You transit the UK
airside if you arrive here on a flight, remain in the arrival lounge of the airport without passing through UK 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 listed under 'More information' below.
You can transit the UK airside
without a visa if:
- you are a national of a country that is not in the list below; or
- you are recognised as stateless under the 1954 UN Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons;
- You hold a valid travel document issued by the UK government
- You are a DATV national or recognised as stateless under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and qualify for the DATV exemption under the 'transit without visa' concession - see under 'More information' below.
If you do not meet any of the above requirements, you must get a direct airside transit visa before you can transit the UK airside.
You cannot transit the UK airside if you are on your way to or from the
Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
How to apply for a direct airside transit visa
Depending on the country where you live, you may need to make your application
online or using
application form VAF6.
To find out which application method you should use, see 'More information' below.
You can download application form VAF6 and its guidance notes from the right side of this page.
As part of your application, you will need to enrol your fingerprints and facial image (known as 'biometric information') at a visa application centre.
Select your country in our
country finder to find out:
- how to apply in your country (including how to apply online);
- the location of our visa application centres;
- how long we generally take to process visa applications; and
- how your documents will be returned to you.
