The UK Home Office has announced visa and transit rules for 2025, affecting travelers from different countries.
These changes explain the visa requirements for entering or passing through the UK, including rules for airside and landside transit passengers.
According to the UK Home Office, nationals from countries marked in red on the official list require a visa to enter or transit the UK.
The list also specifies that nationals from countries marked in black need a visa for landside transit and that all visa nationals may transit the UK without a visa in certain circumstances.
The updated visa rules affect a wide range of travelers, including those transiting through the UK without passing through the border.
Countries that require a visa
The Home Office has issued a list of countries whose nationals must secure a UK visa before traveling. Some of the countries listed include Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, China, Congo, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, and Venezuela (for non-biometric passport holders).
Travelers from these countries must ensure they obtain a visa prior to traveling to or through the UK.
Transit rules for airside passengers
The new regulations outline the rules for airside transit, where passengers remain in the airport’s secure area without crossing the UK border control. Travelers can transit airside without a visa if they meet the following conditions:
- They arrive and depart on the same day
- They have a confirmed onward flight
- They possess valid entry documents for their next destination
However, nationals from red-listed countries must still obtain a visa to transit airside, unless they hold one of the following:
- A valid visa for entry to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA (whether or not the holder is travelling 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 June 28th, 2002, New Zealand
- USA issued after April 21st 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 provided it is accompanied by a valid I-797 letter authorising extension; or a standalone US Immigration Form 155A/155B (attached to a sealed brown envelope); or
- A valid common format residence permit issued by an EEA state or Switzerland; or
- A valid common format category D visa for entry to an EEA state or Switzerland; or
- 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); or
- A valid Schengen Approved Destination Scheme (ADS) group tourism visa where the holder is travelling TO the country that issued it; or
- A valid airline ticket FROM the Schengen area; provided the holder can demonstrate they entered there no more than 30 days previously on the basis of a valid Schengen ADS visa.
The Home Office also warns that other countries’ e-visas or e-residence permits are not acceptable unless the airline can verify it with the issuing country.
Landside transit requirements
For passengers who need to pass through immigration, such as to change airports or collect baggage, additional requirements apply.
These passengers must ensure their onward flight departs before 23:59 the following day and that they possess valid documents for their final destination. Nationals from both red and black-listed countries require a visa for landside transit unless they hold one of the following:
- A valid visa for entry to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA and a valid airline ticket via the UK as part of a reasonable journey TO that country; or
- A valid visa for entry to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA and a valid airline ticket via the UK as part of a reasonable journey FROM that country; 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; or
- 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 provided it is accompanied by a valid I-797 letter authorising extension; or a standalone US Immigration Form 155A/155B (attached to a sealed brown envelope); or
- A valid common format residence permit issued by an EEA state or Switzerland; or
- A valid common format category D visa for entry to an EEA state or Switzerland; or
- A valid Irish biometric visa endorsed BC or BC BIVS and travelling TO the Republic of Ireland; or
- An Irish biometric visa endorsed BC or BC BIVS and travelling FROM the Republic of Ireland provided it is less than 3 months since the holder last entered there.
Home office warns that other countries’ e-visas or e-residence permits are NOT acceptable for landside transit.
“The decision to allow a passenger to transit without a visa (TWOV) under the scheme is decided by an immigration officer at the UK border,” the Home Office informed in the release.
Exemptions and special cases
There are specific exemptions for some travelers. UK permanent residents do not need a visa, as long as they return within two years of their last departure.
Holders of UK-issued refugee travel documents and stateless individuals recognized under the 1954 UN Convention are also exempt from needing a visa for transit.
Whether holders of non-national and refugee travel documents require a direct airside transit visa (DATV) depends on their original nationality, and whether they qualify for one of the exemptions mentioned above.
Additionally, seafarers traveling on duty with valid seafarer’s books issued under ILO conventions are not required to obtain a visa.
What to know
Home Office also informs that visa nationals may transit the UK without a visa in these circumstances.
- Diplomatic or Service passport holders may transit airside without a visa
- Passport not recognised by HM Government –visa should be issued on a Form for Affixing a Visa (FAV).
- Diplomatic or official passport holders may transit without a visa.
- Passports that include a personal ID number on the biodata page are exempt from the visa requirement.
- Diplomatic or Official passport holders may transit airside without a visa.
- Holders may not use a B1/B2 USA visa to transit the UK.
- Diplomatic passport holders may transit airside without a visa.
