Travelling through the Common Travel Area

Travelling through the Common Travel Area

he UK, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are known as the Common Travel Area.

If you are a visa national, or if you are recognized as 'stateless', you may need a visa to transit the UK on your way to or from a Common Travel Area destination.

Travelling to a Common Travel Area destination

If you are passing through the UK on your way to a destination in the Common Travel Area, you cannot transit air side and will need to enter the UK during your journey

Transit without visa' concession in UK - Direct Airside Transit Visa exemptions in UK

If you are a national of a country covered by the DATV system, you may be able to transit the UK airside without a visa. To qualify for this exemption:

you must arrive and depart by air; and
your onward flight must be confirmed, and must depart within 24 hours; and
you have proper documentation for your destination, including a visa if necessary.
Additionally, you must hold:

1. a valid entry visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA, and a valid airline ticket for travel via the UK, as part of a journey to or from one of those countries; or
2. a valid airline ticket for travel via the UK as part of a journey from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA, if you are transiting the UK no more than 6 months after the date when you last entered Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA with a valid entry visa for that country; or
3. a valid USA I-551 permanent resident card issued on or after 21 April 1998; or
4. an expired I-551 permanent resident card issued on or after 21 April 1998, accompanied by an I-797 extension letter issued by the Bureau of Citizenship; or
5. a valid Canadian permanent resident card issued on or after 28 June 2002; or
6. a valid Australian or New Zealand residence visa; or
7.  a valid uniform format category D visa for entry to a state in the European Economic Area (EEA); or
8. a valid uniform format residence permit issued by an EEA state under Council Regulation (EC) number 1030/2002; or
9. a valid UK residence card; or
10. a valid EEA family permit issued by the UK government; or
11. a diplomatic or service passport issued by the People's Republic of China; or
12. a diplomatic or official passport issued by India; or
13. a diplomatic or official passport issued by Vietnam.

• A valid US immigrant visa packet (form 155A/155B) is a 'valid visa' for these purposes, but the following documents are not valid for the DATV exemption:
• An I-512 parole letter or an I-797C (notice of action) instead of a valid US visa.
• a transportation letter instead of a valid US permanent resident card issued on or after 21 April 1998;
• a valid travel document with a US 'ADIT' stamp saying - 'Processed for I-551. TEMPORARY EVIDENCE OF LAWFUL ADMISSION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE VALID UNTIL [date]. EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZED'; and
• a US visa foil endorsed, "NOT A VISA. FOIL PREPARED AT DHS REQUEST".

Who is Visa National in UK or Nationalities requiring a DATV in UK

Following countries are called Visa National in UK or Nationalities requiring a Direct Airside Transit Visa

1. UK
2. Afghanistan
3. Albania
4. Algeria
5. Angola
6. Armenia
7. Azerbaijan
8. Bahrain
9. Bangladesh
10. Belarus
11. Benin
12. Bhutan
13. Bolivia
14. Bosnia Herzegovina
15. Burkina Faso
16. Burma
17. Burundi
18. Cambodia
19. Cameroon
20. Cape Verde
21. Central African Republic
22. Chad
23. People's Republic of China (unless they hold a passport issued by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or Macao Special Administrative Region)
24. Colombia
25. Comoros
26. Congo
27. Cuba
28. Democratic Republic of the Congo
29. Djibouti
30. Dominican Republic
31. Ecuador
32. Egypt
33. Equatorial Guinea
34. Eritrea
35. Ethiopia
36. Fiji
37. Gabon
38. Gambia
39. Georgia
40. Ghana
41. Guinea
42. Guinea Bissau
43. Guyana
44. Haiti
45. India
46. Indonesia
47. Iran
48. Iraq
49. Ivory Coast
50. Jamaica
51. Jordan
52. Kazakhstan
53. Kenya
54. Korea (North)
55. Kosovo
56. Kuwait
57. Kyrgyzstan
58. Laos
59. Lebanon
60. Lesotho
61. Liberia
62. Libya
63. Macedonia
64. Madagascar
65. Malawi
66. Mali
67. Mauritania
68. Moldova
69. Mongolia
70. Montenegro
71. Morocco
72. Mozambique
73. Nepal
74. Niger
75. Nigeria
76. Oman
77. Pakistan
78. Palestinian Territories
79. Peru
80. Philippines
81. Qatar
82. Republic of South Sudan
83. Republic of Sudan 
84. Russia
85. Rwanda
86. Sao Tome e Principe
87. Saudi Arabia
88. Senegal
89. Serbia
90. Sierra Leone
91. Somalia
92. South Africa
93. Sri Lanka
94. Sudan
95. Surinam
96. Swaziland
97. Syria
98. Taiwan (unless they hold a Taiwan passport which includes the number of the identification card issued by the competent authority in Taiwan)
99. Tajikistan
100. Tanzania
101. Thailand
102. Togo
103. Tunisia
104. Turkey
105. Turkmenistan
106. Uganda
107. Ukraine
108. United Arab Emirates
109. Uzbekistan
110. Vatican City
111. Venezuela (unless they hold a Venezuelan passport which contains biometric information held in an electronic chip)
112. Vietnam
113. Yemen
114. Zambia
115. Zimbabwe
116. The territories formerly comprising the socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Land Transit in UK

Transit Land side means, if you arrive on a flight, pass through immigration control and then leave the UK within 48 hours (or 24 hours if you are travelling under the 'travel without visa' concession).

If you are from visa national country(click here to know visa national country) you must obtain a transit visa prior to your transit

If you want to spend longer than 48 hours in the UK before continuing your journey, you must have a visitor visa to UK.

Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) in UK

In Direct Airside Transit Visa applicable when you arrive on a flight, remain in the arrival lounge of the airport without passing through immigration control, and then depart on another flight from the same airport.

The UK government operates a DATV system for some countries.These countries are here

If you are a national of a from any of these countries(to know the country list click here) you must have a Direct Airside Transit Visa to perform a Air side Transit in UK

Transiting UK or Transit Rules in UK

Types of transit

• Direct Air side Transit Visa (DATV)
• Landside Transit

'Transit without visa' concession - Direct Air side Transit Visa (DATV) exemptions

Who is Visa National in UK or Nationalities requiring a Direct Air side Transit  Visa (DATV) in UK.

Travelling through the Common Travel Area

UK Transit Visa Information

Every traveler face challenges while transiting certain countries to reach their final destination
Transit visa requirements are enforced by a particular country where transit places is located and not by individual air line itself

How we check whether a transit visa required or not to transit a certain country.

Click here to know the rules while transiting UK

• Direct Air side Transit Visa (DATV)
• Landside Transit

'Transit without visa' concession - Direct Air side Transit Visa (DATV) exemptions

Who is Visa National in UK or Nationalities requiring a Direct Air side Transit  Visa (DATV) in UK.

Travelling through the Common Travel Area