UK Visa from Philippines
There is a strong Filipino community in the UK, around 200,000 strong. To join this diaspora, you will usually need a visa. This includes work, visiting family, or taking a holiday.
If you are a Filipino who wants help getting a UK visa, please get in touch with Total Law at +44 (0)333 305 9375 or visit us online to find out more about our services.
Do Filipinos Need a UK Visa?
Filipino citizens will almost always require a visa to enter the UK for any purpose. This includes landside transit, whereby you have to go through the UK border while in transit to another country.
Therefore, please make sure you have a visa before you come to the UK, as you are at risk of detention or deportation if you don’t have one.
When is a UK Visa not Required?
Travelling from the Philippines does not guarantee that you will need a visa to come to the UK. The following circumstances will mean that you don’t need a visa:
- You hold a diplomatic passport
- You hold a service passport and are transiting in the UK
- You have a passport containing a personal ID number on the biodata page
- You are a Filipino resident but are a citizen of a UK visa-free country and are visiting for less than six months. This includes European Union member states
- You hold a visa for entry to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the USA and are going through the UK for transit. These must be physical documents and not e-visas or e-permits
There are also some specific visas and residence permits for the EEA and Ireland that allow Filipinos without a UK visa to transit through the UK.
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Types of UK Visa
Please note that the list below features the most common types of UK visas. Please consult the British government website for advice on less common visa types.
Visit Visa
The UK standard Visitor visa is the visa category for tourism to the UK. It allows you to come to the country for up to six months and is a great way to visit family in the UK.
The primary restriction on this visa is that you will not be allowed to work while in the UK. Therefore, you will need enough money to support yourself while you are in the UK already in your account. You can show this through your bank statements.
Family Visa
Family visa allows you to join family members already in the UK. These must be close relatives such as your spouse, children, or parents. The requirements of this visa generally depend on the relationship you have with the family member in the UK.
However, you will usually have to provide proof of the relationship, such as a birth or marriage certificate. It is also common for family members in the UK to need to prove they can provide financial support for the Filipinos coming to the UK.
Work Visa
A Work visa allows you to come to the UK for employment in the country. There are many categories of work visas, including those for skilled, seasonal, and intra-company workers.
The duration of your visa will depend on the circumstances of your employment.
Most work visas will require you to have a job offer in the UK, and you often need a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer.
Business Visa
As one of the world’s biggest economies, it is common for Filipinos to stay in the UK to conduct business-related activities such as attending meetings and trade conferences. A Business visa is required to allow you to stay in the UK for the duration of your business activities.
The Business visa gives you the chance to come to the UK for specific business-related activities. You must provide evidence, such as an invitation to a conference, to come to the UK.
Study Visa
The UK welcomes around 700,000 international students to the UK each year to study in their world-leading universities. Like with work visas, the Study visa requirements include needing an offer to study. You will also need to show you have the funds to support yourself and have proficiency in the English language.
Requirements for UK Visa from Philippines
Before you spend time on a lengthy UK visa application, it is worth checking that you fit the requirements for the visa. The section below details the general eligibility and documentation requirements. Please note that most UK visas will also have further specific requirements. Visit the UK government website to discover these requirements.
Eligibility
Despite the variety of eligibility requirements across the different visa types, the requirements that are usually the same include the following:
- Accommodation in the UK
- The means to support yourself
- The intention is to return after your visa has expired
- English language proficiency. The level of this proficiency will change based on the visa type you are applying for
- You are in good health and don’t carry contagious diseases
- You do not pose a risk to people in the UK. For example, you do not have a history of organised crime or terrorism
You will also often be required to provide information about yourself. This may include your travel history in the UK and the EU.
Required Documents
Although each visa type will have different required documents, there are a number of consistent documents that are almost always needed. These include the following:
- A valid passport
- A completed application form
- Passport-style photographs
- A clean criminal record
- Receipt of payment for the visa fee
- Travel details evidenced with travel tickets
- Bank statements
- A letter of invitation if relevant
Your biometric data, such as your fingerprints, will also likely be collected when you attend an interview at a visa application centre or an embassy.
