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How to get a United Kingdom visa from Burundi
Visa types, fees, processing times and application requirements for Burundian passport holders travelling to United Kingdom.
Visa types & fees
3 visa options for travelling to United Kingdom.
Student visa
Processing time1-2 weeks
Validity6 months to 5 years
Visitor Visa
Processing time1-2 weeks
Validity180 days
Work visa
Processing time1-2 weeks
Validity1 year+
Application requirements
Documents Burundian applicants need to provide.
- A Burundian passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date and must have 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
- Duly completed and signed visa application form.
- If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
- Passport-size photographs (2x 2') taken in white background.
- Travel document.
- Proof of financial support.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Copy of return flight ticket.
- Documentation showing applicant’s ties to home country, e.g. verification from applicant’s employer.
- A police report showing the traveler does not have a criminal record.
- Medical Insurance.
- Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
- Copy of travel itinerary.
Visa type details
Tourist visa
- The British visitor visa is for Burundians looking to travel to Britain for tourism or leisure.
- The British visitor visa which is also known as the Standard Visitor Visa is a British short-stay visa that allows its holder to stay in Britain for up to 6 months. However, the embassy has the right to issue visas for a shorter period of time.
- This British tourist visa is available for Burundians who wish to travel to Britain for the following:
- Tourism.
- To visit family members.
- Medical treatment.
- For professional reasons.
- The Standard Visitor visa has replaced the following types of visas:
- Family Visitor visa.
- General Visitor visa.
- Child Visitor visa.
- Business Visitor visa, including visas for academics, doctors and dentists.
- Sports Visitor visa.
- Entertainer Visitor visa.
- Prospective Entrepreneur visa.
- Private Medical Treatment Visitor visa.
- Approved Destination Status (ADS) visa.
- A detailed travel itinerary must be provided. It has to contain dates of your onward and backward travel.
- Submit a travel plan that gives all the information regarding how and what you are planning to do in Britain. Include the travel dates, places you will visit, meeting agenda, booked tour, festival agenda, etc.
- Burundians are required to submit the requests of a tuberculosis test in order to be eligible for a British visa.
- Use only licensed black cabs or pre-ordered car services (minicabs). Unlicensed taxis or private cars posing as taxis may offer low fares, but in some instances, travelers have been robbed or sexually assaulted while using these cars.
- Travelers will be arrested if they bring pocket knives, blades, mace or pepper spray canisters, or any part of a gun into Britain.
- Penalties against alcohol-related and other in-flight crimes committed aboard aircraft to and from Britain are stiff and are enforced with prison sentences.
- The legal drinking age in Britain is 18.
- An NHS surcharge is assessed on certain visa applicants at the time of application. Tourists and short-term visitors will not be assessed the surcharge but will be charged 150 percent of the cost of any medical treatment they receive from the NHS. Unpaid balances of £1,000 or more can result in being barred from returning to Britain.
- Using a hand-held cell phone or similar device while driving is illegal in Britain. Only hands-free phones may be used. You will be fined, or in the case of an accident, arrested and made to serve time in prison.
- The speed limit on highways/motorways in Britain is 70 mph, or lower when posted.
- You will be detained and arrested if you cannot provide a British address to receive a subpoena or are about to depart Britain and have to be brought to court quickly for a motoring offense.
Student visa
- The British student visa is available for Burundians looking to study in Britain.
- Applicants who want to study a short course and are over 18 years old are eligible for the short-term study visa. This visa is valid for six months for most short courses and can be extended for a stay of up to 11 months for English language courses.
- Students looking to study a longer course will need to make sure their chosen institution holds a Tier 4 Sponsor License.
- You can either apply for a Tier 4 (Child) student visa (if you’re aged 4-17 and want to study at an independent school in Britain) or a Tier 4 (General) student visa for those aged 16 and over.
- An unconditional offer of course placement offered by a licensed Tier 4 Sponsor, evidenced by a 'Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies’ (CAS) form from your course provider must be provided.
- Proof of adequate English language skills is required. This must be demonstrated by passing one of the selected English language tests.
