Quick facts
Visa needed?
Yes
Standard Visitor Visa
Visa fee
£135
Rose from £127 in Apr 2026
Processing time
~3 weeks
Priority (~5 days) adds ~£500
Max stay
6 months
Per visit
Long-term options
2, 5, 10 yrs
£475 / £903 / £1,128
TB test
Not required
Only needed for stays of 6+ months
Your application checklist
Core documents
✓
Passport valid 6+ months with 2+ blank pages
Must be in good condition — no damage that could void it. Include old passports if you have prior travel history.
✓
First-time applicant? Apply for the 6-month visa, not a long-term one
Long-term visitor visas (2/5/10 year) are genuinely easier to obtain once you have UK travel history. Applying for a long-term visa as a first-time visitor raises unnecessary scrutiny.
✓
6 months of bank statements — steady, not spiked
A consistent balance matters more than a large one. A sudden deposit right before applying is one of the single biggest refusal triggers for Bangladeshi applicants — build your balance gradually over months, not days.
✓
Employment letter or business evidence
Employed: letter confirming role, salary, and approved leave dates. Self-employed: trade licence and financial records. This is your strongest evidence you'll return to Bangladesh.
✓
Accommodation proof & travel itinerary
Hotel booking, or an invitation letter if staying with family/friends (include their UK immigration status). Keep the itinerary realistic and specific.
✓
Onward or return flight booking
Proof you intend to leave the UK after your visit — strengthens your genuine visitor case significantly.
Before you fly
✓
Travel insurance
NHS treatment isn't free for visitors. Insurance also strengthens your visa application by showing responsible planning.
✓
Carry supporting documents in hand luggage
Border Force can ask for accommodation details, return ticket, and funds evidence — keep them accessible, not checked in.
✓
Money that works in pounds
Taka exchange rates fluctuate — a multi-currency card avoids repeated conversion losses during your trip.
On arrival
✓
Answers must match your application exactly
Purpose, duration, accommodation — any contradiction with your visa application can mean refused entry even with a valid visa.
✓
Never overstay
Overstaying damages every future UK application and can trigger re-entry bans. Leave before your visa expires, no exceptions.
How to apply — step by step
01
Apply online at GOV.UK
Complete the application at gov.uk — travel plans, finances, employment, background. Pay the £135 fee online in USD via the VFS Global portal. Apply up to 3 months before travel.
02
Book your VFS Global biometrics appointment
Centres in Dhaka, Sylhet, and Chattogram. Bring every supporting document, organised and consistent. VFS service charges apply separately from the visa fee.
03
Wait for your decision (~3 weeks)
Priority service (~5 working days) available for roughly £500 extra. Your decision arrives as an eVisa linked digitally to your passport — the UK fully moved to eVisas in February 2026, no more paper vignettes.
Why Bangladeshi applications get refused
Sudden large deposits. A lump sum appearing in your account days before applying reads as borrowed "show money." Caseworkers check statement patterns over months, not just the final balance.
Weak ties to Bangladesh. With over 200,000 Bangladeshis already living in the UK, family-visit applications face particular scrutiny on whether the visitor genuinely intends to return home.
Inconsistent documentation. Your form says "tourism," your invitation letter suggests something else — contradictions between documents are consistently cited as a leading refusal reason.
Applying for a long-term visa too early. Long-term visitor visas (2/5/10 year) are genuinely easier to obtain with prior UK travel history — first-time applicants should start with the 6-month visa.
Reapplying without addressing the refusal. A refusal letter explains the specific reasons — your next application needs to directly counter them, not simply repeat the same evidence.
Smart traveller essentials
Travel insurance that strengthens your application
NHS treatment isn't free for visitors, and showing insurance in your application demonstrates responsible planning to caseworkers.
Compare travel insurance →
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Spend in pounds without repeated conversion loss
A multi-currency card converts BDT to GBP at the real rate — Bangladeshi bank cards typically add significant mark-up on every UK transaction.
Get a Wise card →
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UK data from the moment you land
Skip airport SIM queues — an eSIM installed in Bangladesh activates automatically when you arrive in the UK.
Browse UK eSIMs →
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Official sources
This checklist is compiled from
- → GOV.UK — Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor
- → GOV.UK — Apply for a Standard Visitor visa
- → VFS Global — UK visa application centres in Bangladesh
- → GOV.UK — TB testing for a UK visa
✓ Last verified: July 2026 · The visitor visa fee rose in April 2026 — always confirm the current fee on GOV.UK