United Kingdom visa requirements for Eritreans

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Eritreans visiting United Kingdom

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a Briton Visa.

  • An international Eritrean passport which is valid for travel to the United Kingdom. The passport must carry a validity date of not less than 6 months from the intended date of exiting the country. The passport must contain at least one blank page.
  • A visa application form which has been correctly filled and signed by the visa applicant. 
  • One passport-sized photograph taken within the last 6 months prior to the visa application. The passport must be 5cmx5cm in size and it must be taken with a white background.
  • Original and copies of the applicant's bank statement which indicates that the applicant has sufficient means to cater for himself/herself while he/she is in the United Kingdom.
  • Travel insurance which has sufficient medical coverage. The insurance should be valid for the duration of your stay in the country.
  • A receipt that shows that full payment of the non-refundable visa application fee has been made. The fee must be paid in your country’s local currency.
  • The details of where you will be residing while you are in the United Kingdom and a well-detailed itinerary.
  • You must provide a police character certificate which must show that you have not been involved in any criminal, civil or immigration offenses.
  • A detailed history of your past travels for the past 10 years.

United Kingdom Visa for Eritreans

Facts about United Kingdom

The United Kingdom consists of four countries which are: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
London, the capital of the United Kingdom is a great location for tourist and it's also its largest city.

The United Kingdom is one of the largest economy based on nominal GDP and is a very popular choice destination among business people. A lot of tourists also visit the country because of the wonderful sites to visit and the rich history of the country. Tourists who visit can easily bask in the gorgeous view of many of the city’s landmarks from the Coca-cola London Eye as well as many historical sites.

London is home to a wide range of attractions: art at galleries such as the National Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, The Tate, and the Tate Modern, amongst others. There are cultural treats in the theatres and cinema of the West End and South Bank, and the recreated home of Shakespeare in the capital, the Globe. 

The Edinburgh Castle, Stonehenge. The Georgian architecture, Roman Baths, York Minister, Canterbury Cathedral and Shakespeare's Birthplace are some interesting landmarks to visit in the UK.

With 36.115 million people visiting in 2015, The United Kingdom is the sixth top destination for tourists. This number has steadily been on the rise since 2015.

Types of United Kingdom Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Business visa Within 15 business days 180 days
Student visa Within 15 business days 5years and 14 days
Transit visa within 15 working days 2 days
Visitor Visa within 15 business days 180 days

General Requirements for United Kingdom Visa

  • An international Eritrean passport which is valid for travel to the United Kingdom. The passport must carry a validity date of not less than 6 months from the intended date of exiting the country. The passport must contain at least one blank page.
  • A visa application form which has been correctly filled and signed by the visa applicant. 
  • One passport-sized photograph taken within the last 6 months prior to the visa application. The passport must be 5cmx5cm in size and it must be taken with a white background.
  • Original and copies of the applicant's bank statement which indicates that the applicant has sufficient means to cater for himself/herself while he/she is in the United Kingdom.
  • Travel insurance which has sufficient medical coverage. The insurance should be valid for the duration of your stay in the country.
  • A receipt that shows that full payment of the non-refundable visa application fee has been made. The fee must be paid in your country’s local currency.
  • The details of where you will be residing while you are in the United Kingdom and a well-detailed itinerary.
  • You must provide a police character certificate which must show that you have not been involved in any criminal, civil or immigration offenses.
  • A detailed history of your past travels for the past 10 years.
United Kingdom Business visa United Kingdom Student visa United Kingdom Transit visa United Kingdom Visitor Visa

