From Paris to London. Understanding the True Cost of a UK Visa
If you’re a French national dreaming of a trip to London, you may be wondering if you need a visa, and how much that visa might cost. UK visa fees differ greatly depending on the visa category, the length of stay, and the purpose of the visit.
However, it’s not just the visa fee itself that you will need to consider. Many UK visa applications require you to have a certain amount of money in your bank account, and some require you to pay further costs, such as the Immigration Health Surcharge.
To work out the true cost of a UK visa, you should take into account the visa fee itself, any financial requirements you must meet to be eligible for that visa, and any other associated costs.
Do I Need a Visa to Enter the UK from France?
The short answer is no; if you are a French citizen, you do not necessarily need a visa to enter the UK. France is a part of the European Union, and EU citizens can visit the UK for up to 6 months without a UK visa, provided they obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead.
However, whether or not you need a visa will depend on your reasons for travel. If you want to visit the UK for tourism purposes or to see friends and family, you can do this with an ETA. But an ETA restricts certain activities, such as employment, and therefore, there are circumstances in which a full UK visa is required.
If you want to visit the UK for longer than 6 months, you will most likely need to apply for a UK visa. You can double-check if you need one on the UK government’s official website.
What is an ETA, and How Much Does it Cost?
An ETA is a digital record that contains your personal information and biometric data (photographs and fingerprints). When you apply, you must be able to prove your identity and reasons for travel.
As a French national, an ETA permits you to travel to the UK for up to 6 months, provided you meet the eligibility requirements.
Though an ETA permits you to travel to the UK for up to 6 months, it is usually valid for 2 years. This allows holders to visit the UK multiple times within the 2 years, so long as each visit is not consecutive and does not exceed 6 months.
It costs just £16 to apply for an ETA online or through the UK ETA app. It is worth noting that the fee is non-refundable should you be refused or withdraw your application.
To meet the eligibility requirements, you must also be able to prove you have the financial means to support yourself throughout the duration of your stay; this is in addition to the ETA application fee. You must be able to show that you can pay for things whilst in the UK, like food, accommodation, and your return journey.
An ETA is the cheapest and easiest way to visit the UK temporarily, so long as you meet the financial requirements and have the means to support yourself.
I Need a UK Visa. What are My Options and How Much Will it Cost?
If you need a full visa to enter the UK, there are various types available, and the one you will need to apply for will depend on your circumstances and your reasons for travel.
For example, if you want to visit the UK for employment purposes, you should apply for a Work visa. Or, if you want to study in the UK for over 6 months, you should apply for a Study visa and so on. Once you have found which visa you need to apply for, you can then consider the cost.
UK visa fees differ greatly depending on factors such as the visa type, your job role, the length of stay, and sometimes, whether or not you are applying from inside or outside the UK. For example, the standard Skilled Worker visa fee is between £769 to £1751, whilst a Health and Care Worker visa costs between £304 and £590.
You can find out your visa fee here.
To find out the complete cost of your UK visa, you should consider its eligibility requirements. Most UK visa applications require you to prove you have the financial means to support yourself for at least the first month. For example, the Skilled Worker visa requires you to have at least £1270 in your bank account when you apply.
In addition, you may have to pay extra costs associated with your UK visa application. For example, many travellers to the UK are expected to pay the mandatory Immigration Health Surcharge to cover the costs of using the UK’s NHS.
Also, if you need to use any Visa Application Centre services, such as document scanning or translation, you will need to cover the costs of these yourself.
It is also possible to pay extra for priority services, which means your visa application can be dealt with by the UK Home Office faster than the normal processing time frame.
Paris to London
As we’ve already established, visiting London from Paris for tourism purposes is usually quite straightforward if you’re eligible for an ETA. The legal costs are usually much less than those of a UK visa.
However, to conclude, if you do need a full visa to enter the UK and want to discover the true cost, you will need to account for the visa fee, its eligibility requirements, and any surplus costs that you are responsible for.
Header Photo Credit: Gustavo Fring https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-stylish-woman-with-baggage-and-documents-walking-on-street-3885522/
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