Visa Policy Statement

The UK?s inbound tourism sector suffers in relation to competitor destinations in Europe due to the UK being outside the Schengen zone and visa-requiring nationals therefore having to gain two visas in order to undertake a European holiday. As a result, many visitors from major growth markets such as China, Russia and India exclude the UK from their European itineraries. To overcome this lack of competitiveness, the UK visa processing service must be improved to show the UK as a welcoming and open destination for tourists.