Transfer in London, can you get out. Do I need a transit visa for a layover in the UK? Visa processing: independently or through agencies

International travel is not complete without flights, some of which require transfers. Moreover, buying flights with transfers can save a lot of money. Some of the inconvenience associated with a flight change is offset by favorable fares.

The task of the traveler is to choose the best transfer option in order to provide for the time required to move around the terminals (if flights are organized in different places). It should also include the time for receipt, baggage check-in, check-in, customs control. Additional time will be spent on obtaining a transit visa. Thinking that transit entry will not require a visa, the traveler is making a mistake.

How is transit with a change in London organized?

A visa for transit travelers is valid for 2 days, and it must be processed before the start of the trip. Authorized transit through London is convenient in that it allows you to visit the capital of the United Kingdom legally, without exceeding the period of its validity. Before the expiration of 48 hours, the transit tourist must leave England.

When the passage of visa control is not expected, it is not necessary. However, experts working at the Embassy strongly recommend preparing permits, as the decision whether to let a transit passenger into the UK will be taken by the visa officer at his own discretion. There is always a risk that the visa officer will not let the traveler through, and as a result, the trip will be disrupted.

There are several situations in which a visa is required when passing control:

• flight with a change of terminal and with an exit from the airport;
• the need for self-collection of baggage and check-in for another flight;
• the passenger transfers to a flight scheduled for another day, which requires an overnight stay at the hotel.

You can travel through London without a visa only under certain circumstances:

1. The traveler travels exclusively by plane, and the next flight is scheduled for the same day. The final destination of the trip is the state for which the visa permission has been obtained.
2. Start or end of a trip in one of the following countries: USA, Australia, New Zealand, with a visa or residence permit. A citizen traveling by plane is the holder of a category D visa open to an EU country.

A transit visa may not be required if you have a biometric visa to travel to Ireland.

Considering such circumstances, the visa officer makes a decision, more often leaning towards allowing the transit passenger to pass without issuing an additional visa.

In case of a ban on leaving the airport, the transit passenger is in the transit zone on the territory of the airport, if travel documents for a new flight are issued in advance. s for the next flight.

To organize transit through London, you must remember the following information:

1. Transit zones are organized only at Heathrow and Gatwick (the two main airports).
2. Exiting the transit zone is prohibited.
3. The final decision whether a transit traveler can be allowed to wait for the next flight is at the discretion of the visa officer.

Due to the high risk of problems when flying with a stopover in London, visa experts strongly recommend obtaining a transit visa, which will allow you to safely plan your trip and take the opportunity to get acquainted with the sights of the English capital.

Choosing a visa: tourist or transit?

Britain takes a tough stance on migration issues. For this reason, it is so difficult to achieve a positive verdict when considering a visa application. A 48-hour permit to visit London requires no less careful preparation than applying for a visa as a tourist.

Obtained through a similar procedure, a tourist visa provides more benefits:

• obtaining access to the territory of the United Kingdom as a tourist for a period of 6 months;
• acquisition of the right to travel without limiting the number of trips;
• the opportunity to conduct a tour, get acquainted with the history, monuments, cultural traditions of the capital of the transit country.

The differences in the amount of the consular fee for the two categories of visas are insignificant, and the benefits are much greater. The turnaround time for paperwork is about the same. Having issued a tourist visa, the traveler does not need to be limited to a 48-hour wait, if necessary, planning a visit to the capital.

To determine the best option for a visa permit, you need to analyze the specific situation, take into account the peculiarities of the trip and the needs of the person.

If the route of the planned trip, completely by chance or quite thoughtfully (which is not at all surprising), lies through the UK, then very thorough preparations must be made for such a trip. Everyone knows that the British migration and transit systems have quite strict requirements, which it is advisable to familiarize yourself with before issuing air tickets.

The need for a transit visa depends on two main factors:

• how is the transit - airside or landside
• which group of countries the passenger belongs to (according to the List of visa national countries or the so-called black and red lists of countries)

Airside transit

If your airfare is for a transit flight with a stopover at Manchester International Airport, or Heathrow or Gatwick, which are located in London, then you can relax and pack your bags in peace - you do not need a visa. The layout of these airports allows you to move or move from one terminal to another (within the same airport, of course) without leaving the transit zone.

