Latest update December 2024

      Transit standard visitor

      transit

      If you’re travelling through the UK on your way to another country, you might need a transit visa. It could be that you have a layover in the UK between flights, for example.

      There are some instances where you won’t need a transit visa, these include, if you: 

      • have an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
      • have an EU Settlement Scheme family permit
      • have a Home Office travel document
      • have a Standard Visitor visa or a Marriage Visitor visa already

      You can check if you need one, here. 

       

      beenie_lady

      What are the different types of transit visa?

      If you’re wondering “what is a transit visa?”, there are a couple of different transit visas available. The type you’ll need will depend on whether or not you’re going through UK border control.

      Not going through UK border control?

      If you’ll be changing flights in the UK but not going through UK border control, you can apply for a Direct Airside Transit visa.

      Direct Airside Transit visa

      Going through UK border control?

      If you’re leaving the UK within 48 hours and going through UK border control, you can apply for a Visitor in Transit visa.

      Visitor in Transit visa

      Not sure?

      If you don’t know whether you’ll be going through UK border control, you can get in touch with your airline to find out.

      Last updated 20 November 2024