Fees and Processing Times for UK Visas
The visa fee and processing times for your UK visa application will depend greatly on the type of visa you are applying for. The sections below break down the expected fees and processing times for the main types of visas.
Application Processing Times
The expected application process times are listed below:
- Three weeks – work, visit, business, and study visa application
- 24 weeks – family visa application
Please note that these are the standard processing times for UK visas, and there is some variation depending on the backlog experienced by the application centre.
Furthermore, you can expect the processing time to increase if there are issues with your application, and visa officials will need to take time to solve any discrepancies.
UK Visa Fee
Each visa type has a different visa fee. Therefore, you will need to consult the UK government website to find out what fee will apply to your case. Alternatively, you can contact Total Law at +44 (0)333 305 9375 or visit us online to get the latest guidance.
Please note that the application process does not have a refundable visa fee. You should work hard to make sure your visa application is completed properly. If you have to apply again, you will need to pay the visa application fee once again, which could get expensive if you have to apply multiple times.
Tracking a UK Visa Application
You will be able to track your UK visa application, although the process is different depending on if you have applied inside or outside of the UK. There is no online system for checking on the progress of your application.
For a visa application made inside the UK, you will need to contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), which handles visa application processing. Call the UKVI at 033 790 6268 between 9 am and 4:45 pm Monday to Thursday or Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Calls are charged.
You will also need to contact the UKVI if you applied at a visa application centre in the Philippines. You can either contact the UKVI via email or you can phone an international English-speaking helpline open 24 hours a day at +44 (0) 300 790 6268.
Regardless of the circumstances of your visa application, you must provide the following information to be updated on the progress of your visa application:
- Your ‘CaseID’
- Your payment reference number
- A unique application number
Applications made from inside the UK can also provide their biometric residence permit number and their immigration health surcharge number.
How Can Total Law Help?
The British immigration authorities offer a vast range of visas for travellers from the Philippines. This varies from a tourist visa for temporary travel to a family visa, which is the first step to joining your family in the UK.
However, applying for a UK visa can be challenging, and the Home Office has strict requirements for each visa that you will need to fulfil to have your application approved.
This includes multiple required documents, personal information, and eligibility requirements. It is advisable to get help from an immigration law firm that can help you complete your application, prepare for interviews, and appeal if necessary.
Total Law has helped hundreds of UK visa applicants from all over the world, including Filipinos. If you want to get assistance from Total Law, please contact us at +44 (0)333 305 9375 or visit us online.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
The UK visa application process is entirely online for people travelling from the Philippines. Simply find your desired visa type on the UK government website.
Then, download, complete, and sign the online application form. Having submitted the form and supporting documents and paid the fee, your visa application is complete, and you must wait for the result of your application.
For some visas, you will also need to attend an interview where you will be asked questions about your application. This stage of the application process will be conducted at a UK embassy or visa application centre.
The helpline and email address used by UKVI for checking your application status has a limited purpose. You can only use it to check your application status. Any requests for advice related to your circumstances and application will be refused by the UKVI, and you may still be charged.
The wait time for a UK visa can often be unclear and protracted. This can be frustrating, especially if you need to come to the UK quickly, such as for a start date at a job.
However, you can often pay for visa ‘priority services’. This will speed up the application process to just five working days, or 30 if you are applying for a Family visa from the Philippines.
The types of priority visa services are:
- Priority visa service £500
- Super priority visa services £1000
When you apply for a UK visa, you will need to prove that you have enough money to support yourself without state support while in the UK by providing bank statements over the last six months.
There is generally no specific amount needed in your bank account, and it will depend on your personal circumstances and the type of visa you are applying for.
Furthermore, if any dependents are joining you in travelling to the UK, you will need to have enough money to support them as well.
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