Transiting UK or Transit Rules in UK

Types of transit

• Direct Air side Transit Visa (DATV)
• Landside Transit

'Transit without visa' concession - Direct Air side Transit Visa (DATV) exemptions

Who is Visa National in UK or Nationalities requiring a Direct Air side Transit  Visa (DATV) in UK.

Travelling through the Common Travel Area

Land Transit in UK

Transit Land side means, if you arrive on a flight, pass through immigration control and then leave the UK within 48 hours (or 24 hours if you are travelling under the 'travel without visa' concession).

If you are from visa national country(click here to know visa national country) you must obtain a transit visa prior to your transit

If you want to spend longer than 48 hours in the UK before continuing your journey, you must have a visitor visa to UK.

Travelling through the Common Travel Area

Travelling through the Common Travel Area
he UK, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are known as the Common Travel Area.

If you are a visa national, or if you are recognised as 'stateless', you may need a visa to transit the UK on your way to or from a Common Travel Area destination.

Travelling to a Common Travel Area destination

If you are passing through the UK on your way to a destination in the Common Travel Area, you cannot transit airside and will need to enter the UK during your journey

Transit without visa' concession in UK - Direct Airside Transit Visa exemptions in UK

If you are a national of a country covered by the DATV system, you may be able to transit the UK airside without a visa. To qualify for this exemption:

you must arrive and depart by air; and
your onward flight must be confirmed, and must depart within 24 hours; and
you have proper documentation for your destination, including a visa if necessary.
Additionally, you must hold:

1. a valid entry visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA, and a valid airline ticket for travel via the UK, as part of a journey to or from one of those countries; or
2. a valid airline ticket for travel via the UK as part of a journey from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA, if you are transiting the UK no more than 6 months after the date when you last entered Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA with a valid entry visa for that country; or
3. a valid USA I-551 permanent resident card issued on or after 21 April 1998; or
4. an expired I-551 permanent resident card issued on or after 21 April 1998, accompanied by an I-797 extension letter issued by the Bureau of Citizenship; or
5. a valid Canadian permanent resident card issued on or after 28 June 2002; or
6. a valid Australian or New Zealand residence visa; or
7.  a valid uniform format category D visa for entry to a state in the European Economic Area (EEA); or
8. a valid uniform format residence permit issued by an EEA state under Council Regulation (EC) number 1030/2002; or
9. a valid UK residence card; or
10. a valid EEA family permit issued by the UK government; or
11. a diplomatic or service passport issued by the People's Republic of China; or
12. a diplomatic or official passport issued by India; or
13. a diplomatic or official passport issued by Vietnam.

• A valid US immigrant visa packet (form 155A/155B) is a 'valid visa' for these purposes, but the following documents are not valid for the DATV exemption:
• An I-512 parole letter or an I-797C (notice of action) instead of a valid US visa.
• a transportation letter instead of a valid US permanent resident card issued on or after 21 April 1998;
• a valid travel document with a US 'ADIT' stamp saying - 'Processed for I-551. TEMPORARY EVIDENCE OF LAWFUL ADMISSION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE VALID UNTIL [date]. EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZED'; and
• a US visa foil endorsed, "NOT A VISA. FOIL PREPARED AT DHS REQUEST".

Who is Visa National in UK or Nationalities requiring a DATV in UK

Following countries are called Visa National in UK or Nationalities requiring a Direct Airside Transit Visa  UK

1. Afghanistan
2. Albania
3. Algeria
4. Angola
5. Armenia
6. Azerbaijan
7. Bahrain
8. Bangladesh
9. Belarus
10. Benin
11. Bhutan
12. Bolivia
13. Bosnia Herzegovina
14. Burkina Faso
15. Burma
16. Burundi
17. Cambodia
18. Cameroon
19. Cape Verde
20. Central African Republic
21. Chad
22. People's Republic of China (unless they hold a passport issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or Macao Special Administrative Region)
23. Colombia
24. Comoros
25. Congo
26. Cuba
27. Democratic Republic of the Congo
28. Djibouti
29. Dominican Republic
30. Ecuador
31. Egypt
32. Equatorial Guinea
33. Eritrea
34. Ethiopia
35. Fiji
36. Gabon
37. Gambia
38. Georgia
39. Ghana
40. Guinea
41. Guinea Bissau
42. Guyana
43. Haiti
44. India
45. Indonesia
46. Iran
47. Iraq
48. Ivory Coast
49. Jamaica
50. Jordan
51. Kazakhstan
52. Kenya
53. Korea (North)
54. Kosovo
55. Kuwait
56. Kyrgyzstan
57. Laos
58. Lebanon
59. Lesotho
60. Liberia
61. Libya
62. Macedonia
63. Madagascar
64. Malawi
65. Mali
66. Mauritania
67. Moldova
68. Mongolia
69. Montenegro
70. Morocco
71. Mozambique
72. Nepal
73. Niger
74. Nigeria
75. Oman
76. Pakistan
77. Palestinian Territories
78. Peru
79. Philippines
80. Qatar
81. Republic of South Sudan
82. Republic of Sudan 
83. Russia
84. Rwanda
85. Sao Tome e Principe
86. Saudi Arabia
87. Senegal
88. Serbia
89. Sierra Leone
90. Somalia
91. South Africa
92. Sri Lanka
93. Sudan
94. Surinam
95. Swaziland
96. Syria
97. Taiwan (unless they hold a Taiwan passport which includes the number of the identification card issued by the competent authority in Taiwan)
98. Tajikistan
99. Tanzania
100. Thailand
101. Togo
102. Tunisia
103. Turkey
104. Turkmenistan
105. Uganda
106. Ukraine
107. United Arab Emirates
108. Uzbekistan
109. Vatican City
110. Venezuela (unless they hold a Venezuelan passport which contains biometric information held in an electronic chip)
111. Vietnam
112. Yemen
113. Zambia
114. Zimbabwe
115. The territories formerly comprising the socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) in UK

In Direct Airside Transit Visa applicable when you arrive on a flight, remain in the arrival lounge of the airport without passing through immigration control, and then depart on another flight from the same airport.

The UK government operates a DATV system for some countries.These countries are here

If you are a national of a from any of these countries(to know the country list click here) you must have a Direct Airside Transit Visa to perform a Air side Transit in UK

Transit Visa Information

Every traveler face challenges while transiting certain countries to reach their final destination

Transit visa requirements are enforced by a particular country where transit places is located and not by individual air line itself

How we check whether a transit visa required or not to transit a certain country.

Click here to know the rules while transiting UK