United KingdomVisits and short stays
UK Direct Airside Transit visa (DATV) and its exemptions
Direct Airside Transit visa (DATV)
In short
Nationals of the countries listed in Schedule 1 of the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014 who change flights in the UK without passing border control need a Direct Airside Transit visa costing £41.50, unless they hold one of the exempting documents such as a valid US, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand visa. GOV.UK's visa checker shows whether your nationality is listed.
Apply on GOV.UK – Direct Airside Transit visa checked 23 October 2026
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Airside only; no entry to the UK
- Validity
- For the stated transit
- Fee
- £41.50Direct airside transit visa (fee table from 8 October 2026)
- Processing time
- Usually within 3 weeks
- Where to apply
- Online on GOV.UK, then biometrics at a visa application centre
Who needs a DATV
Nationals of the countries in Schedule 1 of the Passenger Transit Visa Order need a DATV when they arrive in the UK by air and leave on another flight without passing through border control. Holders of an ETA, a Standard Visitor or Marriage Visitor visa, an EU Settlement Scheme family permit or a Home Office travel document do not need one. If you are travelling to or from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, a visitor visa is needed instead.
Documents that exempt you
Article 4 of the Order exempts transit passengers who hold, among others: a valid visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA (or such a visa expired less than 6 months after the last entry with it); an Australian or New Zealand permanent resident visa, a Canadian permanent resident card or a US green card; a valid EEA or Swiss common-format residence permit or national Type D visa; or a valid Irish biometric visa. A Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa on its own is not on the list.
Applying
Apply online and attend a visa application centre. Provide your passport, the confirmed onward flight within the transit and evidence that you can enter your destination, such as its visa or residence permit. You may be asked why you are travelling there. Carry these documents at the airport.
Required documents
Identity
- Valid passport
Travel
- Confirmed booking for the onward flight
- Visa or residence permit for the destination, if you are not its national
Supporting documents (where they apply)
Other
- Explanation of the reason for travelling to the destination
Fee and timing
The DATV costs £41.50; local prices may vary slightly. Decisions usually take 3 weeks, so apply well before departure. Airlines check transit visas at check-in and may refuse boarding without one.
How to apply, step by step
- Check your itinerary: if you stay airside and hold none of the exempting documents, you need a DATV.
- Apply online for a Direct Airside Transit visa and pay £41.50.
- Attend the visa application centre with your passport, onward ticket and destination documents.
- Travel only after approval, carrying the evidence of your onward journey.
Frequently asked questions
I have a valid US visa. Do I need a DATV?
No. A valid US, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand visa is one of the exemptions in Article 4 of the Passenger Transit Visa Order.
Does a Schengen visa exempt me from the DATV?
Not a short-stay Schengen visa on its own. An EEA or Swiss residence permit or a national Type D visa does exempt you.
What if I must collect my bags between flights?
Then you pass through border control and need a Visitor in Transit visa (£74.50) instead of a DATV.
Official sources
- GOV.UK – Direct Airside Transit visa
- The Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014, Schedule 1
- The Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014, Article 4
- Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for the United Kingdom
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 6 months per visit
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 6 months per visit
- Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: 6 months, or up to 11 months with a medical visit visa; further 6-month extensions possible in the UK
- Culture, sports and events visa Maximum stay: Up to 6 months per visit
- Transit visa Maximum stay: 48 hours
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 6 months per visit
- Entrepreneur and start-up visa Maximum stay: 3 years, renewable for further 3-year periods without limit
- Self-employed and freelancer visa Maximum stay: Extensions of up to 36 months (12 months for some workers)
Study and training
- Student visa Maximum stay: Course length plus extra time; usually up to 5 years at degree level and 2 years below degree level
- Language course visa Maximum stay: Course length plus 30 days, no more than 11 months
- Researcher visa Maximum stay: Up to 5 years per grant, renewable in 1 to 5-year periods
- Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: 12 or 24 months, depending on the scheme
Work
- Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Up to 5 years per grant; can be extended without limit
- Work visa Maximum stay: 2 years (applications by 31 December 2026), 18 months (from 1 January 2027), 3 years for PhD graduates
- Job seeker visa Maximum stay: 2 years, or 3 years for PhD holders
- Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Certificate length plus 14 days, up to 5 years; 5 years in any 6 (9 in 10 if paid £73,900+)
- Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: Horticulture: up to 6 months in any 10-month period; poultry: 2 October to 31 December
- Working holiday visa Maximum stay: Up to 2 years; Australian, Canadian and New Zealand nationals can extend once by 1 year
Family
- Spouse and partner visa Maximum stay: 2 years 9 months on entry, then extensions of 2 years 6 months; fiancé(e)s 6 months
- Family reunification visa Maximum stay: Child and parent visas 2 years 9 months, renewable; adult dependent relatives of British or settled people get unlimited leave
Residence
- Permanent residence Validity: Permanent, but can lapse after more than 2 years outside the UK
Online travel permits
- Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) Maximum stay: Up to 6 months per visit
Faster processing
- Fast-track and priority visa services Processing time: Priority: usually 5 working days (30 for family and settlement). Super priority: usually the next working day
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Validity: Refugee status or humanitarian protection: at least 30 months for claims from 2 March 2026 (5 years for earlier claims and unaccompanied children)