United Kingdom Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The business visa is also known as Standard visitor visa is a visa issued to foreign business travelers who are willing to conduct business activities in Great Britain.
  • The Great Britain Standard visitor visa has actually replaced a business visa by name, that is, the business visa has been under the Great Britain Standard visa classification and the visa is valid for 6 months.
  • The Great Britain business visa is of two terms which are Standard visitor visa and long term Standard visa or multiple entries that allows you to live in Great Britain from 6months up to 10years.
  • Nationals of Eritrea traveling on this Visa are to provide financial details(Bank statements, evidence of earning letter or someone is supporting you financially throughout your stay in Great Britain) to show they can afford to stay in Great Britain.
  • The Great Britain Business visa which is in the long term Standard visa of two years is $431.36 while for the period of five years is $784.16 and ten years is $983.98.
  • Business travelers on Business visas in Great Britain are not allowed to take up employment, neither can you attend any academic institution in the country.
  • You are not eligible to exercise any direct selling to the public.
  • Business visitors may take payment from Great Britain for activities undertaken in the country such as reasonable expenses to cover the cost of their travel and subsistence including fees for directors board-level meetings.
  • You must provide the evidence for visiting such as evidence of meeting or conference attendance, any reason you have to return home, the cost of your trip and how it will be funded.
  • They are not allowed to stay beyond their visa period, either through frequent and successive visits or make Great Britain their permanent home.
  • Business travelers on this visa must intend to leave the country before or at the end of their visa stay expiration.
  • Eritrean business travelers are to genuinely show they are seeking entry for the purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes.
  • Prohibited activities in the country must be abided by you when you visit the country.

United Kingdom Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is issued to foreign nationals, including Eritreans who are 16 years or over and have been offered admission to study a course in an academic institution in the United Kingdom.
  • The courses that can be studied by applicants of this visa can be any of the following; full-time leading to a qualification that is at least level 6 on the Ofqual register, part-time leading to a qualification that is at least level 7 on the Ofqual register, a course in an institution outside the UK that is on par with the one that is being run in an academic institution in the UK, full-time with a minimum of 15 hours per week of organized day time study which leads to a qualification at level 3 on the Ofqual register, a foundation programme as a postgraduate doctor or dentist, or an English language course at level B2 or above.
  • It is important for applicants of this visa to be able to speak, read, write, and understand the English language.
  • As part of your application, you have to pay a healthcare fee.
  • If the duration of your course is 6 months or less, you can arrive and stay in the United Kingdom for up to 1 week before your academic programme starts. If your course will last for over 6 months, you can arrive and stay in the UK for up to 1 month.
  • During your time in the UK, you are allowed to work as a student union sabbatical officer and work in most jobs except as a professional sportsperson or as a sports coach.
  • These visa applicants are allowed to be accompanied to the United Kingdom by their family members who are dependents.
  • Before you are granted this visa, you must have been offered a place on a course in an academic institution in the United Kingdom.
  • Foreigners who have the intention of studying as postgraduate doctors or dentists must have completed a degree in medicine or dentistry and must have spent the last year and at least one other year during their study for the degree in the United Kingdom.
  • As soon as you have been offered admission into an academic institution in the country, you will receive a reference number known as a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS). This reference number must be entered on the visa application. Application for the visa must be done within 6 months after receiving the CAS.
  • If you are willing to stay in the United Kingdom and look for work after the completion of your PhD or doctorate programme, you will receive a CAS.
  • You must have taken and passed a secure English language test which proves your proficiency in the English language. 
  • Presenting a tuberculosis test result is a required document for you to be granted this visa.
  • A letter of consent from a parent or guardian should be provided.
  • This visa can be extended. An application for the extension of this visa must be done before the expiration of the current visa.
  • You can change from a General Student Visa to any of the following visas; Intra-company transfer and Child Student Visa.

United Kingdom Transit Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Transit Visa is for foreign nationals who will be passing through the United Kingdom to another country.
  • This visa permits you to change flights and go through border control in the United Kingdom.
  • There are two types of the Transit Visa; Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) and Visitor in Transit Visa.
  • Application for either the Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) or Visitor in Transit Visa must be done online but you will need to visit a visa application centre to ensure that your biometric features are captured.
  • The Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) costs £35 while the Visitor in Transit Visa costs £64.
  • You are only allowed to transit through the United Kingdom for 48 hours, in which you will have to reapply for another visa if your visa expired before its usage.
  • If you are not to prove that the only purpose of visiting the United Kingdom is for transiting to another country, this visa will not be issued to you.
  • Entry permits into another country should be provided. They may include residence permit, green card, and a valid visa.
  • A flight booking email, printed tickets, and confirmation from a travel agent are needed as evidence of your onward journey.
  • Eritrean people who are in possession of a Standard Visitor Visa, Marriage Visitor Visa, and an EEA family permit do not need to apply for this visa.
  • Taking up paid or unpaid employment on this visa is not allowed.

