Do Yemeni passport holders need a visa for the United Kingdom?
By Aditya Rawat · Destinations Writer, Tripmojo · Updated · Reviewed by Simran Raheja
Yes. Yemen is a visa national country under the UK Immigration Rules, listed at entry 113 of Appendix Visitor, so a Standard Visitor visa is required before travelling. It costs 135 pounds for six months. The part that governs the timeline is not the form or the fee but the biometrics, which must be given in person at a visa application centre.
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, Yemen is a visa national country
- Biometrics
- Required in person, and this sets the timeline
- Apply from
- Online, up to 3 months before you travel
Entry requirements
- A Yemeni passport valid for the whole of your stay, with a blank page for the visa.
- An approved Standard Visitor visa obtained before travel. There is no visa on arrival in the UK.
- Fingerprints and a photograph given in person at a visa application centre.
- Evidence that you will leave at the end of the visit and can support yourself without working or claiming public funds.
- Details of where you will stay, plus an invitation letter if you are visiting family.
How to apply for a UK Standard Visitor visa
Apply online through gov.uk and pay the 135 pound fee. That part can be done from anywhere with an internet connection and is not the constraint.
Book the biometrics appointment. This is the step to plan the trip around, because it must be done in person and visa application centres do not operate everywhere. Confirm which centre is currently taking appointments for your application before you commit to any travel dates, rather than assuming the nearest one on a map is open.
Submit your supporting documents with the biometrics. Applications are assessed on whether the decision maker believes you will return at the end of the visit, so the evidence of your ties matters more than the form.
Good to know
- Plan around the appointment, not the application. On most visa routes the decision is the slow part; here it is getting yourself physically in front of a fingerprint scanner. Biometrics cannot be given online, cannot be waived by paying more, and cannot be assumed to be available at the closest city. Anyone booking flights on the strength of having submitted the form online has sequenced the trip backwards.
- The 135 pound fee buys a decision rather than a visa, and it is consumed whether the answer is yes or no. A refusal does not carry credit toward a second attempt, so a weak first application costs another 135 pounds rather than a rescheduling fee.
- Family visits are the most common reason for this journey and they need the sponsor to do work too. Where the trip depends on a relative in the UK supporting or accommodating you, the strength of the application often rests on their documents, their status and their finances rather than yours, so gather those early instead of at the appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Do Yemenis need a visa for the UK?
Yes. Yemen is listed as a visa national country in Appendix Visitor of the UK Immigration Rules, so a Standard Visitor visa is required before travelling.
How much is a UK visitor visa for Yemeni citizens?
The standard six-month visitor visa costs 135 pounds. A two-year long-term visitor visa costs 506 pounds and still allows six months per visit.
Can Yemenis travel to the UK with an ETA?
No. The electronic travel authorisation is only for nationalities that do not need a visa. Yemeni passport holders must apply for a visa.
Do Yemenis have to give biometrics for a UK visa?
Yes. Fingerprints and a photograph must be given in person at a visa application centre. It cannot be done online, which is usually what determines how long the process takes.
How long can Yemenis stay in the UK on a visitor visa?
Up to six months per visit. The visa does not permit work or claiming public funds.
Related pages
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against the official sources below on .
- UK Immigration Rules — Appendix Visitor: Visa national list. Yemen is entry 113 (gov.uk). Read 2026-08-17.
- 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: the ETA is for nationalities that do not require a visa (gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta). Read 2026-08-17.
Entry rules change without notice and the official source is always the authority. Confirm with the embassy or immigration portal before you book.
