Visitors in transit
Can you come to the UK as a visitor in transit?
This page explains whether you can come to the UK as a visitor in transit.
The 'visitor in transit' category is for nationals of countries outside Europe. If you are a national of the European Economic Area (EEA), or a family member of an EEA national, see the European nationals section.
If you will arrive on a flight, remain in the arrival lounge of the airport without passing through immigration control, and then depart on another flight from the same airport, you do not need to come here as a visitor in transit. This is called transiting airside. For more information, see the In transit through the UK section.
You can come to the UK as a visitor in transit if you will arrive in the UK, pass through immigration control and then leave the UK within 48 hours (or 24 hours if you are travelling under the 'travel without visa' concession - see the Do I need a visa? page). This is called transiting landside.
To come to the UK as a visitor in transit, you must be able to show that you:
- are in transit to a final destination outside the Common Travel Area (Ireland, the UK, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands);
- intend and are able to proceed at once to another country; and
- are assured of entry there; and
- intend and are able to leave the UK within 48 hours (or 24 hours) .
You may not study or undertake any employment while you are in the UK.
For information about your rights and responsibilities while you are in the UK, see the Visitors' rights and responsibilities section.
You should provide documents to show that you meet the above requirements. The Documents page contains more information.
You may need to obtain a visa before you can come to the UK as a visitor in transit. The Do you need a visa? page contains more information.
If you want to transit the UK on your way to another country in the Common Travel Area, you cannot come here as a visitor in transit. The In transit through the UK section contains more information.