The United Kingdom (UK) is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The UK has served as a transit route to many European countries over the years. Though island countries the UK shared a Land border with Ireland. It neighbours several countries by sea, including France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Faroe Islands and Iceland. These countries are commercial nerves of the European continent. Foreigners visiting these countries most time have to do so by passing through the UK. If you are travelling through the UK on the way to another country, you may need a transit visa. A transit visa allows you to stay in the UK for up to 48 hours as you wait for an onward connecting flight.
ELIGIBILITY:
International persons in transit from any part of the world whose flight arrangement will involve them stopping by the UK will be eligible for a UK transit visa if:
- They can prove that they are in transit to another country with sufficient means and the intention to travel on; and
- They can prove that the only purpose of their visit to the UK is in transit.
However, citizens of the countries listed below will not require a transit visa to the UK: United States of America Canada, Australia, or the Schengen Area.
Transit visa is in three categories namely:
- Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV)
- Visitor in Transit visa
- Long-term Visit visa.
Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV)
This category is for international travellers who will be changing their flight without going through UK immigration control. And their destination is outside the European Economic Area or Switzerland.
Visitor in Transit visa
You may apply for a Visitor in Transit visa if:
- On your way to another country, you will be changing flights in the UK,
- You will go through UK border control for reasons such as: checking in your luggage, or you have a connecting flight
- You will be leaving the UK in 48 hours
- You won’t be studying or working in the UK.
Long-Term Visit Visa
If you need to transit through the UK over a longer period, a long-term visit visa enables you to stay in the country for a maximum of 48 hours on each visit, and your visa can last for two, five, and ten years.
REQUIREMENT
The documents you may be required to submit for a UK transit visa application depend on the type of transit visa you are applying for. As such, they are:
UK Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) Documents
- Valid passport/travel document
- Proof that you are allowed to enter the country which you plan to enter by providing either a:
- Residence permit
- Green card
- Valid visa
- Proof of onward or booked journey, such as a flight booking email, printed tickets, or confirmation from a travel agency.
- if you are not a national or resident of the country that you are travelling to, you must:
- Provide proof of why you are travelling there
- Provide details of where you will stay
UK Visitor in Transit Visa Documents
- Current passport or valid travel document,
- Proof that you are allowed to enter the country which you plan to enter by providing either a:
- Residence permit
- Green card
- Valid visa
- Proof of onward flight, which is within 48 hours of arriving in the UK. E.g. a flight booking, email printed tickets, or confirmation from a travel agent.
- If you are not a national or resident of the country that you are travelling to, you must:
- Be able to explain why you are going there
- Provide details of where you are going to stay
These documents listed above must accompany the travellers on the journey through the Uk
Long-Term Visit Visa Documents
- Long-Term Visit Visa Documents
- Proof that you have a legitimate reason to frequently transit through the UK.
- Proof that your reason to transit through the UK will not change while you are in the UK.
- Proof that the only purpose of your visit to the UK is transit.
- Proof that you will leave the UK within 48 hours.
HOW TO APPLY
Citizens of countries who require visas to pass through the UK will have to apply for a UK transit visa online, on the official visa website of the UK government. They will also be required to submit certain documents and biometrics to a visa application centre in their country. The procedure for the application is as follows:
- Prepare the documents. For your application to be admissible, you must provide evidence that:
- You are entering the UK to carry out permitted activities
- You will leave the country at the end of your visit
- You have sufficient means to support yourself
- You can pay for yourself, e.g., your onward and return ticket and all other costs
- Apply for the UK transit visa online. You have to complete the online application form on the visa and immigration website of the UK government.
- Upload the required documents. You may be required to upload certain documents on the application portal. The exact documents for your visa type and destination are listed on the application form.
- Pay the visa fee. Once you complete the application form, you will be redirected to the fee payment, which you have to pay online.
- Submit your documents and biometrics at a visa application center. After you complete the online application, you have to submit your documents and biometrics at a visa application center in your country. You must attend the appointment in person, as your biometric data, both fingerprints and photographs will be taken.
You will be notified about the decision on your visa after the appointment.
COST OF GETTING A UK TRANSIT VISA.
The cost of getting a UK transit visa depends on the type of transit visa the international fellow is applying for. For those going for UK Direct Airside Transit Visa they will pay £35, UK Visitor in Transit Visa Documents will pay £35 while Standard Visitor Visa will pay £100.