Looking for guidance on how to apply for a UK visa?
When you start preparing to travel to the UK, the first step is not filling in an online form. It is working out, based on your nationality, the purpose of your visit and how long you intend to stay, whether you need a Standard Visitor visa, whether you can travel on an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), or whether you need a different visa for work, study, family or another purpose.
This page walks through the whole UK visa application process in the order you will actually meet it: how to apply for an ETA, the main questions in the Standard Visitor online application, the documents to prepare, financial information, the 10-year travel history, biometrics, eVisa and what to check after you apply.
Find out which UK visa or ETA you need
The UK visa application process at a glance
| Step | What it involves | Practical point |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check whether you need a visa or an ETA | Check on GOV.UK first, based on your nationality and purpose of visit |
| 2 | Choose your application route | ETA / Standard Visitor / a visa for work, study, family or another purpose |
| 3 | Complete the application | Enter personal, travel, financial and immigration details online |
| 4 | Pay the fee | Payment is made during the online application |
| 5 | Confirm your identity | Visa applications usually require biometrics such as fingerprints and a photograph |
| 6 | Submit documents | Provide your passport and evidence appropriate to your purpose of visit |
| 7 | Decision and outcome | Check the outcome by email or in your account; if granted, check your eVisa and related details |
The key to a UK visa application is that these steps are not separate tasks. The personal details, travel plans, finances, family information, employment and immigration history you enter on the form must connect with your passport and supporting documents as one consistent account of your circumstances.
Should Korean travellers apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation or a Standard Visitor visa?
As of September 2026, the Republic of Korea is on the list of nationalities eligible for the UK ETA. Korean passport holders travelling for ordinary tourism, to visit family and friends, or for permitted short business trips therefore normally look at the ETA route first, rather than obtaining a Standard Visitor visa in advance.
| Category | ETA | Standard Visitor visa |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Ordinary short visits by nationals of ETA-eligible countries such as the Republic of Korea | Nationals who need a visa, or situations where a visa is required instead of an ETA |
| Fee | £20 | £135 for a 6-month visitor visa |
| Length of stay | Usually up to 6 months | Usually up to 6 months |
| Biometric information | Mainly a photograph and passport check via the app or online | Fingerprints and a photograph, normally at a visa application centre |
| Decision | Usually within a day, and can take up to 3 working days | Processing times vary by visa type and where you apply |
| Guarantee of entry | No | Even a granted visa never absolutely guarantees entry at the border |
Even as a Korean passport holder, if you are travelling for work, long-term study, family migration or a similar purpose, you must apply for the UK visa for that purpose rather than an ETA.
How to apply for a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation
You apply for an ETA through the UK ETA app or the online service on GOV.UK. Every traveller needs their own ETA, and babies and children must apply separately.
- Have ready the passport you will actually travel on.
- Have ready an email address and a means of payment (credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay).
- If you use the UK ETA app, scan your passport and your face with your phone camera.
- If you apply online, upload a photo of your passport and a photo of your face.
- Pay the £20 application fee. It is not refunded once you have applied.
- Travel once you receive your approval email. The ETA is linked electronically to the passport used to apply.
An ETA is generally valid for 2 years, or until the expiry date of the passport used to apply, whichever comes first. You can travel to the UK multiple times while it is valid, but each visit must meet the Visitor rules.
Read more about UK travel visas and the Electronic Travel Authorisation
How to apply for a Standard Visitor visa
Applicants who need a Standard Visitor visa complete the online application, pay the fee, and then follow the instructions to provide biometric information at a visa application centre and submit the required supporting documents. You can normally apply for a visitor visa from up to 3 months before your planned travel date.
- Check on GOV.UK which visa type matches your nationality and purpose of visit.
- Start the online Standard Visitor application and create an account or sign in.
- Answer the questions on personal details, passport, travel, finances, family, employment and immigration history.
- Review your answers, agree to the declaration and submit the application.
- Pay the application fee online.
- Follow the instructions to book an appointment at a visa application centre and provide biometrics such as fingerprints and a facial photograph.
- Submit or upload your passport and supporting documents.
- Wait for UKVI to consider your application and check the decision by email or in your account.
- If granted, confirm your permission to travel through your eVisa or the method you are told to use, then travel.
What do you enter on the Standard Visitor online application?
