Holders of Indian diplomatic passports supported by a Note Verbale are covered by the Home Office caseworker guidance on the diplomatic visa arrangement (DVA) visa, updated on 18 August 2026.
Key facts
- Who: Holders of diplomatic passports from India, China, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey and Vietnam applying for a Diplomatic Visa Arrangement (DVA) visa
- From: 18 August 2026 (guidance version 4.0, published for Home Office staff)
- Source: Diplomatic visa arrangement: caseworker guidance
Version 4.0 of the guidance updates the previous version.
Version 4.0 of the UK Visas and Immigration guidance for entry clearance decision makers and Border Force officers adds India to the "Granting entry clearance" section. The guidance lists India among the nationalities eligible for the DVA visa, alongside China, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey and Vietnam.
The DVA visa is a type of visitor visa for holders of diplomatic passports whose government supports the application by naming them on a Note Verbale. It replaced diplomatic visa waivers, which were removed on 11 March 2025. Paragraph V 15A.4 of Appendix V: Visitor of the Immigration Rules lists the eligible countries.
The granting section says nationals of China and India issued with entry clearance on the DVA route are not eligible for the British-Irish visa scheme (BIVS) and must not be issued with a BIVS endorsement.
Other terms in the guidance:
- Entry clearance is valid for 2 years, with multiple visits of up to 6 months at a time.
- The endorsement is "VISIT – DIPLOMATIC VISA ARRANGEMENT" with Cat D code 3 and multiple entries.
- There is no application fee, and no biometric information is required.
- Applicants must be aged 18 or over. Dependants are not permitted.
- Special, official and public affairs passports are not eligible.
- The Note Verbale must give the applicant's name, date of birth and passport number, and confirm government support. It must be issued on or before the application date and not withdrawn before the decision.
- Applications are made online using the DVA application form, from any country outside the UK.
- The passport and a facial photograph meeting passport photograph standards must be submitted in person at a Visa Application Centre (VAC), by the applicant or an authorised representative.
- Activities excluded from the DVA are PA 10.1, PA 16.1, PA 16.2 and PA 17 of Appendix V: Visitor.
What this means for applicants
Applicants holding an Indian diplomatic passport can apply for a DVA visa if their government has issued a Note Verbale naming them. They apply online, pay no fee and submit their passport and photograph at a VAC. Holders of other passport types, including special or official passports, can apply for a visit visa instead.
An Indian national granted a DVA visa will not receive a BIVS endorsement. Under the guidance, caseworkers must grant entry clearance if the applicant meets all the requirements of Appendix V: Visitor, and should refuse if they are not satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the requirements are met.
Sources
- Diplomatic visa arrangement: caseworker guidance, UK Visas and Immigration and Border Force, version 4.0, 18 August 2026