UK Transit Visa

What is a Transit Visa?

A transit visa allows you to change flights in one country while travelling to another; for example, if you were travelling from the USA to Germany and your flight had a stopover in the UK, you would need a UK transit visa to allow you to stop over in the UK. Usually, a transit visa is only required if you are a visa-required national for the country in which you are stopping over.

There are two different types of UK Transit visa, depending on whether or not you will be passing through UK border control. If you will be passing through UK border control, you will need to apply for a Visitor in Transit visa. If you will not be passing through UK border control, you should instead apply for the Direct Airside Transit visa. The details of both are given later in this article.

Note that, if you will be staying in the UK for over 48 hours, the Transit visa is not the right fit for you. You should instead apply for a Standard Visitor visa. You should also apply for the Standard Visitor visa if you have plans to frequently pass through the UK for a period of over 6 months, even if you are only passing through in transit.  

Do I Need a Transit Visa for the UK?

Not everyone will require a Transit visa in order to briefly pass through the UK. If you possess one of the following, a Transit visa will generally not be required: 

• EU passport (however, from April 2025, you will need to apply for an electronic travel authorisation in order to enter the UK for periods of 6 months and under)
• EU Settlement Scheme Family permit 
• Home Office travel document (e.g. a document confirming that you are a refugee or stateless person) 
• Standard Visitor visa 
• Marriage Visitor visa 

Additionally, if you plan to stay in the UK for over 48 hours, you should not apply for a Transit visa. You should instead apply for a Standard Visitor visa. More information is given on this visa type later in the article. 

Types of UK Transit Visa

There are two main types of UK Transit visa: the Direct Airside Transit visa and the Visitor in Transit visa. More information is given on these two visas below: 

Direct Airside Transit Visa – If You’re Not Going Through UK Border Control

This visa is intended for travellers who are passing through the UK en route to another country but who will not be going through UK border control. If the following circumstances apply to you, and you are not exempt from needing a Transit visa, you are likely to require a Direct Airside Transit visa: 

• You have a connecting flight from the UK as part of your journey to a different county
• You will not be passing through the UK’s border control upon entering the UK 
• You will be leaving the UK within 48 hours of arrival 

Note that your airline will be able to tell you whether you will need to pass through border control upon arriving in the UK. 

Visitor in Transit Visa – If You’re Going Through UK Border Control

This visa is intended for travellers who are passing through the UK en route to another country and who will be going through UK border control. If you are not exempt from needing a Transit visa and the following circumstances apply to you, you will likely require this visa in order to pass through the UK in transit: 

• You have a connecting flight from the UK as part of your journey to a different country 
• You will need to pass through UK border control upon arrival in the country (e.g. if you need to collect and re-check your luggage for your connecting flight)
• You will be leaving the UK within 48 hours of arrival in the country

You should contact your airline in order to check whether or not you will need to pass through UK border control upon arrival in the country.

Stays of Over 48 Hours: Standard Visitor Visa

If you plan to stay in the UK for longer than 48 hours, you will not be eligible for a UK Transit visa. Instead, you should apply for the UK’s Standard Visitor visa. This visa allows stays in the UK of up to 6 months for a range of purposes, including tourism, study, visiting friends and family, and certain business activities. 

If the UK is one of the destinations which you wish to visit on your trip and you plan to stay for over 48 hours, this is likely the right visa for you. If your layover is over 48 hours, you should also apply for the Standard Visitor visa. 

This visa permits a range of activities in the UK, including: 

• Tourism (i.e. travelling within the UK) 
• Visiting friends and family 
• Volunteering for a period of up to 30 days 
• Passing through the UK in transit 
• Eligible business activities, e.g. attending a conference, interview, or business meeting 
• Eligible paid engagements, e.g. giving a limited lecture series or performing in a show 

Note that, if you already have a valid Standard Visitor visa, this can be used in the place of a Transit visa. This means that, even if the UK is not your final destination and you are simply passing through in transit, you can use your Standard Visitor visa instead of needing to apply for a separate Transit visa. 

If you are a citizen of the EU, you do not currently need a visa in order to enter the UK for periods of up to 6 months. However, from April 2025, you will need to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) in order to enter the UK for periods of 6 months and under. 

Required Documents for UK Transit Visa

There are a number of documents which you will be expected to provide as part of your application for a UK Transit visa. This generally includes the following: 

• Valid passport 
• Any additional relevant travel documents 
• Proof that you have permission to enter your destination country (e.g passport granted by that country, Residence permit, green card, or valid visa). 
• Evidence of your reasons for visiting your destination country
• Evidence of your onward journey from the UK (e.g. flight confirmation, travel receipts, ticket or boarding pass, travel agent confirmation, etc.) 

You should also bring these documents with you to the UK, as you may be asked to present them by a UK border agent upon arrival in the country

In general, it is important to demonstrate your intention to leave the UK within 48 hours of arrival and that you are authorised to enter your destination country. If you are unable to provide sufficient evidence of these facts, your application is likely to be unsuccessful. As such, it is advisable to only apply for the UK Transit visa once your onward travel has already been booked. 

How to Apply for UK Transit Visa (Step by Step)

In order to apply for a UK Transit visa, there are a number of steps which you will need to complete. 

Firstly, you can submit your application online, via the UK government website. You will likely also need to attend an appointment at a UK visa application centre (which can be found in numerous locations across the globe). At this appointment, you will need to submit your biometric information (your photograph and fingerprints). 

Once you have completed the necessary steps, your application will be processed. The UK Home Office will let you know the outcome via email. If your application is successful, you will receive either a physical visa (known as a ‘vignette’) which you can stick in your passport or online access to your immigration status, where your visa and its conditions will be shown. 

Once granted, your visa can be used to enter the UK for transit purposes. 

Application Fee for UK Transit Visa

The application cost varies between the two different types of Transit visa. The cost of the Direct Airside Transit visa is generally £39, although this may vary slightly depending on the country from which you are applying. The cost of the Visitor in Transit visa is slightly higher at £70, though this may once again be higher depending on where you are applying from.  

Some applicants also choose to obtain legal advice in order to assist with their application. Contact IAS today on +44 (0)333 414 9244 to learn more about our own range of services and how we can help you navigate the UK visa process. 

UK Transit Visa Processing Time

In general, you should receive a decision on your application within 3 weeks of applying. However, a number of factors can influence the waiting time, such as whether you submit your application correctly, including all of the required documents, and how many other applications are simultaneously being processed. As such, make sure to submit your application within good time of your travel plans and to promptly provide any additional information which is requested. 

How Can IAS Help?

The UK is a popular travel destination which boasts many international airports. As such, it has multiple travel connections to numerous locations across the globe. For many travellers with connecting flights to their destination country, they find themselves passing through the UK in transit. 

If you are passing through the UK in transit to another country, you may require a Transit visa. However, understanding the rules around the Transit visa can often be confusing. At IAS, our immigration experts are adept at giving bespoke advice on cases just like this. Contact us today on +44 (0)333 414 9244 to learn more about our full range of services and to receive guidance on every step of your UK visa application.