UK Visitor Visa from the Philippines: Fee and Documents
Filipino citizens are visa nationals and must get a UK Standard Visitor visa before they travel. This guide covers the £135 fee, financial evidence, ties to the Philippines, giving biometrics at a visa application centre, and the requirements a visitor application has to meet.
- Section
- Visitor Visa
- Reading time
- 9 min
- Last checked
- 21 October 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- Filipino citizens are visa nationals and must apply before travelling.
- The Standard Visitor visa is £135 for up to 6 months in 2026.
- No TB (tuberculosis) test is needed for a short visit under 6 months.
- Apply online, then give fingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre.
- The application has to show enough money for the trip and that the visitor will leave at the end.
Filipino passport holders need a UK Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK. The visa costs £135 for up to 6 months in 2026. This guide explains who needs the visa, the documents and financial evidence GOV.UK lists, how to apply and give biometrics at a visa application centre, and the requirements an application is refused for not meeting.
Do Filipino Citizens Need a UK Visitor Visa?
Yes. The Philippines is a visa national country. This means Filipino passport holders must apply for a UK Standard Visitor visa before they travel. You cannot enter the UK as a visitor without one. This is different from countries like the United States, whose citizens do not need a visitor visa and get a £20 electronic travel authorisation (ETA) instead.
You apply for the visa online and then give your biometrics in person. GOV.UK says not to book travel until you get a decision on the visa. For the full overview of this route, see our UK Visitor visa guide.
What You Can and Cannot Do as a Visitor
A Standard Visitor visa lets you do many things. You can:
- Visit family and friends
- Come as a tourist
- Attend a business meeting or conference
- Take a short course of up to 6 months
There are firm limits. You cannot work for a UK employer, do paid or unpaid work, or claim public funds. You also cannot live in the UK through frequent or back-to-back visits. See our work restrictions guide for full detail.
The £135 Fee in 2026
The Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for a stay of up to 6 months in 2026. You pay this when you apply online. Long-term visitor visas, valid for 2, 5 or 10 years, cost more, but each visit is still limited to 6 months.
Fees can change. Always check the current price on GOV.UK before you apply. See our visitor visa cost guide for a full breakdown.
Financial Evidence
The application has to show that you can support yourself during the trip and pay for your return journey, or that someone else will fund it. GOV.UK's guide to supporting documents lists:
- Bank statements: showing where the money in the account came from. GOV.UK does not set a number of months.
- Proof of earnings: such as payslips
- Employment letter: on company headed paper, giving your role, salary and how long you have worked there
- Business papers: registration documents or recent invoices if you are self-employed
The Home Office guidance says the money shown in the documents should match what the application form declares, including income, large deposits and support from family or friends. See our financial evidence guide for more.
Showing Ties to the Philippines
The Home Office must believe your visit is genuine and that you will leave at the end. Its guidance looks at a visitor's personal and economic ties to the country where they live. GOV.UK's guide to supporting documents gives examples of evidence:
- A letter from your employer
- A letter from your school or university confirming your enrolment and leave of absence
- Business registration documents if you are self-employed
Documents You Need
Along with financial evidence, the application asks for:
- A passport that is valid for the whole of your stay
- The dates you plan to travel
- Where you will stay
- How you will pay for your return or onward journey
If someone else is paying for your travel, living costs or accommodation, GOV.UK asks for evidence of that support and of your relationship to the person. See our documents guide and our invitation letter guide.
How to Apply and Give Biometrics
You apply online on GOV.UK and pay the fee. As part of the online application, you book an appointment at a visa application centre to give your fingerprints and photo. GOV.UK's guide to the visa does not list the centres; the online application shows where they are.
Processing Times
- Standard: about 3 weeks from your biometrics appointment
- Priority: faster service where available, for an extra £500 (decision usually within 5 working days)
See our processing time guide.
Do You Need a TB Test?
No. A TB (tuberculosis) test is not needed for a short visit of less than 6 months. The Philippines is on the TB test country list, but you only need a TB test if you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more, such as some study or family routes. See our TB test guide for more.
Common Refusal Reasons
GOV.UK does not publish how often each refusal reason is used. The Home Office guidance says an application is refused if it does not provide enough evidence that it meets the visitor rules, including that:
- The visit is genuine and for a permitted activity
- The visitor will leave the UK at the end of the visit
- The visitor can pay for the trip and the return or onward journey
- The financial documents match what the application form says
See our refusal reasons guide and the full requirements guide.
Next Steps
Related guides:
Questions and answers
Do Filipino citizens need a visa to visit the UK?
Yes. The Philippines is a visa national country, so Filipino passport holders must apply for and be granted a UK Standard Visitor visa before they travel. You cannot enter the UK as a visitor without it.
How much does the UK Visitor visa cost for Filipinos in 2026?
The Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for a stay of up to 6 months in 2026. You pay this when you apply online. Always check the current fee on GOV.UK before you apply, as fees can change.
Do Filipino visitors need a TB (tuberculosis) test?
No. A TB (tuberculosis) test is not needed for a short visit of less than 6 months. The Philippines is on the TB test country list, but GOV.UK says the test applies only if you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more.
Where do Filipinos give their biometrics?
At a visa application centre. You apply online first and book the appointment as part of the online application. There you give your fingerprints and a photo. GOV.UK's guide to the visa does not name the centres; the online application shows where they are.
Why are UK Visitor visas refused for Filipino applicants?
GOV.UK does not publish how often each refusal reason is used. A visitor application is refused if it does not show the published requirements: that the visit is genuine, that the visitor will leave at the end, and that they can pay for the trip and the journey home.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.