating the availability of funds for the trip to the UK. The bank statement for UK visa should cover a period of the preceding six months. The applicant can attach bank statements for a longer duration. However, any document demonstrating the availability of funds for visiting the UK must not be more than one month old from the application date.

7. Intent to Return Home

UK Visa Supporting Documents Guidance for Tourists and Visitors

To prove the intention to return home, an applicant can provide following types of documents for UK visa:

• Evidence of Family Members Remaining in Your Home Country
  • Marriage Certificate
  • Nikah Nama with English Translation
  • Children Birth Certificate
  • Family Form
  • Family Registration Form
• Evidence of Assets as Proof of Intent to Return Home
• Employment as Proof of Intent to Return Home
• Professional and Business Ties to the Home Country

Proof of Ties to the Home Country for UK Visa

The Paragraph V4.2(a) of Appendix V for Visitors requires that visitors must prove their genuine intentions to return to the country of residence at the end of their visit. Therefore, it is important to provide proof of sufficient ties to the home country for proving intent to return at the end of the journey for a successful UK visit visa application.

8. Proof of Family Ties for UK Visa

UK Visa Supporting Documents Guidance for Tourists and Visitors

As a proof of family ties for UK visa, an applicant can provide following types of supporting documents:

• Marriage certificate as evidence of family ties: If a spouse is travelling alone then marriage or civil partnership certificate as evidence of family ties in the home country may help increase the balance of probabilities for the grant of a UK visa
• Divorce or death of a partner: in terms of Paragraph 3.6(b) of Appendix V, an applicant is liable to disclose the material facts. Therefore, an applicant should furnish requisite information about divorce or death of a partner. And if available then also enclose a copy of the divorce or death certificate
• Parents travelling without children and evidence of family ties: If parents are applying without children, then the proof of intent to return home may include children birth certificates, family registration form and school certificates
• Affidavit of Guardianship: If both parents are leaving children under 6-12 years, then needs to furnish a declaration of facts of guardianship. Usually, an affidavit from a close relative such as a sibling fulfils the requirement

Evidence of family members remaining in your home country

It is important to furnish reasonable proof of family ties for UK visa. Documents to proof family ties for UK Visa usually relates to partner and children. However, several applicants are single with no children. Therefore, it is not possible for them to prove sufficient family ties to the home country. Please note, proof of family ties for UK Visa is a supplementary evidence for proving intent to return to the home country. Therefore, if an unmarried applicant is applying for UK visit visa, then instead of family ties, may use evidence (proof) of immovable assets, employment, or business to prove genuine intent to return to the Home Country.

9. Employment

UK Visa Supporting Documents Guidance for Tourists and Visitors

To prove income and employment an applicant may provide following types of supporting documents for UK visa:

• Employment Letter
• Pay Slips – last 6 months
• Bank Statements in which the salary is crediting – last 6 months
• Income Tax Return – last 3 years
• Income Tax Certificate
• Appointment Letter
• Promotion Letter
• Evidence of Annual Bonus or Increment

Please note, the evidence of employment for UK tourist or family visitor visa provides information about the source of funds for meeting trip expenses and establishing ties for proving intent to return to the home country.

Proof of Ties and Intent to Return to the Home Country

For a tourist or family visitor visa application, the proof of employment is a good evidence to prove ties and intent to return to home country after visiting the UK. Accordingly, an applicant can furnish last 6-months’ pay slips – preferably with the bank statements in which they receive the salary. Moreover, can further clarify their ties and intent to return to the Home Country by providing other employment relating supporting documents for UK visit visa such as: appointment letter, employment letter, tax returns, bank account maintenance certificate, evidence of annual bonus or increment, promotion letter etc.

10. Self-Employment (Business)

UK Visa Supporting Documents Guidance for Tourists and Visitors

A self-employed businessperson, can provide following supporting document to prove their income and employment for UK visa application:

• Business Registration Certificate
• Sole Proprietorship Certificate from Bank or Government
• Partnership Deed
• Memorandum of Association in case of a private limited company
• Business Bank Statements
• Business Bank Account Maintenance Certificate
• Tax Registration Certificate
• Annual Income Tax Returns – last 3 Years
• Import and Export License
• Registration with the Local and National Business Chamber
• Registration with Trade Bodies and Associations
• License from Government such as Trade or Custom’s Licence etc.

Please note, the evidence of self-employment (business) for UK tourist or family visitor visa provides information about the source of funds for meeting trip expenses and establishing ties for proving intent to return to the home country.

Proof of Ties and Intent to Return to the Home Country

For a tourist or family visitor visa application, the proof of self-employment is a good evidence to prove ties and intent to return to home country after visiting the UK. Accordingly, an applicant can furnish last 3-years personal income tax returns. Moreover, can further clarify their ties and intent to return to the Home Country by providing relating supporting documents for UK visit visa such as business balance sheets and income statements, import or export receipts, business bank account certificate, registration with business chambers, trade, or government bodies etc.

11. Evidence of Assets UK Visa

UK Visa Supporting Documents Guidance for Tourists and Visitors

The evidence of assets for UK visa application relates to immovable property such as residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural property, especially for property owners and agriculturalists, who are generating income from rents and agricultural produce. Accordingly, the UK visa supporting documents may include property deed, mutation, mortgage statements, accountant’s letters, and land registration to indicate ownership of immovable assets.

Please note, the evidence of assets for UK tourist or family visitor visa provides information about the source of funds for meeting trip expenses and establishing ties for proving intent to return to the home country. The provision of clear and adequate information relating to the ownership of the property increases the balance of probabilities. If the evidence of assets is meaningless then it may reduce the chances of getting the UK visitor visa.

Proof of Ties and Intent to Return to the Home Country

For a tourist or family visitor visa application, the evidence of assets is a conclusive proof to prove ties and intent to return to home country after visiting the UK. In the case of an Agriculturalist or landlord details of the income-generating property is critical to prove ties and intent to return to return home. Accordingly, an applicant can provide evidence of assets for UK visa such as property deed, mutation, mortgage statements, accountant’s letters, and land registration to clarify their ties and intent to return to the Home Country.

12. Unnecessary Documents

UK Visa Supporting Documents Guidance for Tourists and Visitors

There are certain supporting documents, which are not necessary as these are not good and direct evidence of the income and personal circumstances of an applicant. Therefore, it is quite unlikely that these supporting documents may have any positive impact on the decision. Accordingly, an applicant should not enclose these documents, unless is able to explain the relevance.

Checklist of Supporting Documents Not Required for UK Visa

1. multiple copies of the same document- if applicants are applying as a family/group
2. bank statements or letters issued more than one (1) year before the date of application
3. notarial certificates
4. photographs
5. business cards
6. driving licence
7. photocopies of bank cards such as Debit and Credit Cards
8. credit card statements
9. documents relating to leisure activities
10. evidence of car ownership
11. travel insurance
12. sponsor’s utility bills
13. sponsor’s council tax bills
14. educational certificates (unless specifically listed/required)
15. medical reports such as TB Test