The Standard Visitor online application is not a fixed paper form. It is a dynamic form in which further questions appear depending on your answers, so the number of questions and the order in which they appear can differ from one applicant to another.
| Section of the form | Main entries | Points to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Travel plans | Planned date of arrival in the UK, planned date of departure, length of visit | Must not contradict your flights, accommodation or leave from work |
| Accommodation | Where you will stay in the UK and the address | Enter what matches your actual plan, whether a hotel or a relative's home |
| Cost of the trip | How much you expect to spend on this trip | Check that flights, accommodation and living costs are reasonable against your income |
| Current address | Your current home address and how long you have lived there | Keep it consistent with your passport, employment and bank records |
| Parents' details | Your parents' names and dates of birth, if you know them | Make sure these do not conflict with your family documents |
| Annual income | Your annual income, if you have any | Must match your payslips, employment letter and tax records |
| Breaches of the law | Criminal, civil and immigration-related breaches | Do not hide anything from the past; state it accurately |
| Travel history | Depending on your circumstances, your travel over the past 10 years | Cross-check against passport stamps and previous visas |
| Employer | Company address, telephone number and similar details | Use the same official details as on your employment letter |
| Spouse/partner | Name, date of birth, passport number and similar details | Enter accurately where this applies to you |
| Who is paying for the trip | Name and address of anyone paying costs on your behalf | Link this to the sponsor's financial evidence and proof of your relationship |
| Family in the UK | Names, addresses, passport numbers and similar details of family in the UK | Must match any invitation letter and their immigration status documents |
| TB | Tuberculosis test certificate where it applies, such as visits of more than 6 months | Usually not applicable to ordinary tourism of 6 months or less |
Travel dates, accommodation, trip costs, annual income, sponsor details and your past travel and immigration history in particular should be checked against your other supporting documents, figure by figure and date by date, before you submit.
A practical checklist before you start the online application
Gathering the following information in one place before you begin helps you avoid omissions and inconsistencies while filling in the form.
| Area | Information to prepare | Checkpoint |
|---|---|---|
| A. Applicant's basic details | Name in English / any other names used / date of birth / sex / place of birth / nationality | Must match the English spelling in your passport |
| B. Passport | Passport number / country of issue / date of issue / expiry date | Use the passport you will actually travel on |
| C. Contact details | Email / phone number / current address / length of residence | Details on which UKVI can actually reach you |
| D. Purpose of travel | Tourism / visiting family / business trip / short course of study, etc. | Explain one clear main purpose |
| E. Itinerary | Arrival date / departure date / expected length of stay / cities you will visit | Must match your accommodation, leave and any event dates |
| F. Accommodation | Hotel or host's address / length of stay | Consistency with your actual plan matters more than whether it is booked |
| G. Trip costs | Total expected cost / the share you pay / the share paid by others | Compare against your income and savings so it is not excessive |
| H. Employment and income | Employment status / employer / role / income / company contact details | Watch for figures on the form that differ from your documents |
| I. Other funds | Savings, other income and the source of the funds | Be ready to explain any sudden large deposit |
| J. Family | Parents / spouse or partner / children / family in the UK | Check relationships and addresses carefully |
| K. Sponsor | Who is paying / what they are covering / your relationship / their address | Prepare evidence of the sponsor's funds and of your relationship |
| L. Previous UK visits | Past visits to the UK and any visas granted or refused | Cross-check the past 10 years against your passports |
| M. Travel to other countries | Depending on your circumstances, travel to other countries over the past 10 years | Remember to check previous passports too |
| N. Immigration breaches | Overstaying / refusal of entry / removal / staying without permission, etc. | Do not conceal anything; give accurate dates and circumstances |
| O. Legal and criminal matters | Questions about criminal, civil and other breaches | Confirm the facts, then answer accurately |
| P. Additional information | Circumstances the form alone does not explain well | Where needed, explain them concisely and objectively |
| Q. Declaration | Confirmation that the information provided is true | Do a final check of every section before submitting |
Supporting documents to prepare for a UK visa application
Not every applicant is asked for the same bundle of documents. You provide evidence that explains your personal circumstances and the purpose of your visit, and what matters is not the volume of paperwork but that your answers on the form and your evidence agree with each other.
