Do Algerian passport holders need a visa for the United Kingdom?
By Aditya Rawat · Destinations Writer, Tripmojo · Updated
Yes. Algeria is a visa national country under the UK Immigration Rules, so Algerian citizens need a Standard Visitor visa before travelling, even for a short holiday. It costs 135 pounds for six months, must be applied for online before you travel, and requires an appointment at a visa application centre. The cheaper electronic travel authorisation is not available to Algerian passport holders.
Quick facts
Visa required- Visa required
- Yes, a Standard Visitor visa
- Cost
- GBP 135 for the six-month visitor visa
- Maximum stay
- Up to 6 months per visit
- ETA eligible
- No, Algeria is a visa national country
- Apply from
- Online, up to 3 months before you travel
- Long-term option
- GBP 506 for a 2-year visa, 6 months per visit
Entry requirements
- An Algerian passport valid for the whole of your stay, with a blank page for the visa.
- An approved Standard Visitor visa, obtained before you travel. There is no visa on arrival in the UK.
- Evidence that you will leave at the end of the visit and that you can support yourself without working or claiming public funds.
- Details of where you will stay and what you intend to do, plus an invitation letter if you are visiting family or attending an event.
- Biometrics, meaning fingerprints and a photograph, given in person at the visa application centre.
How to apply for a UK Standard Visitor visa
Apply online through gov.uk. That is the only official route, and paid intermediaries advertising alongside it charge more for the same form. The earliest you can apply is three months before you intend to travel, and applying early is sensible because appointment availability, not the decision itself, is usually what sets the timeline.
After submitting the form and paying the 135 pound fee you book an appointment at a visa application centre to give your fingerprints and photograph and to submit your supporting documents.
If you visit the UK regularly it is worth pricing the long-term options rather than repeating this. A two-year visa costs 506 pounds and still allows six months per visit, so it pays for itself against four separate applications.
Good to know
- The electronic travel authorisation is the most common source of confusion here. The ETA costs 20 pounds and is granted in minutes, but it exists only for people who do not need a visa. Algeria is on the visa national list in Appendix Visitor of the Immigration Rules, so an Algerian passport holder cannot use it and applying for one instead of a visa wastes both the fee and the trip.
- A visitor visa does not permit work. It covers tourism, visiting family, business meetings and short courses, and there are separate, more expensive routes for employment and for study longer than six months.
- Different visitor visas cost different amounts for good reason. Medical treatment and academic visits run to 234 pounds and allow eleven and twelve months respectively, so if your visit fits one of those categories the standard six-month visa may be the wrong product rather than simply the cheapest one.
Frequently asked questions
Do Algerians need a visa for the UK?
Yes. Algeria is listed as a visa national country in the UK Immigration Rules, so a Standard Visitor visa is required before travelling, including for tourism.
How much is a UK visitor visa for Algerian citizens?
The standard six-month visitor visa costs 135 pounds. A two-year long-term visitor visa costs 506 pounds and allows stays of up to six months per visit.
Can Algerians travel to the UK with an ETA?
No. The electronic travel authorisation is only for nationalities that do not need a visa. Algerian passport holders must apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead.
How long can Algerians stay in the UK on a visitor visa?
Up to six months per visit. The visa does not allow you to work or to claim public funds during that time.
When should Algerian applicants apply for a UK visa?
You can apply from three months before you travel and should do so early. The wait is usually driven by appointment availability at the visa application centre rather than by the decision itself.
Related pages
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against the official sources below on .
- UK Immigration Rules — Appendix Visitor: Visa national list (gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-visitor-visa-national-list)
- UK Home Office — Standard Visitor visa, fees and length of stay (gov.uk/standard-visitor/apply-standard-visitor-visa)
- UK Home Office — Get an electronic travel authorisation to visit the UK (gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta)
Entry rules change without notice and the official source is always the authority. Confirm with the embassy or immigration portal before you book.
