Richmond Chambers is a multi-award winning partnership of specialist immigration barristers. Our barristers provide expert legal advice and representation, directly to individuals and businesses, in relation to all aspects of UK immigration law. We combine the expertise and quality of the Bar, with the service of a trusted law firm.
While many of our clients are intending to settle in the UK, we realise that for some it is very important to enter the UK for a much, much shorter period.
United Kingdom Immigration
While many of our clients are intending to settle in the UK, we realise that for some it is very important to enter the UK for a much, much shorter period. Even if you are just going in and out at the airport you may still need a visa. Therefore, this post will answer some frequently asked questions about UK transit visas.
If you are a non-visa national, you will not need to apply for a UK transit visa. If you are a visa national, you will not need to apply for a transit visa if you hold any of the following:
As explained below, some people transiting through the UK will not be deemed to have entered the UK. If you have not entered the UK you generally do not require permission to enter or stay in the UK. However, you will need to apply for a Direct Airside Transit if you are a national of one of the following countries:
When transiting through the UK, you can transit in one of two ways: landside or airside.
If you are transiting landside, this means you are going through UK border control and so entering the UK. You can be transiting landside even if you are just moving from one airport to another, or if you are going past UK border control just to re-check in your luggage.
To transit landside, you need a Visitor in Transit visa. A Visitor in Transit visa usually costs £64, but this may change slightly depending on the country you are applying from. Note that if you plan to regularly transit through the UK over a longer period you can apply for a Standard Visitor visa. You can apply for a multiple entry visitor visa for 2, 5, or 10 years.
If you are transiting airside, that means you are not going through UK border control and so you are not deemed to have entered the UK. For example, if you are arriving in an airport and travelling out on an onward flight from the same airport.
To transit airside you need a Direct Airside Transit visa. A Direct Airside Transit visa usually costs £35, but this may change slightly depending on the country you are applying from.
To apply successfully for a UK transit visa the applicant must satisfy the Entry Clearance Officer that:
There are no specified documents for a transit visa application but the Entry Clearance Officer will take into account the following factors which give you some indication of some of the documents you may include in your application:
To apply for a UK transit visa you will need to complete an online application form. Once you have submitted your application form, you will need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre. You should receive a decision within three weeks of providing your fingerprints and photograph.
Some travellers are eligible for the Transit Without a Visa scheme. This means that they will be allowed to transit without having to apply for a transit visa beforehand.
To be eligible for this scheme you must satisfy the following requirements:
As noted above, there is a mandatory document you will need for the application. Make sure that you have a hard copy, electronic or printed versions will not be accepted. Other than that there are no specified documents but note that the Border Officer will be considering many of the same factors as an Entry Clearance Officer, for example:
Therefore, in practice you will need many of the same pieces of evidence as you would if you were applying beforehand.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
