UK Visa for Philippine Passport Holders
It was a week ago that I revealed my RTW plans and the beginning of my quest for visas. Every Filipino who have experienced applying visas to Japan, US and Europe (Schengen, UK) can relate to this agony. I went through both before but it doesn’t get easier. Since I’m going through the whole process again, I thought I’d make an outline to give future Filipino applicants a starting point. Digging through pages and pages of requirements can truly cause nausea, no kidding. So here you go, a blow by blow account on how to apply for UK Visa for Philippine Passport Holders.
UK VISA
The United Kingdom (UK) is composed of the following 4 countries: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. As a Filipino passport holder, let it be a default to assume we needed visa to travel anywhere outside Southeast Asia. UK is no exception. There are several visa types but I’ll be focusing on Tourist Visa. UK visa is applied through official partner VFS Global.
My focus will only be the application of UK Visa For Philippine Passport holders applying for TOURIST VISA. If you’re studying, working, marrying, or visiting family, I’m sure there’s a whole other bunch of stuff you need to prepare. I can’t help you with it, sorry.
Restrictions in visiting UK as a tourist:
- Visit to UK cannot be for more than six (6) months;
- Leave the UK at the end of your visit;
- Have enough money to support yourself during your stay in the UK without working or needing help from public funds.
- Will not take paid or unpaid employment.
- Will not marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership.
- Will not get private medical treatment.
When to Apply for UK Visa?
As with most countries, UK visa can be applied maximum of 3 months before intended entry.
Where to Apply for UK Visa?
There are 2 parts in UK Visa Application: (1) Online Application (2) Appointment to submit biometric and supporting documents.
You’ll need to have in hand your passport, UK address (hotel booking or friend’s address), email address and begin your online visa application. You’ll need to go through the following:
- register for an account
- fill in the application form in English
- pay for the visa fee online (in most cases)
- print out your form
- book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre
You also need to:
- have all the supporting documents you need for your visa
- translate any supporting documents and include them with the originals if they aren’t in English
What to bring to the Appointment?
- A printed and signed copy of your online visa application form
- Your current valid passport Note: The UK Border Agency will retain your passport until they have reached a decision on your visa application. Bear in mind if you have travel plans before going to UK.
- Previous passports
- Original supporting documents, with photocopies and translations
- Printed copy of the supporting document checklist
- Payment or proof of payment of visa application fee.
- 1 recent photograph (not more than 6 months old) according to below specification.
Photograph Strict Specification
- Taken against a light grey or cream background;
- Clear and of good quality;
- Printed on normal photographic paper;
- 45 mm high x 35 mm wide in size
- Taken with nothing covering the face, without sunglasses or tinted spectacles, or a head covering unless worn for religious or medical reasons. The subject should have their mouth closed (no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows) and the applicant should be facing forwarding, looking straight ahead.
What are supporting documents?
Simply put, these are documents that show evidence that you have ties in the Philippines and that you are coming back–job, family ties, properties, etc.
Also documents that shows you are capable of supporting yourself while in UK without the need to find employment–Bank statements, certificates, employment payslip, credit cards, etc.
You also need to submit details of accommodation plans and trip itinerary. However, please don’t pay for your accommodation until visa is issued.
All these should be submitted during the appointment. No further documents will be accepted after. Now, while the absence of these documents may result in unsuccessful visa application, submission does not guarantee visa issuance. More info on UK Visa Supporting Document
If you’re not paying for your own way, or have friend(s) in UK who will support you, you should present them with the following documents:
- Valid Citizen/Residence ID or Passport
- Bank Statement
- Address and contact details
- Invitation letter stating their support
How much is UK Visa for Philippine Passport Holders? Where to pay for UK Visa? (Updated 2-Sept-2014)
Tourist Visa {short term up to 6 months} costs £83 to apply.
Since December 17, 2012, visa fee can only be made online. It will form as part of the online application process. When all items are filled up, you will be directed to the website of WorldPay where you have the choice to pay with Visa or Mastercard. They no longer accept payment in person like I did before.
