Changing
transit visa
requirements

2 December 2014

Transit visas are required for non-EEA or Swiss travellers who are passing through the UK en-route to another country within 48 hours of arriving in the country.

As of 1 December 2014, the requirements for Direct Airside Transit Visas (DATVs) and non-Direct Airside Transit Visas (non-DATVs) have changed in an effort to simplify transit visa rules and make them easier to understand.

The transit visa categories have stayed the same, with DATVs being necessary for airside and landside transit passengers and non-DATVs covering those in landside transit only. Airside transit refers to passengers catching an onward flight from the same airport they arrived into whilst landside transit describes passengers must pass through border controls and enter the UK, for example if they arrive into one UK airport and must re-check in baggage or catch an onward flight from another airport.

From 1 December 2014, all those applying for a DATV will:

  • Have the option of either applying for a transit visa for making an airside or landside transit, or of using one of an extended list of exemption documents for example an EEA or Swiss common format residence permit. The extended list is to be found under change 25 on pages 11 and 12 of the Immigration Rules: Statement of Changes.
  • Pay a reduced cost of £30 for a DATV which will be valid for 2 years for genuine frequent transit travellers.
  • Be able to use the new British-Irish Visa Scheme biometric visa as a valid DATV exemption document, if you are a Chinese or Indian traveller.

From 1 December 2014, all those applying for a non-DATV will:

  • Need to arrive and depart by air, have a confirmed onward flight which leaves by 23:59 the day following their arrival and hold the correct documents for their destination.
  • No longer be able to use their confirmed onward ticket for landside transit and instead must now hold a transit visa or exemption document.
  • Be able to use one of the extended list of exemption documents inplace of a non-DATV. The extended list is to be found under change 25 on pages 11 and 12 of the Immigration Rules: Statement of Changes.
  • No longer be required to hold a UK DATV or a valid exemption document for airside transit, if they are an Ecuador, Boliva or Montenegro national.

For official gov.uk information on these changes please click here. A full list of requirements for DATV applicants can be found on pages 11 and 12 of the Immigration Rules: Statement of Changes

 

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