Transit Visa
If you are intending to pass through the UK on your way to another country, you may be required to apply for a transit visa in advance of your trip.
There are a number of factors that can determine whether a transit visa is required to travel to the UK en route to somewhere else, including your nationality, where you are arriving from, whether you hold long-term visas or permanent residency documents for other countries, and whether you have been denied a UK visa in the past.
There are a number of exemptions to the need for a UK transit visa. Some of the most common are:
- if you have a Standard Visitor visa
- if you have a Marriage Visitor visa
- if you have a family permit under the EU Settlement Scheme
- if you have a visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA
- if you have a residency document issued by an EEA country or Switzerland
- you are arriving from a Schengen country after entering the Schengen Area on a valid visitor visa within the last 30 days
If you do require a transit visa, which one you might need will depend on whether you intend to go through border control when you reach the UK. You should check with your airline or travel agent if you are in any doubt, as you may have to go through border control even if you are remaining airside, and some flight transfers require you to check-in for your next flight in the public-facing or ‘groundside’ area of the terminal building.
If you are not going through border control in the UK before taking your next flight, you may need to apply for a Direct Airside Transit Visa.
If you are going through border control in the UK before taking your next flight, but will be leaving the UK within no longer than 48 hours, you may require a Visitor in Transit Visa.
For visits longer than 48 hours, or for frequent trips to the UK over a six month period, you may have to apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead. If you are intending to work or study in the UK during your transit period, you may need to apply for an appropriate UK work visa or study visa instead.
A Direct Airside Transit Visa costs around £35, while a Visitor in Transit Visa costs around £64. The precise fee can vary depending on the country from which you are applying.
When submitting your application, you will need to provide evidence that you have a valid passport and travel bookings into and out of the UK. You will also need to attend a visa application centre to have your photograph and fingerprints taken. You can usually expect to receive a decision within three weeks of submitting your application, though some application centres offer a faster premium service for an additional fee.