| Purpose | Typical evidence | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | A valid passport or travel document | Essential and central |
| Employees | Employment letter, with your role, salary and length of service | Explains your economic ties at home and your income |
| Business owners | Business registration, recent transactions, invoices and similar | Explains ongoing business activity |
| Students | Proof of enrolment and details of any leave of absence or vacation period | Explains that you can continue your studies after returning |
| Finances | Bank statements, savings records, income records | Confirms that you hold the travel funds and where they came from |
| Sponsor | What they are covering, proof of relationship, the sponsor's financial capacity, their UK immigration status where relevant | Explains how a third party is meeting the costs |
| Business trips | Letter from the inviting organisation or company, meeting and event details | Evidences permitted business activity |
| Previous travel | Previous passports, entry and exit records | Helps confirm your travel and immigration history |
Choose the evidence that fits your actual circumstances. Rather than adding a large volume of unnecessary material, give priority to documents that clearly prove the key facts stated on your form.
Do Korean-language documents need to be translated?
For supporting documents that are not in English or Welsh, you generally need to check the requirements for a certified translation. If you are submitting a Korean employment letter, family relation certificate, business records or similar, it is safest to check the translation requirements that apply at the time you actually apply and prepare accordingly.
The financial entries applicants get wrong most often
- The annual income entered on the form differs from the figures on the employment letter or payslips.
- The expected cost of the trip is far too large in relation to the applicant's monthly income and savings.
- A large sum was paid into the account shortly before the trip with no explanation of where it came from.
- The applicant says a parent, spouse or company sponsor is paying, but enters on the form that they are paying themselves.
- Accommodation is being paid by a sponsor, but it is double-counted or left out of the total trip cost.
There is no fixed minimum balance requirement for the Standard Visitor route. What matters is not only "how much you have" but whether those funds make logical sense alongside your income, spending and travel plans.
How to complete the 10-year travel history and previous UK records
Depending on your circumstances, you may be asked for your travel history over the past 10 years. Before you start, check your previous passports as well as your current one, along with old visas and flight or border records, and set out the dates and countries as accurately as you can.
- Start by listing how many times you have visited the UK and the date of your most recent visit.
- If you have previously applied for a UK visa, or been granted or refused one, answer consistently about it.
- Enter travel to other countries as far as the form asks for it.
- Even where you cannot remember exact dates, never invent facts.
- Do not leave out previous refusals of entry, overstaying or breaches of immigration law.
Providing biometrics and checking the outcome after you apply
Biometrics and the visa application centre
For Standard Visitor and other ordinary visa applications, the process usually includes attending a visa application centre as instructed to provide your fingerprints and a facial photograph. After completing the online application, follow the centre and appointment instructions given to you.
Consideration begins once your application has been submitted, your biometrics provided and your supporting documents sent, and depending on your case you may be asked to provide further information.
The decision and your eVisa
You are normally notified of the outcome by email or through the account you were told to use. If your application is granted, under the UK's digital immigration system you may confirm your status through an eVisa, and a UKVI account may be required. If it is refused, you will be told the reasons and what steps may be available next.
Find out how to check a UK visa or ETA
What if you need to change or cancel an application after submitting it?
If you need to change anything after submitting the online application, you must contact UKVI as instructed. You can also withdraw an application, but whether the fee is refunded may differ once consideration has already begun, so check the current guidance for your situation.
10 principles for reducing the risk of refusal when completing a UK visa application
- Enter the English name, date of birth and passport number exactly as they appear in your passport.
- Make your arrival date, departure date, accommodation and period of leave agree with each other.
- Cross-check the figures for annual income, monthly income, trip costs and the sponsor's share.
- If there is a large sum in your account, be ready to explain where it came from.
- Make sure details about family, your spouse and relatives in the UK do not conflict with your other documents.
- Prepare your 10-year travel history and any previous UK visa records in advance.
- Answer questions about criminal, civil and immigration breaches truthfully.
- Do not put anything on a tourism application that is inaccurate or could be read as intending to work or settle.
- Check the translation requirements for material that is not in English or Welsh.
- Immediately before submitting, check the whole application again against your passport, bank records, employment documents and any invitation letter.