United Kingdom Visitor Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The United Kingdom Tourist Visa, classified as Standard Visitor Visa is for Eritrean tourists, if they are traveling to the United Kingdom for leisure or to pay friends and family a visit.
  • The Standard Visitor Visa can also be applied for if you are traveling for business or to take part in sports and creative events. Also, you can apply for this visa type if your intention of visiting the country is to receive private medical treatment.
  • This visa category was created to take the place of the Family Visitor Visa, General Visitor Visa, Child Visitor Visa, Business Visitor Visa, Sports Visitor Visa, Entertainer Visitor Visa, Prospective Entrepreneur Visa, Private Medical Treatment Visitor Visa, and Approved Destination Status (ADS) Visa.
  • Professionals like doctors or dentists visiting the UK to take a clinical attachment or observer post, artist, entertainers or musicians visiting the United Kingdom to perform in a show or event are eligible applicants of this visa.
  • Bearing this visa, you are allowed to study for up to 30 days as long as it is not the main purpose of your visit to the country. If you are under the age of 18 years, you can take part in an exchange programme. The Standard Visitor Visa can play the role of a Transit Visa.
  • This visa allows you to have the right of successfully converting your civil partnership into a marriage but you can neither marry or register a civil partnership nor give notice of marriage or civil partnership.
  • Holders of this visa are not entitled to public funds and they are not allowed to be employed by any company in the United Kingdom whether for paid or unpaid employment. Living in the United Kingdom for long periods through frequent visits are not allowed.
  • You are advised to start the visa application process 3 months before your planned date of departure from your home country. Visa processing times generally vary across countries.
  • If you are visiting the United Kingdom for private medical treatment, you can be in the United Kingdom for up to 11 months. If you are an academic and you are visiting the United Kingdom for research, you and your spouse are allowed to reside in the country for up to 12 months. A biometric residence permit is requested from you if you will be staying in the United Kingdom for more than 6 months.
  • Foreigners in the country who are undergoing private medical treatment are eligible to extend the duration of their visa for a further 6 months if they have already made payment for the treatment and they can still afford extra costs that may arise while they are in the UK.
  • Before the visa will be extended, you must provide a letter stating the likely duration of the treatment and the level the treatment has currently gotten to. You must still be present in the United Kingdom when applying for an extension to this visa. The waiting time for the extension of this visa type is approximately 8 weeks.
  • If you are under the age of 18 years and you are traveling alone, you must provide written consent from your parent or guardian confirming they are aware of your travel plans.
  • Minors traveling with an adult must identify the person they are traveling within their visa application. If the person is not your parent, you will need to provide additional information about them in your visa application.

United Kingdom Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Business visa

114.70 (USD)

Student visa

Tier 2

610.00 (GBP)

Transit visa

46.00 (GBP)

Visitor Visa

Tourist Visa

95.00 (GBP)

United Kingdom Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Eritrea

Location

Address

Frequently Asked Questions

Will it be easy for me to get a job in the United Kingdom?
To get a job in the United Kingdom, your best chance is to have the relevant skills, training, and experience of one of the jobs on offer in the country.


Can I work when I travel to the United Kingdom on a visitor visa?

You are only in the country for a temporary visit, you are prohibited to work while traveling on this visa. You have to apply for the United Kingdom work visa, if you are to work in the country. 

Can I extend my short-stay visa in the United Kingdom?

You can extend your visa up to 180 days as long as it does not exceed the 6 months of stay duration.

How many countries made up of the United Kingdom?

Four(4) countries made up of the United Kingdom, which comprises Northern Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland.