The UK visa policy grants EU citizens and citizens of over 60 other countries the possibility to enter the UK visa-free for up to six months. However, all non- British nationals need to apply for a visa if they intend to stay longer.
For example, if you are a US citizen, you can visit the UK without a visa for up to six months. But, if you are planning to work, study or move to the UK, you must apply for the appropriate visa scheme.
The visa requirements for visiting the UK depend on your nationality and the purpose and duration of your visit. Citizens of some countries may enter the UK for short visits (e.g., tourism or business) without a visa, while others may require a visa. It’s essential to check the UK government’s official website or consult the nearest UK embassy or consulate to determine whether you need a visa and the specific requirements for your visit. The visa rules and regulations can change, so it’s crucial to obtain the most up-to-date information before planning your trip.
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cabo Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Republic of the Congo
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- South Korea
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Peru
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and
- Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- European-Union citizens
- Andorra
- Antigua and
- Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Dominica
- Timor-Leste
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Iceland
- Israel
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Liechtenstein
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Monaco
- Namibia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Norway
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- British Overseas Territories citizens
- British Overseas citizens
- British Nationals (Overseas)
- British protected persons
- British subjects without the right of abode in the UK
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- China
- Republic of the Congo
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Cyprus
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- India
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Kosovo
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Malawi
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Turkey
- Uganda
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zimbabwe
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Burkina Faso
- Cambodia
- Cabo Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Georgia
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Indonesia
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- South Korea
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Oman
- Peru
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Russia
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Suriname
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Arrive and depart by air.
- Have a confirmed onward flight that departs before 23:59 hrs the following day.
- Hold the correct documents for your destination (e.g. a visa for that
country if required).
However, an immigration officer at the UK border will decide if you can transit without a visa. In any case, it is best to check with your airline before leaving.
Who is Exempt From a UK Transit Visa?
You are exempt from applying for a transit visa if you have one of the following:
- A valid visa for entry to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the USA
(regardless if the holder is traveling to or from these countries); or a visa for entry to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the USA as part of a reasonable journey FROM the country in respect of which the visa is held, and it is less than 6 months since the holder last entered that country with a valid entry visa. A valid permanent residence permit issued by:
Australia
Canada, issued after 28 June 2002
New Zealand
USA issued after 21 April 1998 or a valid US Immigrant visa endorsed with a US arrival stamp (a wet-ink/ADIT stamp version will NOT be
accepted by UK border control) or an expired I-551 Permanent Residence card in case it is accompanied by a valid I-797 letter authorizing extension, or a standalone US Immigration Form 155A/155B (attached to a sealed brown envelope). - A valid common format residence permit issued by an EEA state or
Switzerland. - A valid common format category D visa for entry to an EEA state or
Switzerland. - A valid Irish biometric visa endorsed BC or BC BIVS (in order to transit to a destination other than the Republic of Ireland or the Common Travel Area).
- A valid Schengen Approved Destination Scheme (ADS) group tourism visa where the holder is traveling TO the country that issued it.
- A valid airline ticket FROM the Schengen area; only if the holder can prove that they have entered there no more than 30 days previously on the basis of a valid Schengen ADS visa.
- You are 16 years old or over
- You have received an offer of an academic course from a licensed student sponsor
- You have the sufficient means to support yourself
- You are able to speak, read, understand and write in English.
Yes, all non-British nationals need a visa if they want to work in the UK. You can start working in the UK by applying for a short-term work visa or long-term work visa. Some of the UK work visas you can apply for are:
- Skilled Worker visa
- Health and Care Worker visa
- Charity Worker visa (Temporary Work)
- Creative Worker visa (Temporary Work)
- Government Authorised Exchange visa (Temporary Work)
- International Agreement visa (Temporary Work)
- Seasonal Worker visa (Temporary Work)
- Graduate visa
- Innovator visa
- Start-up visa
- Apply for the Global Talent visa
- Entrepreneur visa (Tier 1)
- Investor visa (Tier 1)
If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national, you can freely enter the UK for holidays and short trips visa-free. Additionally, you can cross the UK border if you own a valid passport and provided that your passport will be valid for the whole time you are in the UK. However, you do need a visa to study or work in the UK.
You can use your EEA or Swiss national identity card as long as:
- You have received confirmation that your application is valid.
- You have applied for settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man’s settlement schemes.
- You have not applied to join a family member.
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