That is, the passenger will not need to go through passport control, therefore, no one will ask for a visa. But there are some nuances here. For example, citizens of Ukraine (which is blacklisted) can carry out airside transit through Britain without a transit visa only if the following conditions are met:

• arrival / departure by plane (this can be a through ticket or several tickets from different companies, but for the entire route)
• tickets for the next flight, the departure of which must be before 23:59 on the day of arrival (the time indicated in the tickets is taken into account, regardless of the delay / cancellation of the flight)
• tickets must be for international flights (exception - flight to Ireland)
• availability of all documents that are necessary for entry into the country of destination
• the traveler cannot leave the transit area of ​​the airport

Landside transit

Passengers often book flights specifically to explore London, or are forced to purchase flights through the UK because there is no more convenient or cheaper way to get to their destination. During landside transit, the traveler needs to leave the transit area, for example, to collect/check in luggage, change airports, stay overnight at a hotel, or to transfer to a domestic flight or a flight to Ireland.

Usually, in such cases, customs officers require a transit visa, but there are exceptions to every rule. The absence of this document during landside transit is allowed only if the passenger fulfills the following conditions:

• arrival/departure only by plane (this can be a through ticket or several tickets from different companies, but for the entire route)
• the availability of air tickets for the plane, the take-off of which must be before 23:59 the next day after arrival (the time indicated in the air tickets is taken into account, regardless of the delay / cancellation of the flight)

For example, a passenger arrived on June 11 at 22:00, he must fly from Britain before 23:59 on June 12. Please note that using this rule, it is quite profitable to buy air tickets for night flights. For example, a passenger arrived on July 15 at 00:15, the tickets must be on the next flight with a departure before 23:59 on July 16. In fact, the traveler has two whole days in the UK.

• a valid visa to New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the USA and a plane ticket to one of the listed countries
• an expired visa to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, but six months have not passed since the entry into one of the countries listed
• a valid biometric visa to enter the Republic of Ireland (remarks must indicate "BC" or "BC BIVS"), as well as airline tickets to Ireland
• a valid Irish biometric visa (remarks must indicate 'BC' or 'BC BIVS'), airline tickets proving they are flying from Ireland, and less than three months have passed since they entered that country
• long-term visa category D, issued by one of the countries of the European Union or Switzerland
• residence permit in australia
• Residence permit in New Zealand
• Residence permit in Canada (issued after June 28, 2002)
• Residence permit in the United States (issued after 04/21/1008), including a valid US I-551 Temporary Immigrant Visa (please note that British border control officers will not accept the specified document with a seal made with wet ink), permanent residence card (permanent residence card residence), expired I-551 card (must be accompanied by a valid I-797 letter authorizing renewal), U.S. Immigration Form 155A/155B (provided with a stamped brown envelope)
• Residence permit in Switzerland or in any country that is part of the European Economic Area
• availability of all documents that are necessary for entry into the country of destination

Note! visa-free landside transit will not be possible if the passenger has an electronic visa (e-visa) or an electronic residence permit (e-residence permit), and also do not count on luck if you have a US visa type "YY" or "ZZ" marked " Not a visa. Foil prepared at DHS request" or stamped "Processed for I-551".

Also note that even the fulfillment of these conditions does not give a 100% guarantee for visa-free transit through the UK. It all depends on the decision of the immigration officer at passport control, who has every right to refuse you. Therefore, it is in your interest to carefully prepare for communication with the officer.

For example, if a passenger purchased air tickets for a plane that arrives in London in the evening, and the next flight is tomorrow morning, then an additional argument confirming the need to leave the transit zone will be a document (printout) confirming the booked hotel room near the airport.

If your airline tickets include a route with a change of airport (for example, you arrive in Luton, and flights depart from Heathrow), then it would be prudent to book bus or train tickets in advance and present them to the immigration officer.

And remember - if you do not want to immediately nullify all the dreams of a visa-free landside transit, you should not tell the officer at passport control that you specifically picked up flights with long connections in London to see the city.

