Diwali – also known as Deepavali, or the Festival of Lights – is an important occasion for many UK Sikh, Hindu and Jain communities as well as many others from different faiths.
The celebrations that take place across the UK are a testament to the country’s multiculturalism and its embrace of different cultures and traditions. Visitors wishing to visit the UK for Diwali celebrations who are not eligible for visa-free entry to the UK will need to obtain a visa in advance of their visit.
Diwali is more than a religious festival; it is a cultural phenomenon blending family gatherings and spiritual reflection. As a symbol of the UK’s multicultural tapestry, the country offers a unique and vibrant experience of this festival, making it a prime destination for Diwali celebrations. The cities with the biggest Diwali celebrations are London, Edinburgh, Leicester, Belfast and Birmingham, attracting family and visitors from around the world
If you are planning to visit the UK for Diwali celebrations and you are not a non-visa national (meaning you can gain entry at the border), you will need a Visit visa. This visa allows you to come to the UK for the purpose of tourism, certain business activities, or to visit friends or family.
To qualify for a Visit visa to enjoy the festivities, you must meet the following criteria:
- Purpose of visit: To be granted a Visit visa, you need to prove that you are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for the purpose of tourism, leisure, or visiting family; therefore, it is important that you clearly state your intention to attend Diwali festivals in your visa application.
- Financial evidence: You must prove you have enough money to cover the entire cost of your trip to the UK, including travel, accommodation, and living expenses, without needing to work or rely on public funds.
- Intention to leave the UK: You must also prove that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit and will not try to live here through frequent and successive visits.
- Ties to home country: The Home Office will expect to see evidence of strong connections to your home country. Demonstrating significant connections to your homeland, could include family, employment, property ownership, or financial investments. A lack of these ties might raise concerns about your intention to return home after your visit, potentially affecting the outcome of your visa application.
You can submit your application up to three months prior to your intended entry date to the UK. Once approved, your visa will allow you to stay in the UK for a maximum of six months at a time.
Obtaining a Visit visa can be challenging, and this route has one of the highest refusal rates. Having a previous visa refusal on your record is considered in any future visa applications, and so it is best to prepare your application carefully to avoid this additional hurdle for future applications, should it be refused. It is strongly recommended that you consult with an immigration lawyer to ensure you prepare an application with the strongest possible chances of success.
How Gherson can assist
Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.
The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.
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