Waiting for Result
If there are no further delays (lacking or unverifiable document), you should have result in approximately 4-5 working days. Track your application through the free Application Status Tool. You can collect documents personally or have the option to have it delivered to your home by paying Php 450. You also get an SMS saying it’s on its way.
Update: So lesson learned, if you are planning to visit in summer, you have to apply earlier. March and April is really hectic. I received mine in 15 days. This is also because of the Royal Wedding coming up on April 29, 2011.
UK Visa Application Centre
VFS Global Services Philippines Private Inc., MANILA
Mezzanine Floor Unit M01, Ecoplaza Building,
2305 Pasong Tamo Extension Makati City, Metro Manila 1231
VFS Global Services Philippines Private Inc., CEBU
9th Floor, Keppel Center, Unit 905, Samar Loop
cor. Cardinal Rosales Avenue,
Cebu Business Park, Cebu City 6000
Note – Applicants who wish to lodge their UK visa application at the visa application centre in Cebu will be required to pay an additional service fee of Php 4, 425 in cash at the visa application centre.
UK Visa for Filipino Passport Holders kicks off the Visa for Pinoy Series I’m starting in this blog. Here’s hoping it will be a good starting point in your application. I had to go through labyrinth of information to get here. I don’t have my visa yet but I’ll update often! Now, moving on to a totally unrelated topic, this is my 100th post! :)
NOTES & UPDATE: I just came back from a very easy application submission. My schedule was for 9:40am and I was there 9:30am as the website suggested. You have to reschedule if you’re more than 20 minutes late. Total wait time is about 2 hours but once my number is called, it took less than 5 minutes for them to check my documents and then another 5 minutes for them to take my biometric data.
Like I said I was there for 2 hours with about 80 people ahead of me. I saw a lot of people being sent back and forth to rearrange their document, or having to fill up more forms, or worse, being asked to come back. Here are few notes to guarantee you out in a jiffy!
- No need to submit photocopy your application form and passports. They’ll ask you to take it out. Save trees too!
- Paste the photo on to the application form. Not stapled, not taped, but pasted.
- Print copy of the supporting document checklist and check (tick) those supporting document that you’re submitting. Some people didn’t, so they have to fill this up when there.
- Arrange document in the order presented on the checklist.
- Bring original supporting documents and have a photocopy of them. I don’t know how many people had to go out and have their document photocopied. Note that you will leave with them ALL your original document (land title, lease document, business registration, bank statements, financial statement, etc.) to be returned with your visa.
- You can only go in with your documents placed in an envelope. Bags and phones will have to be left at their package counter (at the guard). So much more consideration than the US Embassy.
Related Visa Posts
How to Apply Australian Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Japan Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Chinese Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Tongan Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Korean Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply South African Visa in the Philippines
How to Apply Schengen Visa in the Philippines
i would like to know if a married passport owner living in the Philippines can visit or possibly marry to a UK boy friend..thanks a lot..
anything is possible in the world. u just have to find the way.
i have question regarding what to do, my friend is a Filipino living Austria.
She is married in austria and want to come to UK as general visitor for 2 weeks in december over xmas, and can support her stay and all expenses with 1600 euro.
I am unemployed full time student renting property (we have spare rooms), I can provide free accomodation for her stay and she will have sufficient funds to support herself for the duration, to cover living costs, site seeing and so on. how would we approach supporting documents to proceed in this way? what would I need to provide as supporting documents as she will be supporting herself financialy?
I cannot provide bank statements as i am a student constantly in my overdraft…
Only employment in past 1 year and 3 months was part time for 2 m
Scott R: or is it an easier option for my friend to book accomdation at a hotel for her stay?
Please help,
Thank you in advance
If she is able to produce document that she can support her stay, it is better to not get you involve in her application. She can make hotel reservation and cancel it 24 hours before if she isn’t going to use it.
