The UK saw over 125.5 million arrivals between March 2023 and March 2024. The large majority of these arrivals were made up of individuals visiting the UK for tourism, leisure, and family purposes. However, a substantial minority of these arrivals were immediately headed on to another country.
If you plan on visiting another country, but your travel route will take you through the UK, you will need to apply for what is known as a UK transit visa. In this article, we will delineate all the key elements of the transit visa application process so that you can confidently make an application for this type of visa.
UK Transit Visa Purpose and Eligibility
UK transit visas allow travelers to other countries to temporarily stop in the UK while on their route. This visa type is accommodated for because many flights will stop in the UK to allow passengers to get on another plane, to carry them to their final destination.
In essence, some passengers would prefer to get a direct flight to their destination, but have to stop in the UK temporarily due to the logistics of aviation companies.
Anyone stopping in the UK temporarily to change flights will need a transit visa. This visa type is strictly for visitors who will be staying in the UK for less than 48 hours. There are a few exceptions to this rule, including if the individual in transit is a stateless person or refugee.
Types of Transit Visas
There are two main types of transit visas: the Direct Airside Transit visa (DATV) and the Visitor in Transit visa. The DATV applies to passengers who will be changing flights in the UK but will not need to go through border control. Meanwhile, Visitor in Transit visas apply to passengers who need to go through UK border control but will be leaving the UK within 48 hours of arrival.
Visa Validity and Duration of Stay
The validity periods and maximum permitted stays vary between the different types of transit visa. Direct Airside Transit visas are usually valid for up to six months, and permit the individual to stay at the airport for up to 24 hours while waiting for an onward flight.
Visitor in Transit visas have the same validity period of six months, but allow for travelers to stay in the UK for 48 hours before boarding their onward flight.
UK Transit Visa Requirements
When applying for a UK transit visa, there are a range of general requirements that applicants must fulfill. In addition to this, there are some specific requirements that exist relating to each type of transit visa.
General Requirements
No matter what type of visa transit you are applying for, you will need to ensure you have a valid passport, sufficient funds to pay the visa application fee, as well as onward travel documents to demonstrate your genuine intent to leave the UK once you arrive.
Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) Specific Requirements
Applicants who are granted a Direct Airside Transit visa must ensure that they remain in the airport’s international transit area. The transit area refers to the ‘airside’ part of the airport, which is effectively everything up until the border control area. If you have a Direct Airside Transit visa, you cannot go through border control.
Visitor in Transit Visa Specific Requirements
Travelers who apply for a Visitor in Transit visa will need to provide their reasons for needing to leave the transit area.
The most prevalent justification for needing to leave the transit area is the need to book a hotel or other temporary accommodation for a night if there is a prolonged time period between arriving in the UK and the onward flight. Other justifications include the need to go off-site for health reasons, such as if a traveler with kidney failure needs to have dialysis at a local hospital.
UK Transit Visa Application Process
The process of applying for a UK transit visa can appear daunting at first glance, but when broken down into smaller steps, it’s fairly simple. Applicants will need to complete an online application via the UK Gov website, submit supporting documents, attend a biometric appointment, and then wait patiently for their application to be processed.
There are some fees associated with the application and a three-week average processing time. During this time, applicants will have the option to view the progress of their application, and they can even opt to receive email or text notifications whenever their application progresses to the next stage.
Online Application
The first step is to complete the online application. To do this, first visit the UK Visas and Immigration website and click on the ‘apply for a Transit Visa’ button.
This will prompt you to create an account for the website, which involves providing an email address and a password. You will then need to go through each step of the online application. This involves providing some personal information such as your nationality, date of birth, and name.
After this, you will be prompted to share your travel plans, as well as details of any previous visits you have made to the UK. Next, you will need to share information about your accommodation arrangements, as well as your financial situation.
The next step is to upload any supporting documents before reviewing your application. Following this, you will be prompted to pay the visa fee, book a biometrics appointment, and finally submit your application.