What you need at passport control:

• international passport
• valid visa to the country of destination (if necessary)
• tickets for flights with the corresponding route (for example, tickets for the Kiev-London-Toronto flight look much more convincing than flights with the Kiev-London-Berlin route. The UK immigration officers will clearly guess that you have specifically chosen this route to walk around London .The risk of staying at the airport increases dramatically)
• a fully completed immigration form (the form is taken at the counter before control or on the plane of some air carriers)

In what cases it is desirable to obtain a visa in advance:

• the passenger has already been denied a UK visa
• deportation or denial of entry to any country
• problems with the law (in any country)
• during a previous visit to Britain, the traveler violated the visa regime (worked illegally on a tourist or student visa, etc.

Up-to-date information on the migration policy of the country,

check with official sources - visa center and consulate.

- one of those points on the world map that instills vague doubts and anxiety in the hearts of travelers. In view of the strict migration policy, the British approach the visa issue with all caution. As a result, there is an ambiguous situation with a transit visa when transferring from flight to flight.

The good news is that you may not need a visa (but don't count on it too much), the bad news is that there are many "pitfalls" of passing customs control. We will tell you everything you need to know for a successful transfer flight in the capital of the Foggy Albion.

How to check if I need a visa if I am flying in transit?

The first question that comes to travelers in transit is whether a visa is required? For a full guarantee, we recommend checking the information on transit flights on the official website of the British Migration Service.

Another way to check is to look at TIMATIC. This is a unified information system of the International Air Transport Association IATA (International Air Transportation Association). Here, with all scrupulousness and accuracy, all the rules for those who travel by plane are collected. So, to double-check the need for a transit visa, use TIMATIK on one of these resources:

The development of events also depends on the airport of arrival: if you arrive at Manchester International Airport or Heathrow, life is wonderful and you definitely do not need to worry about a visa. The layout of these airports allows you to move from one terminal to another without leaving the transit zone. This type of transit is called airside.

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The second type of transfer is landside transit. With landside transit, the traveler leaves the territory of the airport, and, consequently, the transit zone. At this time, you can visit: in a couple of hours you can see the legendary sights of London, better understand the history of the city and feel its special atmosphere. Usually in such cases a transit visa is required, but you may not need it if you comply with the following:

• you have tickets for a flight that departs on the day of your arrival or before midnight the next day;
• arrival and departure only by plane;
• an open visa to the country that is the final destination, or, if a visa is not needed, a receipt for payment of the hotel.

BUT, in addition to this, you necessarily must be one of the following documents:

• a valid visa to New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the USA and a plane ticket to one of the listed countries;
• an expired visa to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, but six months have not passed since the entry into one of the listed countries;
• a valid biometric visa to enter the Republic of Ireland (remarks must indicate "BC" or "BC BIVS"), as well as air tickets to Ireland;
• a valid Irish biometric visa (remarks must indicate "BC" or "BC BIVS"), air tickets confirming that he is flying from Ireland - moreover, more than three months have not passed since the moment of entry into this country;
• long-term visa category D, issued by one of the countries of the European Union or Switzerland;
• residence permit in Australia;
• Residence permit in New Zealand;
• Residence permit in Canada (issued after June 28, 2002);
• Residence permit in the United States (issued after 04/21/2008), including a valid US I-551 Temporary Immigrant Visa (please note that British border control officers will not accept the agreed document with a stamp made with wet ink), permanent residence card (permanent residence card residence), expired I-551 card (must be accompanied by a valid I-797 letter authorizing renewal), U.S. Immigration Form 155A/155B (provided with a stamped brown envelope);
• Residence permit in Switzerland or in any country that is part of the European Economic Area;
• availability of all documents that are necessary for entry into the country of destination.

But there is a nuance - a visa concession does not yet guarantee a hassle-free transit. If suddenly you seem suspicious to the customs officer, he may refuse to visit the UK, justifying this by inconsistency with the rules of migration. And in general, your fate at this moment depends entirely on his decision.

Therefore, prepare for customs control: it will not be superfluous to print out your hotel reservation if you are staying overnight, and during the interview itself, you should not be frank that you specifically chose a long transfer in order to see the city. You will not be denied a stay at the airport, but they may not be allowed to leave the city.

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At passport control you will need:

International passport;

Tickets for flights with the corresponding route. For example, air tickets for the Kiev-London-Toronto flight look much more convincing than air tickets with the Kiev-London-Berlin route. UK immigration officers will clearly guess that you have chosen this route on purpose to walk around London;

Valid visa to the country of destination (if necessary);

A fully completed immigration form (the form is taken at the counter before control or on the plane of some air carriers).

