What is a transit visa?
A transit visa is an entry permission specifically for passing through a country without staying. If you have a connecting flight that requires you to pass through immigration, or if you want to leave the airport during a long layover, you may need one.
The key distinction is between airside transit and landside transit.
Airside transit means you stay within the secure international zone of the airport between your flights. In most countries, airside transit does not require a visa. You clear security, wait at your gate, board your connection, and never pass through immigration.
Landside transit means you pass through immigration to access the main airport building, take ground transportation, or leave the airport entirely. This almost always requires the same entry permission as a standard visit, which may mean a transit visa.
When do you need a transit visa?
The most common scenario: you have a layover of eight hours or more, you want to leave the airport and explore the city, and you had not checked what that requires.
But transit visas can also be required for purely airside transits in certain country and passport combinations. The UK, for example, requires Direct Airside Transit Visas (DATVs) for citizens of certain countries, even if those passengers never pass through UK immigration and are simply connecting between non-UK flights.
Countries where transit visas commonly catch people out
United Kingdom The UK requires a Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) for citizens of around 50 countries connecting through UK airports, even on purely airside transits. This includes several African and South Asian nationalities. Check the UK government's visa checker.
China China operates visa-free transit policies of varying lengths for citizens of many countries at major airports including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. These are city and airport specific, and do not apply at every airport. If your connection requires going landside, verify your eligibility carefully. Our China visa guide covers the wider entry picture.
United States The US does not have a formal transit visa but requires a visa or ESTA enrolment for all passengers transiting through a US airport, even airside. If you are connecting through a US hub, you must have the same entry permission as a regular visitor.
UAE Transit passengers connecting through Dubai or Abu Dhabi who hold certain nationalities may enter the UAE visa-free for the duration of a layover. This is not universal and carries time limits.
How transit interacts with other entry permissions
A transit permission is not a substitute for the entry permission of your destination, and the reverse is also true. Each border you cross is assessed independently.
Two related distinctions are worth understanding before you book:
- An eTA is an electronic pre-authorisation rather than a visa, and it can still be required for transit. See what is an eTA.
- Visa on arrival is granted at the border and generally cannot be relied on for a transit you have not confirmed. See visa on arrival explained.
If you are routing through several countries, whether a visa is single or multiple entry becomes important, because a side trip out and back counts as a second entry. Our guide to single versus multiple entry visas covers the distinction.
How to check and apply
- Use Yoogo's corridor checker to check your passport against the transit country, not just your final destination.
- If a transit visa is required, apply well in advance. Transit visa processing at embassies is no faster than standard visa processing.
- Check the official government website for the transit country for current conditions and any application requirements.
Building transit into your multi-country plan
For trips involving multiple countries and connections, see our guide to multi-country visa planning for a framework to check every border crossing, including transits, before you book.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa if I never leave the airport?
Usually not, but not always. Airside transit is visa-free in most countries. The UK and the United States are the notable exceptions where certain nationalities need permission even without passing through immigration.
What is the difference between airside and landside transit?
Airside means staying inside the secure international zone between flights. Landside means passing through immigration into the main terminal or leaving the airport. Landside transit generally requires the same permission as a normal visit.
Do I need a transit visa for a connecting flight in the UK?
It depends on your nationality. The UK requires a Direct Airside Transit Visa for citizens of around 50 countries, even on airside connections. Check the UK government visa checker for your passport.
Do I need a visa to transit through the United States?
Yes, in effect. The US has no separate transit visa, so connecting passengers need the same visa or ESTA authorisation as any other visitor, even when they do not leave the airport.
Can I leave the airport during a long layover?
Only if you hold the entry permission that country requires for a visit. A long layover does not create an exemption on its own, though several countries operate specific visa-free transit schemes.
How long does a transit visa take to get?
Plan for the same processing time as a standard visa from that country. Transit applications are not prioritised, so apply well before you travel.
Does a transit visa cost anything?
Fees and conditions are set by each country and change from time to time. Check the official government website for the transit country rather than relying on third-party summaries.
Does my destination visa cover my transit country?
No. Each border is assessed separately. Holding a visa for your final destination gives you no rights in the country you connect through.