Home Office figures show Indians were the largest recipients of UK visitor visas in the year ending March 2026, while air connectivity between the two countries continues to expand
The United Kingdom granted more than 500,000 visas to Indian nationals in the year ending March 2026, underlining the continued strength of travel and people-to-people links between the two countries.
Official Home Office immigration statistics show that 541,774 visitor visas were granted to Indian nationals during the 12 months to March 2026. India was the largest nationality group among recipients, narrowly ahead of China, whose nationals received 487,108 visitor visas. The number of visitor visas issued to Indians was broadly stable, declining by 1% from the previous year.
The figures form part of the UK Government’s latest immigration statistics, published in May and updated in July 2026. Overall, the UK granted 2.2 million visitor visas during the year, while 778,625 visas were issued for non-visit purposes, including work, study and family routes.
The data also highlight India’s wider role in the UK’s immigration system. Indians were among the leading nationalities receiving work-related visa extensions during the period. More than 107,000 Health and Care Worker extensions and nearly 90,000 Skilled Worker extensions were granted to Indian nationals.
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Travel between India and the UK is also supported by expanding air connectivity
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According to Travel Trends Today, an average of 178 weekly flights were operating between the two countries in 2026, compared with 155 a year earlier
The UK has also completed the transition to a digital visa system. Successful applicants now receive an eVisa rather than a physical visa sticker in their passport. Travellers are required to ensure that their current passport is linked to their UK Visas and Immigration account before travelling.
VisitBritain forecasts that visits from India could reach 959,000 annually by 2030, with visitor spending projected to rise to £1.5 billion.