- Proof of financial support must be provided. This can take the form of a recent bank statement or a letter from your financial sponsor, showing their willigness to cover your tuition fees, accommodation, and living costs.
- You must prove that you have £1,015 per month for living costs if studying in Britain outside of London, and £1,265 a month for living costs if studying in London.
- You may also be required to produce documents showing your academic qualifications, and to attend an interview or bio-metric test, which includes a digital scan of your fingerprints.
- If you’re 16 or 17 years old and applying for the Tier 4 (General) student visa, you must have a written consent from your parents/guardians that you can live and travel independently.
- The current fee for the Tier 4 (General) student visa is £348, with an additional £348 fee per person for any dependents.
- Students will also need to pay a healthcare surcharge of £150 per year in order to access the National Health Service (NHS) during their stay.
- Students of publicly funded higher education institutions on Tier 4 student visas can work for up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during Christmas and Easter breaks (unless you are aged 16 or 17, in which case the maximum is 10 hours per week during term time).
Work visa
- Burundians looking to work in Britain can apply for a British work visa.
- If you have already found a job in Britain, or you have a visa but it prohibits you from working, you may need to obtain a work permit.
- You cannot apply for a work permit directly. Your employer in Britain will need to apply on your behalf. The length of your permit will depend on the type of work you do and the sort of permit needed.
- The job you are eligible for will depend on the individual employer, the type of role, and your relevant skills and experience.
- There are two types of work visa:
- Short-term work visa which visa covers the following:
- Charity Worker visa (Tier 5): You can apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Charity Worker) visa if you want to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity.
- You can stay for up to 12 months or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days, whichever is shorter.
- You can work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship.
- You do a second job in the same sector at the same level as your main job for up to 20 hours per week.
- You can do a job on the Tier 2 shortage occupation list for up to 20 hours per week.
- You can bring family members with you.
- Seasonal Worker Visa (Tier 5):
- You can stay in Britain for up to 6 months with this work visa.
- Youth mobility scheme visa (Tier 5):
- You can apply for a Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa if you want to live and work in Britain for up to 2 years, if you are aged 18 to 30, and if you have £1,890 in savings.
- Other types of temporary visas are:
- Creative and Sporting visa (Tier 5).
- Government Authorised Exchange visa (Tier 5).
- International Agreement visa (Tier 5).
- Religious Worker visa (Tier 5).
- Long-term visa which covers the following:
- General work visa (Tier 2): You can come to Britain with a Tier 2 (General) visa for a maximum of 5 years and 14 days, or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 1 month, whichever is shorter.
- Intra-company Transfer visa (Tier 2)- Apply for this visa if you’re transferring into a role that requires you to have had previous experience working for the company.
- Minister of Religion visa (Tier 2)- You can come to Britain with a Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa for a maximum of up to 3 years and 1 month.
- Sportsperson visa (Tier 2)- You can come to Britain with a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa for up to 3 years.
Where to apply
United Kingdom embassy & visa application centers in Burundi.
Bujumbura
AddressBritish Embassy Liaison Office Bujumbura - Street Address: Building Old East Bujumbura, 1st Floor Place de L’Independence Bujumbura, Burundi.
Phone+257 22 24 64 78
Email[email protected]
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Frequently asked questions
Can I vote as a foreign student in Britain
Yes, you can vote in UK Parliament and European Parliament elections as a foreign student. You may be able to vote in referendums as well. The local authority where you're registered as an overseas voter will send you a postal or proxy vote application form by email or post.
How long can I stay as a tourist in Britain
Visitors on a tourist visa to the UK can stay for a maximum of 6 months in every 12 months.
Is Britain safe for tourist travel
The UK is a safe country. Violent crime is low, and most tourists will never be bothered by safety concerns other than petty crime.
What is the official religion in Britain
The official religion of Britain is Christianity and churches of all denominations can be found throughout the UK, such as Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, and Methodist. The other main religions are Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, and Buddhism.
Visa fees and rules change often. Confirm the latest United Kingdom visa
requirements with an official embassy or consulate before booking travel.