Every UAE resident applies for a UK visitor visa the same way: online, with biometrics at a visa centre in the UAE, for the same fee. But outcomes are very different by passport. In the latest Home Office figures, roughly 8 in 10 Indian and Filipino visitor applications were granted, compared with fewer than half of Bangladeshi applications. Some passports also need a visa just to change planes in London. This page shows what your passport changes, and what to do about it.
Checked on 5 October 2026 against GOV.UK, the Home Office visa requirements list for carriers and Home Office immigration statistics. Sources at the end.
On this page
- What is the same for everyone
- Comparison by nationality
- What the grant rates mean for you
- The UK transit visa
- Domestic workers travelling with an employer
- Key points by nationality
- Long-term visitor visas
- Questions people ask
What is the same for everyone
- You apply online on GOV.UK and give fingerprints and a photo at a UK visa application centre in the UAE.
- The Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for up to 6 months, from 8 April 2026.
- Standard processing is about 3 weeks after your biometrics appointment. Faster paid services are available at extra cost.
- The decision is based on the same questions for everyone: is the visit genuine, can you pay for it, and will you leave the UK at the end?
- Any document not in English or Welsh needs a full certified translation.
The full step-by-step process is in our UK visitor visa from the UAE guide.
Comparison by nationality
| Passport | Visitor visa grant rate* | Transit visa to change planes airside? |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines | About 85% | No |
| India | About 82% | Yes, unless exempt |
| Sri Lanka | About 71% | Yes, unless exempt |
| Nigeria | About 62% | Yes, unless exempt |
| Pakistan | About 57% | Yes, unless exempt |
| Bangladesh | About 45% | Yes, unless exempt |
| Egypt | Check the Home Office tables | Yes, unless exempt |
| All nationalities | About 80% | — |
*Grant rates are for visitor visa decisions worldwide in the year ending June 2026, calculated as grants divided by grants plus refusals. They cover applications made from every country, not only the UAE. The Home Office does not publish figures for UAE residents by nationality.
What the grant rates mean for you
A low grant rate for your nationality does not mean your application will be refused. It means caseworkers look harder at the same questions. Applicants who live and work in the UAE often have stronger evidence than applicants in their home country: a stable job, a UAE salary paid into a bank account, and a residence visa they need to return to.
For nationalities with lower grant rates, these are the points refusals most often turn on:
- Funds that do not make sense. A large deposit shortly before applying, or a trip that costs more than your income suggests you can afford. Show a steady balance and explain any large payment.
- Weak ties to the UAE. A residence visa that expires soon, a new job, or no evidence of employment. Include an employer letter confirming your job and approved leave.
- An unclear purpose. A vague plan, or an invitation from a relative that does not explain the visit. Give dates, where you will stay and why.
- Undisclosed history. Previous refusals from any country must be declared. Hiding one is far worse than the refusal itself.
The UK transit visa
Many UAE residents fly to the US, Canada or elsewhere through Heathrow. Nationals of countries on the UK’s transit list need a Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) to change planes in the UK, even without passing UK border control, and even when moving between terminals. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Egypt are all on the list. The Philippines is not on the airside list.
The DATV costs £41.50 from 8 April 2026. You do not need one if you meet the transit-without-visa conditions, for example by holding a valid visa or residence permit for:
- the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand
- a European Economic Area country or Switzerland (some permit types only)
You must also have a confirmed onward flight and the documents to enter your destination. A UAE residence permit does not exempt you. Check the full conditions on GOV.UK before booking a connection through London.
Europe has a similar rule with a different list. See our Schengen visa by nationality page.
Domestic workers travelling with an employer
This rule affects many Filipino, Sri Lankan and other household service workers in the UAE. If you are coming to the UK to work for your employer during their visit, as a nanny, cook, driver or housekeeper, you do not apply for a Standard Visitor visa. You need an Overseas Domestic Worker visa.
- You must normally have worked for the employer for at least one year before applying.
- The employer must be visiting the UK, and you must travel with them or join them.
- The visa lasts up to 6 months and cannot be extended beyond that.
- You need a written statement of your terms of employment, and you must be paid at least the UK national minimum wage while in the UK.
