New requirements for transit visas

A national from certain countries (including, for example, Belarus, China and India) from 1 December 2014 will need to have a transit visa to travel via the UK by air. This relates to those travellers who will not need to cross the border of the UK so as to carry out their further travel to their final destination. The following requirements are thus compulsory for citizens of the provided countries:

• have the option of either applying for a transit visa for making an airside or landside transit, or using one of an extended list of ‘exemption’ documents for example an EEA or Swiss common format residence permit; 
• pay a reduced cost for a DATV of £30, which will be valid for 2 years;
• if you are national from China or India travelling, you can also use a British and Irish Visa scheme biometric visa as an exemption document for transit. 

A national from certain countries (including, for example, Ukraine and Russia) from 1 December 2014 will need to have a transit visa to travel via the UK by air. This relates to those travellers who will need to cross the border of the UK so as to carry out their further travel to their final destination. The following requirements are thus compulsory for citizens of the provided countries:

• have a transit visa;
• need to arrive and depart by air, have a confirmed onward flight which leaves by 11.59 pm the following day and have the right documents for your destination;
• if you are a national from Ecuador, Bolivia and Montenegro you will no longer be required to hold a transit visa or a valid exemption document, for airside transit.