Do I Need A Visa For The Uk

If you are an international student and considering enrolling in a UK university, you probably want to know whether you will be able to get a visa for the UK. You may even have gone as far as studying university fees to get an idea of how much it would cost for your visa application and also for your education.

If you’re an EU citizen then you’ll already have your passport stamped when you enter the UK. However, there are other nationalities that may have to apply for a visa (depending on their country of origin and nationality). Visitors from the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland don’t need a visa to enter the UK.

Visiting the UK is easy, especially if you’re from Canada, the USA, Australia or New Zealand. If you live in one of these countries you can travel to the UK without a visa. However, if you’re from India, Sri Lanka or many other countries you will need a visa even if you’re only visiting for a short time.

Do I Need A Visa For The Uk

Do I Need a Transit Visa for the UK?

If you typically need a visa to enter the UK as a tourist, you will also need a transit visa. However, there are two types of transit visas for the UK, and the requirements change depending on what country you are from:

• Visitor in Transit Visa. This type of visa is needed if you will pass through British border control but you intend to depart the country within 48 hours. You need a Visitor in Transit Visa if you are from a country that typically requires UK visitor visas (see above).
• Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV). This type of visa is needed if you will change flights in a UK airport, but will not go through British border control. You need a DATV if you are from the following countries:
  • Afghanistan
  • Albania
  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Bangladesh
  • Belarus
  • Bolivia
  • Burma
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • China (PRC)
  • Colombia
  • Congo
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Northern Cyprus
  • Ecuador
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • The Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Ivory Coast
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Kosovo
  • Lebanon
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Macedonia
  • Malawi
  • Moldova
  • Mongolia
  • Montenegro
  • Nepal
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Palestinian Authority
  • Rwanda
  • Senegal
  • Serbia
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sudan
  • Swaziland
  • Tanzania
  • Turkey
  • Uganda
  • Venezuela
  • Vietnam
  • Zimbabwe

Note: Transit Visa if not required if you already have a valid visa issued by Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States of America.

Will EU Nationals Need UK Visa After Brexit?

There will not be any changes to visa requirements for EU nationals until at least December 31, 2020, when the Brexit transitional period is due to end. Until then, EU nationals can continue to travel to the UK without a visa for short trips and holidays. It is still unknown what the visa requirements for short trips will be starting in January 2021 but for immigration issues, EU nationals are expected to start adhering to the UK’s point-based system same as everyone else.

This decision was as a result of the British government to prioritize their own population and select “the brightest and the best from around the globe, boosting the economy and our communities, and unleash this country’s full potential.”

Staying in the UK for More Than Six Months

Everyone who wants to stay in the UK for more than six months will have to get a visa. For example, you have to apply for a UK visa if you are a US citizen planning to move to the UK  for work or otherwise, and will stay in the UK for longer than six months. Visa exemptions listed above only apply for short-term stays (up to six months) during which you will not work in the UK.

Requirements for EU nationals: Before Brexit, EU nationals enjoyed the freedom of movement to the UK for either pleasure or work, regardless of the duration of stay. The UK government has now made changes to their immigration rules by making it harder for unskilled EU nationals to settle in the UK, as they will be tested through the UK’s point-based system for immigration. However, it is still not known how exactly the visa requirements will change once the Brexit transitional period is over on 31 December 2020.