Standard Visitor, Student and Work visas, handled properly
The UK receives thousands of applications from Uganda every year and refuses many of them for reasons that were avoidable. Our visa consultants in Kampala help you prepare an application that answers the questions a UK decision maker will ask.
The essentials for applicants in Kampala and across Uganda, in one place.
Fees and processing times are indicative and were checked in September 2026. They are set by the authorities and can change. Always confirm the current figures before you pay.
The United Kingdom remains one of the most popular destinations for travellers from Uganda, whether for tourism, visiting family, business meetings, or study at a UK university. It is also one of the more demanding applications, because the Home Office expects you to prove your circumstances rather than simply state them.
Applications from Uganda are submitted online and then completed in person at the TLScontact visa application centre in Kampala, where your biometrics are taken. There is no interview for most visitor visas, which means your documents have to speak for you. That is exactly where most refused applications fall short.
We assist with each of these categories. If you are not sure which one fits your trip, start with the eligibility check and we will talk it through with you.
What the authorities need to be satisfied about before they issue your visa.
A common mistake to avoid
Meeting the requirements is not the same as proving you meet them. Every requirement above needs a document behind it, and that document needs to be readable, current and consistent with everything else in your file.
Bring what you have and we will tell you what is missing. This list covers the usual requirements; your exact checklist depends on your visa category and circumstances.
The Home Office expects evidence, not statements
What you will do and who you will see
Extra documents for the Student route
From your first question to your travel date, here is what our visa consultants in Kampala do at each step.
Visitor visas can be issued for six months or for two, five or ten years. We look at your travel history and plans and advise which to request.
Most visitor applicants are never interviewed, so the documents make the case. We work out which documents prove each thing the Home Office needs to be satisfied about.
We complete the form with you and cross-check every answer against your documents before you pay the fee, and the Immigration Health Surcharge where it applies.
You submit your documents and give your fingerprints and photograph at the TLScontact centre. We book the slot and tell you exactly what to bring.
Standard visitor visas are usually decided within about three weeks of your appointment. We explain any priority option and go through the decision with you.
Government fees are paid directly to the authorities and are not refunded if an application is refused. Our service fee is separate and quoted for your case before you commit.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard Visitor visa (6 months)Paid to UK Visas and Immigration | £127 |
| Standard Visitor visa (2 years) | £475 |
| Student visaPlus the Immigration Health Surcharge | £524 |
| TLScontact service chargesPaid at the visa application centre in Kampala | Varies |
| Go Global service feeDepends on the visa type and level of support | Quoted per case |
The equivalent amount in UGX will be calculated using the embassy, visa application centre or applicable exchange rate at the time of payment. Amounts shown were checked in September 2026. Fees are set by the authorities and change without notice. Confirm the current amount before paying.
Visa rules, fees and forms are set by the authorities, not by us. These are their official pages, so you can confirm the latest details yourself before you apply or pay.
We would rather tell you this before you apply than after. These are the patterns we see most often, and what we do about each one.
The visitor rules require you to show you will leave at the end of your visit. Applicants who describe their job, family or business in Uganda without documents to prove them are refused on this ground more than any other.
How we help
We match every tie you mention to a document that proves it.
A large deposit shortly before applying makes the Home Office ask whose money it is. Without an explanation, the whole balance can be discounted.
How we help
We review your statements and help you document the source of any large amounts.
When your host's letter gives different dates, a different relationship or a different address from your form, the officer doubts both.
How we help
We check the invitation against your form before either is submitted.
Student applicants must show the required money held for 28 consecutive days. A balance that dipped for even one day falls short.
How we help
We check your statements against the 28-day rule before you apply.
Answer a few questions about your travel plans and we'll help you understand the visa category that may be relevant to your trip and the documents you may need.
The questions we are asked most often about this destination.
Question not answered here?
Message a visa consultant in Kampala and get a straight answer today.
Ask on WhatsAppA standard visitor visa is usually decided within about three weeks of your appointment at the TLScontact centre in Kampala. Student and work visas can take longer, and busy periods such as before the December holidays add time. Priority services are sometimes available at extra cost. We recommend applying at least two months before you plan to travel.
The UK government fee for a six-month standard visitor visa is currently £127, with longer-validity visitor visas costing more. Student and work visas carry higher fees and an Immigration Health Surcharge. The visa application centre in Kampala also charges for its services. Our assistance fee is separate and quoted for your specific case before you commit.
Most standard visitor visa applicants from Uganda are not interviewed. Your documents and your application form carry the decision, which is why they must be complete and consistent. Some applicants are invited for a credibility interview, and we prepare you for that possibility.
Yes. We go through your refusal letter with you and identify exactly which paragraph of the immigration rules the officer relied on. Then we advise whether a fresh application with stronger evidence is appropriate, or whether you should wait and change something about your circumstances first. We cannot overturn a decision, and we will tell you honestly if reapplying now would be a waste of your money.
You complete the application online, pay the fee, then book an appointment at the TLScontact visa application centre in Kampala to submit your documents and give your biometrics. We help you book the appointment and tell you exactly what to bring on the day.
There is no fixed minimum for a visitor visa. What matters is that your finances clearly cover your trip and match the plans you have described, and that the money has a traceable history rather than appearing suddenly before you apply. We review your statements with you before submission and explain how a decision maker will read them.
No. A standard visitor visa does not permit work, paid or unpaid, and attempting it puts your immigration record at risk. If you have a job offer, the Skilled Worker route is the correct one, and we can advise on whether your offer qualifies.
Travel insurance is not a formal requirement for a UK visitor visa, unlike a Schengen visa. It is still strongly recommended, because medical treatment in the UK is expensive for visitors, and we can arrange cover as part of our travel services.
Travelling somewhere else, or comparing your options? These are the destinations applicants from Uganda ask about alongside this one.
Talk to a visa consultant in Kampala about your trip, or check your eligibility online in a few minutes.
