UK Transit Visa
UK Transit Visa
You need a UK Transit visa if you plan to travel through the UK. Applying for a UK Transit visa you need to check if you need a visa, then decide what type of transit visa you need and prepare the evidence for it. As a part of the application process, you will need to attend an appointment at a UK visa application center.
First of all, to prove that you need a UK Transit visa you must demonstrate that you will pass through the UK to another country, you have enough money to travel on and no intention to stay in the UK. Also, you have to prove that you are allowed to enter the country of your destination and the only purpose of your visit to the UK is your transit.
It is worth mentioning, that people do not need UK Transit visas if they come from the European Economic Area or Switzerland, have the European Economic Area family permit, have a UK Standard Visitor visa, or a UK Marriage Visitor visa. People who are refugees or are stateless and have a Home Office travel document also do not need a UK Transit visa.
It is important to distinguish among the different types of UK Transit visas – a Direct Airside Transit visa, a Visitor in Transit visa, and a Standard Visitor visa. The type of visa you need depends on the UK border control and whether you need it when you arrive in the country. You can get this information from your airline. If you know that you do not need to pass through the UK border control and you will be just changing flights, then you have to apply for a Direct Airside Transit visa. If you know that you will have to go through the UK border control, but then you will leave the country within the next 48 hours, you should apply for a Visitor in Transit visa. A Standard Visitor Visa is for those travelers, who need to stay longer in the UK on their way to another country or they can prove the need to pass through the UK frequently over a longer period of time.
The prices of the UK Transit visa can slightly vary depending on the country of your application, but a Direct Airside Transit visa fee is around £35, and Visitor in Transit visa fee is around £64.
People who plan to apply for a Direct Airside Transit visa need to have a valid passport or any other valid travel identification document. It is important to prove that you are allowed to enter the country you travel to with a valid visa, a residence permit, or a green card. If you are not a national of the country you are traveling to and not a resident of it, you will have to explain the need for your trip. You may be asked to provide some details of your travel, like where you plan to stay, for example. Also, you have to demonstrate, that your onward journey is booked and confirmed. The evidence that can prove this includes printed tickets, a flight booking email, or a confirmation of a travel agent. It is important, that your onward flight be within 24 hours after you arrive in the UK. Please, remember to bring your documents and visa with you when you transit through the UK.
People who apply for a Direct Airside Transit visa outside the UK must do it online but then visit a visa application center. There, personal biometric information (photographs and fingerprints) will be taken. Depending on the location of your visa application center additional priority services, like faster visa decisions, may be available.
People who plan to travel to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Ireland need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa to travel through the UK unless they are exempt. You do not need a UK Standard Visitor visa if you already have a valid Irish biometric visa or a valid visa for the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Some people need to pass through the UK regularly over a long period of time. Then, the best visa choice for them is a Standard Visitor visa that allows a maximum of 6 months’ stay and can last for two, five, or even ten years.
If you plan to apply for a Visitor in Transit visa, you need to provide the following documents: a valid passport or any other valid travel identification, and the evidence that you are allowed to enter the country you are traveling to, like a valid visa, a residence permit or a green card. People who are not residents or nationals of the country of their travel destination might need to explain the reason for their trip and the details of the stay. Printed tickets, a flight booking email, or a confirmation from a travel agent can be good evidence that a journey is well-planned, booked, and confirmed. It is important that your onward flight be within 48 hours after the arrival in the UK. Keep your Visitor in Transit visa and documents with you when you pass through the UK.
The application process for the Visitor in Transit visa starts online. Then, the applicant has to come to a visa application center and have the fingerprints and photographs taken (biometric information). After the appointment, the applicant will be told when a decision has been made about the visa. People who are in North Korea cannot apply online, so they can download the application form and apply through China. The application instructions are available on the official UK governmental webpages.
UK Transit visa decision can take up to three weeks (15 working days). Though, many UK visa application centers offer priority and super-priority services when applicants can get their visa decisions faster. For an extra £220, the visa decision can be made within five working days, not including weekends and bank holidays. For an extra of £956, the UK Transit visa decision can be made within 24 hours after the application. You can check this information in your visa application center.
Regards,
SmartImmigrant