Supporting Documents
The supporting documents required vary depending on the type of visa transit you are applying for. When applying for a Direct Airside Transit visa, applicants will need to submit a valid passport, their travel plans, proof of their intent to travel onward to another destination, and any airport transfer details.
When applying for a Visitor in Transit visa, travelers will need to submit the same evidence, such as a passport and travel documents.
The main difference is that in the case of a Visitor in Transit visa, applicants need to provide proof of accommodation outside of the airport, to demonstrate that they have genuine plans to overnight somewhere else before getting an onward flight.
Biometric Enrolment
All transit visa applicants are required to submit biometric data, which is aimed at giving travelers the ability to identify themselves if interrogated by the authorities while also empowering the authorities to be able to identify travelers.
This data consists of a personal photo and fingerprints, which applicants will have taken at a visa application center in the country they are applying from.
Visa Application Fees
The cost of applying for a transit visa can change year on year due to a variety of factors, such as the UK’s economic climate and inflation, but as of 2024, the cost of a Direct Airside Transit visa is £35, and the cost of a Visitor in Transit visa is £64.
Processing Times
The UK Visas and Immigration Department aims to process all transit visa applications within three weeks, though this can vary depending on the level of demand currently placed upon the department. In times of high demand, applicants may experience longer waiting times.
Common Reasons for UK Transit Visa Refusals
While most UK transit visa requests are accepted, a significant number are refused each day. This is often due to insufficient evidence in the application, and in particular, a lack of proof of intent to travel to another destination following arriving in the UK, or proof of a valid visa required to enter that country.
Some applications are turned down due to misrepresentation of information, and even deception. Being diligent and thorough throughout the application process can help ensure you avoid these issues.
Insufficient Evidence
The most common reason applications get turned down is due to insufficient evidence being submitted. This can pertain to any part of the application, such as missing financial documents or the omission of an accommodation booking receipt.
Concerns About Onward Travel
It is essential that applicants submit comprehensive evidence surrounding their onward travel plans, as well as a valid visa for the final destination. This may not apply to all countries, as some have very relaxed restrictions around entering, but make sure you do your research around these requirements prior to applying.
Deception or Misrepresentation
While mistakes in an application may be innocent, it is important to understand that no matter your intent, you could face legal repercussions if you provide false or misleading information in your application.
If you are deemed to have been deliberately deceptive, you can face a ten year travel ban to the UK. To avoid this, make sure you proofread your application, and if possible, get a friend or family member to proofread it for you as well and point out any inconsistencies.
Tips for a Successful UK Transit Visa Application
While some factors are out of your control, there are things you can do to increase your chances of making a successful application for a UK transit visa. This includes applying in advance, providing clear evidence, and ensuring you are being both honest and accurate throughout the process.
Apply in Advance
Applying well in advance will increase your chances of application success. This gives you time to submit further evidence if this is required and address any questions that the UK Visas and Immigration department may have. You can apply as early as three months prior to your trip.
Provide Clear Evidence
It is crucial that you submit clear and comprehensive evidence of your onward transit intentions. This is where many applications fall down, as many travelers consider the other supporting documents to be more important. However, from the home office’s point of view, they need to be entirely sure that travelers are not intending to stay in the UK for a prolonged time period.
To provide clear evidence for your onward transit plans, it is worth saving PDF files of your onward flight, your itinerary for your time in your final destination, and receipts for any accommodation arrangements you have made there.
Be Truthful and Accurate
And last but not least, make sure your entire application is both truthful and accurate. It is easy to gloss over certain details, and it may be tempting to exaggerate certain elements of your application in order to appear desirable. However, this can result in your application being rejected and could even carry legal repercussions.
Whether or not you have an intent to be dishonest, if the home office considers that you were deceptive in your application, you can be banned from entering the UK. So don’t rush, and make sure to read your application back to yourself a few times before you submit it. You will thank yourself later.