Is transit visa required for London? Well, the answer is yes. Indian passport holders transiting through London airports may need UK transit visa, depending on their existing visa and travel plan. Indians often change flights in London while traveling to another country, which counts as a transit or layover. Therefore, it is important to understand types of London transit visas for Indian passport holders, its process and cost for Indians.
Types of London transit visa for Indian
Indians have to apply for UK transit visa for transiting purpose at any London airport. There are different types of transit visa for London airports according to your transit requirements and stay period.
- Visitor in Transit Visa – It allows you to do the following things in a London airport:
- Change flights to your destination.
- pass through UK border control to collect your baggage
- Leave London within 48 hours for your connecting journey
- You cannot work or study in London.
- DATV – DATV stands for Direct Airside Transit Visa. It allows you to change flights through any London airports. You cannot pass through UK border control at all.
- For aircraft crew: Visit purpose of joining aircraft as a member of the crew of that ship or aircraft.
Therefore, Indian travellers need a transit visa depending on whether they must pass UK border control. Your airline can confirm this before travel.
London transit visa validity
| Transit Visa | Visa Validity | Entry | Stay Period |
| Visitor in Transit Visa | 2–10 years | Multiple | 48 hours per visit |
| DATV | 24 hours | Single | 24 hours |
London transit visa cost
| Transit Visa | Visa Cost
(INR) | Visa Cost (Euro) |
| Direst Airside Transit Visa | Rs 3865/- | 35 € |
| Visitor in Transit visa | Rs 7067/- | 64 € |
| Aircraft Cree | Rs 7067/- | 64 € |
How to get London transit visa?
Follow the steps below to obtain a London Transit Visa from India:
- Visit the UK Visas and Immigration website and identify the correct transit visa type.
- Begin your visa application at Visa Immigration Service.
- Select your preferred language and choose India as your country.
- Read the instructions carefully and click Start.
- Fill in the online visa application form.
- Pay the visa fee. You will get GWF reference number, save it
- You will be redirected to the VFS website after fee payment.
- After payment, you will be redirected to the VFS Global website.
- Upload documents online or choose to submit them at the VAC.
- Go to the VFS VAC on the day of appointment for biometrics collection.
- Submit your visa form and supporting original documents if you haven’t uploaded it.
Your visa will be processed after this and VFS will notify you when your passport is ready.
London transit visa requirements
The following documents are required for London Transit Visa for Indians:
- A valid travel document or Indian passport with 6 months validity
- Valid visa/residence permit/green card of your destination country.
- Confirmed flight bookings
- Travel itinerary
- Proof of hotel reservations
- Print out of boarding pass
- Biometric information
London transit visa processing time
The processing time for UK transit visa starts only after you visit VFS Global and submit your biometrics. Plan your application based on how soon you need to travel. Standard service takes 15 to 21 working days. Priority service takes 5 to 7 working days. Super Priority service takes 24 to 48 hours.
FAQs
Do Indians need a transit visa in London?
Yes, it depends on your visas. Indian passport holders do not need a London transit visa if they have a valid visa or residence permit for the USA, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. If you do not have one of these visas, you need transit visa even for a short layover.
Do I need a transit visa for a London Heathrow connecting flight?
Yes, if you stay inside the airport and your bags are checked through, you need direct airside transit visa. If you pass UK border control to collect bags or change airports, you need a Visitor in Transit Visa.
How long does it take to get a transit visa for London?
A London transit visa takes about 3 weeks with standard processing. With priority service, it takes 5 to 7 working days
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