What are we doing?

First you need to print boarding passes for all connecting flights on your route.

1. On departure, during check-in for a flight, you need to stamp the airline employee stating that the airline has no questions about your documents. To do this, you need to tell him that you are flying in transit, show a boarding pass for a flight from London and a passport with a valid visa of the country of arrival.
2. Go through passport control and fly to London.
3. Fill out the landing card on board the aircraft.
4. Upon arrival in London, at passport control, present your passport, landing card and boarding pass for a flight from London.
5. When boarding the next flight, you will be checked for a visa to visit the country you are going to.

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It should be remembered that you only have 24 hours for everything about everything. For stays of more than 24 hours, a transit visa is already required - it allows you to stay in the UK for up to 48 hours.

Many companies offer their passengers to get to their destination on a transit flight via London. Do I need a visa in this case, and is it possible to be completely sure of a comfortable flight in this way? The information below will help you sort out this difficult issue.

A few years ago, the rules for transit through the UK became more stringent. If earlier a traveler without a visa could afford to see London while passing through, then in 2020 he has no way to leave the airport. But sometimes you can do without the complicated procedure for obtaining permission at the embassy. For Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Kazakhstanis (the full list can be viewed on the embassy website) there is a so-called “visa concession”.

It is applicable under the following conditions:

• stay in the country for no more than 1 day (24 hours);
• the use of one type of transport (air or water, for land transport, a visa is required);
• an open visa to the country that is the final destination, or, if a visa is not needed, a receipt for payment of the hotel.

In addition, there is the concept of air transit. They talk about it when the passenger of the plane does not go through customs control and registration at the transfer airport. In this situation, a visa is not required.

The next important question is: “Do people who fly through the United Kingdom to the USA, Australia, Canada or New Zealand need a visa?” Since you usually already have permission to visit these countries at the time of arrival at the British airport, you will not need to issue anything additional. These rules are also valid for passengers with a Schengen visa, as well as with a residence permit in any of the above states or in the euro area.

Who needs a UK transit visa?

In most cases, the voyager will have to change in London. Whether a visa is needed depends on the airport: if at Heathrow or Gatwick you can use the concession, then at all other airports in Britain there are no corresponding conditions for this. Fortunately, most docking occurs at these points. However, do not forget to clarify this point when buying a ticket.

In all cases where the place of landing and departure is not the same, you will have to obtain a transit visa to England to move around the city. Similarly, you should do the same when you have to wait for a transplant for more than 24 hours.

But the most important nuance is this: a "visa concession" is not an exact guarantee of safe transit through London. Whether a traveler needs a visa is finally decided by the customs officer directly when passing through passport control. If something seems suspicious to him, he may well refuse to visit the kingdom. Officially, this is justified as a non-compliance with the rules of migration.

So if time permits, it is still better to open a transit visa to the UK for Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Kazakhstanis. According to the latest data, residents of the CIS are increasingly denied permission to visit this state.

What else do you need to know?

Some airlines have their own opinion on whether a transit visa to the British Kingdom is needed. On the forums they write that WizzAir, EasyJet and RyanAir often do not let people on board without permission to enter, so as not to earn themselves additional problems with customs officers. Documents in electronic form are not considered by the migration service.

How to apply for a visa?

This is not as difficult to do as it is to arrange, but there are also enough difficulties of its own. Officially, it will take from 15 days to 2 months to get a transit visa. England is a country with a very strict migration policy and quite often refuses to visit, including travel. For an additional fee, an urgent permit is available, the exact amount is better to see on the consulate website. Speaking about how much a visa to London costs, it is worth noting the lowest consular fee just for the transit category: it is about 80 euros.

But even this amount is unlikely to want to spend in vain. Therefore, you should carefully prepare the documents:

• a passport with a sufficient number of blank pages;
• photograph 3.5x4.5 cm;
• bank account statement;
• marital status document;
• certificate from the place of work;
• photocopies of tickets to the end point of the trip and back are required;
• paid medical insurance;
• in addition, on the website of the embassy, ​​you will have to fill out a special questionnaire.

Please note that all documents are filled out in English. Thus, a transplant in London turns out to be a rather risky event. Whether you need a visa or not, such a trip will still be fraught with a lot of risks and uncertainties.

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