• Transit Visa

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
Check if you require a UK transit visa

Types of UK Transit Visa

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.

NB: You may require a UK visitor visa instead of a transit visa if your ultimate destination is Ireland, the Isle of Man or one of the Channel Islands, and you do not hold a visa for that jurisdiction.

UK Transit Visa Fees

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.

Demetris Demetriou

Demetris is a dual-qualified lawyer in the UK (Solicitor) and Cyprus (Advocate) with 10+ years of experience in UK immigration. He completed his legal studies at University College London and City University London. Over the course of his career, he held key roles as Head of Immigration at Legal 500 firms and within the Big4, overseeing teams of 15+ fee earners handling 2000+ applications annually.

Demetris went on to co-establish his firm in London and continues to offer innovative solutions and strategic immigration planning to multinationals, SMEs, and private clients.

He personally represented 1500+ clients in 30+ visa routes including investors, entrepreneurs, innovators, sole representatives, students, family visas, global talent, UK ancestry, administrative reviews and appeals. Demetris has managed corporate relocations, conducted immigration law training and implemented post-Brexit immigration policies for corporate clients.

Demetris has been featured in various events and publications focusing on UK immigration, notably at the Cambridge Network, the Westminster Policy Forum and most recently at DGEMS, a global mobility summit hosted by Forbes India.

If you would like to discuss your UK immigration matter or have any questions about your options for immigrating to the UK, you can book a consultation here.

Tatiani Preifelt

Tatiani has a wealth of expertise in global mobility and corporate immigration. Her ample skills were acquired within leading immigration practices including three out of the Big4 firms in both the UK and Sweden. Tatiani went on to co-establish her firm in London where she continues to advise clients predominantly in corporate, business and skilled work migration.

Having personally relocated to 10 different countries, Tatiani understands the importance of an expedient and successful immigration process and takes pride in delivering a seamless experience to her clients as well.

Over the course of her career, she has assisted over 500 individuals and businesses to obtain the appropriate visa permits in the UK.

Her awarded academic work at The University of Oxford, The London School of Economics, and at The Geneva University is in the fields of Political Science, International Human Rights Law, and Global Migration Governance.

She regularly provides immigration training and has recently participated as a speaker and panellist at DGEMS 2023, a global mobility summit hosted by Forbes India.

If you would like to discuss your UK immigration matter or have any questions about your options for immigrating to the UK, you can book a consultation here.