Applying for a Standard Visitor visa when you will actually be working for your employer is a misrepresentation that can lead to refusal and a ban.
Key points by nationality
Indian passport holders
Indian nationals file more UK visitor applications than any other nationality, and most are granted. Frequent travellers often benefit from a 2-year or longer visa. Remember the transit rule: an Indian passport holder flying Dubai to Toronto through Heathrow needs a DATV unless they hold a valid Canadian visa or another exempting document. See also our Schengen guide for Indian passport holders.
Pakistani passport holders
Pakistan has one of the highest volumes of visitor refusals worldwide. Family visits are common, so the sponsor’s letter and evidence of their status in the UK matter, but your own UAE job, income and leave approval matter more. See also our Schengen guide for Pakistani passport holders.
Filipino passport holders
Filipino applicants have among the highest grant rates of the nationalities on this page. The main trap is using the wrong route: household workers travelling to work for an employer need the Overseas Domestic Worker visa, not a visitor visa. See also our Schengen guide for Filipino passport holders.
Egyptian passport holders
The UK requires a full certified English translation of every document not in English, including Egyptian birth and marriage certificates used for family applications. Egyptian nationals are also on the UK transit list. See also our Schengen guide for Egyptian passport holders.
Bangladeshi passport holders
Bangladesh has the lowest visitor grant rate of any major nationality, so build the file carefully. Salary paid on a payroll card is hard to evidence: move it into a bank account in your name months before applying. See also our Schengen guide for Bangladeshi passport holders.
Sri Lankan passport holders
Make sure names written with initials on UAE documents are clearly linked to the full passport name. Domestic workers travelling with an employer need the Overseas Domestic Worker visa. See also our Schengen guide for Sri Lankan passport holders.
Nigerian passport holders
Caseworkers often verify Nigerian documents directly with banks and employers, so every document must be genuine and consistent. Business owners should show company and personal bank statements, not only a trade licence. See also our Schengen guide for Nigerian passport holders.
Long-term visitor visas
If you visit the UK often, a long-term visitor visa lets you make repeat visits without reapplying. Each stay is still limited to 6 months.
| Validity | Fee from 8 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| 6 months | £135 |
| 2 years | £506 |
| 5 years | £903 |
| 10 years | £1,128 |
A longer visa is assessed on the same rules, so it only makes sense if you have a record of previous visits and a genuine reason to return often. If a long-term visa is refused, the fee is not refunded. Applicants with little UK travel history usually do better starting with a 6-month or 2-year visa.
Questions people ask
Does my nationality affect my UK visa from the UAE?
The rules and process are the same for every visa national. But grant rates differ widely by nationality, and some passports need a transit visa to change planes in the UK.
Do Indians need a transit visa for Heathrow?
Yes, a Direct Airside Transit Visa, unless they meet the transit-without-visa conditions, such as holding a valid US, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand visa. A UAE residence permit does not exempt them.
Can a housemaid travel to London with her employer on a visit visa?
Not if she will be working for the employer in the UK. She needs an Overseas Domestic Worker visa, which usually requires at least one year of work for that employer.
Are UK refusal rates published for UAE residents?
No. Home Office figures are published by nationality, covering applications from every country. There is no separate figure for each nationality applying from the UAE.
Do UAE nationals need a UK visa?
No. UAE nationals need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead, which costs £20.
Related guides
- UK visitor visa from the UAE
- Schengen visa from the UAE by nationality
- UK settlement in 2026: 5-year ILR vs earned settlement
- UAE bank statements for visas
Sources
- Home Office — UK visa requirements for international carriers, updated 2026: gov.uk
- Home Office — Immigration and nationality fees from 8 April 2026: gov.uk
- Home Office — Immigration system statistics, entry clearance visa outcomes, year ending June 2026: gov.uk
- GOV.UK — Standard Visitor visa, transit visas and Overseas Domestic Worker visa guidance: gov.uk
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or adviser, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 5 October 2026. Rechecked quarterly and when Home Office statistics are released. Found an error? Email ionicwaleed@gmail.com — it gets fixed and logged.