What to do if a UK visa or ETA is refused
Extra points to check in particular situations
| Situation | Additional points to check |
|---|---|
| Children under 18 | Parent or guardian consent, details of the accompanying adult, UK accommodation and care arrangements |
| Visiting family and friends | Name, address, relationship and passport or immigration status details of family or friends in the UK |
| Business trips | Whether the work you will actually do in the UK is a permitted Visitor activity |
| Costs paid by a third party | Who is paying what and how much, and their financial capacity |
| Special visits of more than 6 months | Whether extra requirements such as a TB test apply |
| Previous refusals or breaches | Explain the earlier decision and the facts so that they match your current application |
Final checklists before you apply
Checklist before applying for an Electronic Travel Authorisation
- The passport you will actually travel on
- A valid email address
- A credit or debit card, or Apple Pay/Google Pay
- Ready to photograph or upload your passport
- A photo of the applicant's face
- The £20 fee
- Confirmation that you have received the approval email
- A check on whether a new ETA is needed if your passport changes
Final checklist before a Standard Visitor application
- I have checked on GOV.UK whether I need a visa.
- I have chosen a time to apply within 3 months of my planned travel date.
- I have cross-checked my passport details against the basic details on the form.
- I have settled my arrival date, departure date, accommodation and purpose of visit.
- I have calculated the total trip cost and the shares paid by me and by any sponsor.
- I have cross-checked the figures in my annual income, employment details and bank records.
- I have checked the details of my parents, spouse and family in the UK.
- I have set out my travel history for the past 10 years.
- I have checked whether I have any previous UK visas, refusals or immigration breaches.
- I have checked what I need in order to answer the criminal and civil questions.
- I have checked whether my Korean-language evidence needs to be translated.
- I saved a copy before submitting online and made a final review of all my answers.
A worksheet to fill in before applying online
The table below is not a substitute for the official GOV.UK application. It is an internal worksheet for gathering the information you need before you start entering it online.
| Item | Your notes |
|---|---|
| Name (as in passport, in English) | ________________________ |
| Date of birth / place of birth | ________________________ |
| Nationality | ________________________ |
| Passport number / expiry date | ________________________ |
| Current address / length of residence | ________________________ |
| Phone / email | ________________________ |
| Planned date of arrival in the UK | ________________________ |
| Planned date of departure from the UK | ________________________ |
| Main purpose of visit | ________________________ |
| Address of UK accommodation | ________________________ |
| Total expected trip cost | £ ______________________ |
| Amount you are paying | £ ______________________ |
| Sponsor's share / relationship | ________________________ |
| Employer / business / school | ________________________ |
| Annual income | ________________________ |
| Parents' names / dates of birth | ________________________ |
| Spouse/partner details | ________________________ |
| Family in the UK | ________________________ |
| Previous visits to the UK | ________________________ |
| Travel abroad in the past 10 years | ________________________ |
| Previous visa refusals / immigration breaches | ________________________ |
| Criminal and civil matters | ________________________ |
| Anything needing further explanation | ________________________ |
Points you must be aware of
- An ETA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry to the UK.
- A Korean traveller applying for an ETA for ordinary tourism and a visa application for work, study or family purposes are entirely different processes.
- The questions on the Standard Visitor online application can change according to your answers, so do not think of it as a fixed paper form.
- Inconsistencies between the application and the supporting documents in dates, amounts, addresses or family relationships can count against you.
- False documents or concealment of facts can have far more serious consequences than a simple mistake.
- Fees, application procedures, the list of ETA-eligible countries and the eVisa arrangements can change, so check the latest GOV.UK guidance again on the day you actually apply.
UK visa applications: the key conclusion
Applying for a UK visa is not simply about filling in an online form. The point is to make every fact you enter connect into one consistent story alongside your passport, travel plans, employment, income, bank records, family relationships and past travel history.
For a Standard Visitor application in particular, the genuineness of your purpose of travel, your intention to return home, and sufficient, explainable travel funds all matter. If you hold a Korean passport and are travelling for ordinary tourism, to visit family and friends, or for certain short business trips, the usual approach as of September 2026 is to look at the ETA route first; for other purposes such as work, study or family, check the visa process for that purpose.
Related UK visa information
- UK visa types and eligibility
- UK travel visa and ETA guide
- How to check a UK visa or ETA
- UK visa and ETA FAQ
- What to do if a UK visa or ETA is refused
- Contact us about a UK visa or ETA
Fees, application routes, the list of ETA-eligible countries, required documents and the eVisa arrangements can change, so please check the latest GOV.UK guidance before you apply.