Hi Wanderlass thank you for your reply..Its really help me alot… As what u have said avoid my bf any hassle of papers and not involve into it, Sure i do produce my own papers and all travelling hotel ect. I want to travel here over christmas and my question is if they will assume me travelling alone in the uk over the christmas and new year. And also being alone in uk as tourist over Christmas period when u married is not question for them? Thank you. Best Regards Ms.mk
Helo Ms. Wanderlass. I just wanna ask kung pde po ba ko mag apply ng Visa papuntang U.S kahit tourist visa lang ang hawak ko s France?? Example nasa france nako then gusto ko mag apply ng U.S tourist Visa naman habang nasa France kami.
Maraming Salamat po Madam. :)
no, it’s not.
Ngaun ko lng nbsa reps nyo po Madam.. Galing n po aq ng Paris! Hehe. Tnong ko lng po mayinterview po b s UK Embassy pg nai submit m n ang docu mo s VFS? Ma grant kaya ko khit na deny aq dti s spain at italy? …salamat po ng marami!
hi everyone, im from manila and im planning to apply for tourist visa for UK, Please help me for the documents i need to prepare and also my tour is for 2013 and any advice when is the right month to apply… thanks
I am a Filipina from Cebu, planning to get married by March 2013 to my British boyfriend.
a. I would just like to inquire about the procedures and information the application for spouse visa.
b. Is it easier to get a fiancee visa, hence my boyfriend was asked to compile some documents to submit to the British Consulate before marriage?
Thank you and hope to hear from you. God bless.
i have question regarding what to do my friend is a Filipino but now living Austria with schengen visa.
She is married in austria and want go tourist to UK she can support her stay and all expenses for 2 weeks having 1600 euro. i am an unemployed full time student renting property can provide free accomodation for her stay and she will have sufficient funds to support herself for the duration, to cover living costs, site seeing and so on. how would we approach supporting documents to proceed in this way? what would i friend need to provide as supporting documents as she will be supporting herself financialy. or is it an easier option to book herself accomdation at a hotel for her stay?
I applied for the UK business visa last year and this year and got 180 days multiple entry. Its was an easy application. just passed the letter of invitation from company in UK and form and some Bank statement. Got an sms the day after I passed my application. Got scared that my visa application was rejected because the processing was too pass.
but shocked to see my visa approved :-)
hello…my girlfriend invites me to go to london as a tourist visa..im a filipino oveseas worker here in south korea,she is filipina and a resident there.she starting processed the documents this week..just waiting for approval of u.k consule.once approved..what documents shall i present to the embassy,money matters is not a big problem is 15,000 us dollars enough to convinced me to go there? thanks
thank you wanderlass for this great informative blog you have.
thanks to those who have shared their experiences & ideas as well.
i am planning to invite my mum to come to the UK for 6months on a Tourist visa.
she’s 78yrs old, retired with a pension & have a time deposit saving of 1M on her name.
im unemployed, a full-time mum & housewife here in the UK But i have about £2000 in my bnk account, own 3 properties (all in my name) in the Philippines & a bank account of about 200,000 pesos.
i am separated with my ex-husband and now living with my new partner (unmarried) with our 2yr old girl. I am already a British citizen holding a British passport and have changed my surname back to mine (when i was single) via Deed Poll certificate. My partner is working as an Engr and is being paid well. But our house is still on mortgage.
my question is: WILL MY MUM still need to be sponsored?
IF yes, will my PARTNER’s bank account, payslip, passport & landtitle (mortgage certificate) be acceptable? Since we are not married yet? Or will my documents be enough? With regards to the ties between my partner to my Mum….i have my child’s birth certificate to prove as it is stated in the PARENTS name: my partner & mine as parents.
Please I need your ideas about this.
Thank you, really appreaciated.
I’d like to visit UK in April. The problem is I don’t have job in the Philippines for I am working online with foreign employers. Are they very strict when it comes to Job employment stuff? My half brother owns a business and I can ask him to help me with this if they’ll only be asking an employment certificate. Hope you can help me with this. Thanks!