If you are traveling through the UK on the way to another country, you may need a transit visa. A transit visa allows you to stay in the UK for up to 48 hours as you wait for an onward connecting flight.
You are eligible for a UK transit visa if:
- You can prove that you are in transit to another country with sufficient means and the intention to travel on; and
- You can prove that the only purpose of your visit to the UK in transit.
Who Needs a Visa to Transit in the UK
ALL nationals of the countries and territories listed below need visas to enter or transit through the UK.
| Afghanistan | Albania |
| Algeria | Angola |
| Bangladesh | Belarus |
| Burundi | Cameroon |
| China | Congo |
| Congo Dem. Republic | Cyprus |
| Egypt | El Salvador |
| Eritrea | Eswatini (Swaziland) |
| Ethiopia | Gambia |
| Ghana | Guinea |
| Guinea-Bissau | India |
| Iran | Iraq |
| Ivory Coast | Jamaica |
| Kenya | Kosovo |
| Lebanon | Lesotho |
| Liberia | Libya |
| Malawi | Moldova |
| Mongolia | Myanmar (Burma) |
| Nepal | Nigeria |
| North Macedonia | Pakistan |
| Palestinian Territories | Rwanda |
| Senegal | Serbia |
| Sierra Leone | Somalia |
| South Africa | South Sudan |
| Sri Lanka | Sudan |
| Syria | Tanzania |
| Turkey | Uganda |
| Venezuela (non-biometric) | Vietnam |
| Yemen | Zimbabwe |
ALL nationals of the countries and territories listed below need visas to enter or transit the UK landside.
| Armenia | Azerbaijan |
| Bahrain | Benin |
| Bhutan | Bolivia |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Burkina Faso |
| Cambodia | Cape Verde |
| Central African Republic | Chad |
| Colombia | Comoros |
| Cuba | Djibouti |
| Dominican Republic | Ecuador |
| Equatorial Guinea | Fiji |
| Gabon | Georgia |
| Guyana | Haiti |
| Indonesia | Jordan |
| Kazakhstan | Korea (Dem.People’s Republic) |
| Kuwait | Kyrgyzstan |
| Laos | Madagascar |
| Mali | Mauritania |
| Montenegro | Morocco |
| Mozambique | Oman |
| Peru | Philippines |
| Qatar | Russia |
| Sao Tome e Principe | Saudi Arabia |
| Surinam | Taiwan |
| Tajikistan | Thailand |
| Togo | Tunisia |
| Turkmenistan | Ukraine |
| United Arab Emirates | Uzbekistan |
| Venezuela (biometric) | Zambia |
Types of Transit Visas
There are three types of Transit visas:
- Direct Airside Transit visa (DATV)
- Visitor in Transit visa
- Long-term Visit visa.
Direct Airside Transit visa (DATV)
If you will be changing flights in the UK without going through immigration control and you are outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you may need a Direct Airside Transit Visa.
Visitor in Transit visa
You may apply for a Visitor in Transit visa if:
- On your way to another country, you will be changing flights in the UK,
- You will go through UK border control for reasons such as: checking in your luggage, or you have a connecting flight
- You will be leaving the UK in 48 hours
- You won’t be studying or working in the UK.
Long-Term Visit Visa
If you need to transit through the UK over a longer period, a long-term visit visa enables you to stay in the country for a maximum of 48 hours on each visit, and your visa can last for two, five, and ten years.
How to Apply for a UK Transit Visa?
You have to apply for a UK transit visa online, on the official visa website of the UK government. You will also be required to submit certain documents and your biometrics to a visa application centre in your country. The step-by-step application process is as follows:
- Prepare the documents. For your application to be admissible, you must provide evidence that:
- You are entering the UK to carry out permitted activities
- You will leave the country at the end of your visit
- You have sufficient means to support yourself
- You are able to pay for yourself, e.g., your onward and return ticket and all other costs
- Apply for the UK transit visa online. You have to complete the online application form in the visa and immigration website of the UK government.
- Upload the required documents. You may be required to upload certain documents on the application portal. The exact documents for your visa type and destination are listed on the application form.
- Pay the visa fee. Once you complete the application form, you will be redirected to the fee payment, which you have to pay online.
- Submit your documents and biometrics at a visa application center. After you complete the online application, you have to submit your documents and biometrics at a visa application center in your country. You can find a UK visa application center in your country here. You must attend the appointment in person, as your biometric data, both fingerprints and photographs will be taken.
You will be notified about the decision on your visa after the appointment.
Processing Time for a UK Transit Visa
The official processing time for a UK transit visa is three weeks. However, if there is a larger number of applications, the processing time could be extended to six weeks or longer. You should apply well in advance of your trip if you know it is upcoming.
Documents Required for UK Transit Visa
The documents you may be required to submit for a UK transit visa application depend on the type of transit visa you are applying for. As such, they are:
UK Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) Documents
- Valid passport/travel document
- Proof that you are allowed to enter the country which you plan to enter by providing either a:
- Residence permit
- Green card
- Valid visa
- Proof of onward or booked journey, such as a flight booking email, printed tickets, or confirmation from a travel agency.
- if you are not a national or resident of the country that you are traveling to, you must:
- Provide proof of why you are traveling there
- Provide details of where you will stay
You should bring your documents with you when you travel through the UK.
UK Visitor in Transit Visa Documents
- Current passport or valid travel document,
- Proof that you are allowed to enter the country which you plan to enter by providing either a:
- Residence permit
- Green card
- Valid visa
- Proof of onward flight, which is within 48 hours of arriving in the UK. E.g. a flight booking, email printed tickets, or confirmation from a travel agent.
- If you are not a national or resident of the country that you are traveling to, you must:
- Be able to explain why you are going there
- Provide details of where you are going to stay
You should bring your documents with you when you travel through the UK.
Long-Term Visit Visa Documents
- Proof that you have a legitimate reason to frequently transit through the UK.
- Proof that your reason to transit through the UK will not change while you are in the UK.
- Proof that the only purpose of your visit to the UK is transit.
- Proof that you will leave the UK within 48 hours.
Note: If you are traveling to or from Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man, you may need to apply for another type of visitor visa.
How Long Is the UK Transit Visa Issued For?
UK transit visas are issued for 24 to 48 hours. It is a long-term visit visa for transit, it may be valid for 2-10 years, but you cannot stay in the UK for more than 48 hours on each entry.
If you plan to stay in the UK for more than 48 hours before traveling onward, you will need to apply for a standard visitor visa instead.
Transit Visa Fees
The UK transit visa fees are as follows:
| Direct Airside Transit visa (DATV) | £35 |
| Visitor in Transit visa | £64 |
| Standard Visitor visa | £100 (up to 6 months) |