The Information in this note is provided for guidance only and may be subject to change. It records the position as at 6 May 2019.
The United Kingdom distinguishes between Visa nationals and non-Visa nationals. Non-Visa nationals will be permitted to enter the United Kingdom for short visits and short study visits but will require visas to be obtained in advance to enter in other categories.
Visa-nationals are people who meet one or more of the criteria set out in Appendix V to the Immigration Rules, and who need a visa in advance of travel to the UK as a visitor or for any other purpose for less than six months, subject to some exceptions.
The following extract of the relevant Rules sets out the countries whose nationals require a visa before travelling to the UK for a visit.
Visa Nationals who require visas (*denotes some exceptions) |
|
|
---|---|---|
Afghanistan |
Laos |
|
Albania |
Lebanon |
|
Algeria |
Lesotho |
|
Angola |
Liberia |
|
Armenia |
Libya |
|
Azerbaijan |
Macedonia |
|
Bahrain* |
Madagascar |
|
Bangladesh |
Malawi |
|
Belarus |
Mali |
|
Benin |
Mauritania |
|
Bhutan |
Moldova |
|
Bolivia |
Mongolia |
|
Bosnia Herzegovina |
Montenegro |
|
Burkina Faso |
Morocco |
|
Burma |
Mozambique |
|
Burundi |
Nepal |
|
Cambodia |
Niger |
|
Cameroon |
Nigeria |
|
Cape Verde |
Oman* |
|
Central African Republic |
Pakistan |
|
Chad |
Peru |
|
People’s Republic of China* |
Philippines |
|
Colombia |
Qatar* |
|
Comoros |
Russia |
|
Congo |
Rwanda |
|
Cuba |
Sao Tome e Principe |
|
Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Saudi Arabia |
|
Djibouti |
Senegal |
|
Dominican Republic |
Serbia |
|
Ecuador |
Sierra Leone |
|
Egypt |
Somalia |
|
Equatorial Guinea |
South Africa* |
|
Eritrea |
South Sudan |
|
Ethiopia |
Sri Lanka |
|
Fiji |
Sudan |
|
Gabon |
Suriname |
|
Gambia |
Swaziland |
|
Georgia |
Syria |
|
Ghana |
Taiwan* |
|
Guinea |
Tajikistan |
|
Guinea Bissau |
Tanzania |
|
Guyana |
Thailand |
|
Haiti |
Togo |
|
India |
Tunisia |
|
Indonesia* |
Turkey * |
|
Iran |
Turkmenistan |
|
Iraq |
Uganda |
|
Ivory Coast |
Ukraine |
|
Jamaica |
United Arab Emirates* |
|
Jordan |
Uzbekistan |
|
Kazakhstan |
Venezuela |
|
Kenya |
Vietnam* |
|
Korea (North) |
Yemen |
|
Kosovo |
Zambia |
|
Kuwait * |
Zimbabwe |
|
Kyrgyzstan |
|
|
It should be noted that Stateless people and people travelling on any document other than a national passport (regardless of whether the document is issued by or evidences nationality of a state not listed above) also require a visa before travelling to the UK, except in the latter scenario, where that document has been issued by the UK.
The exceptions (i.e. visa-nationals who may be exempt from obtaining a visa for a short term visit to the United Kingdom) include:
Holders of specified travel documents
- It is not necessary for a transit visitor to hold a visa before they travel to the UK if they are travelling on an emergency travel document issued by, and evidencing the nationality of, a state not listed above and the purpose of their transit visit is to travel to the state in which they are ordinarily resident.
- Subject to the proviso below, the following people do not need a visa before they travel to the UK as a visitor:
a) nationals or citizens of the People’s Republic of China who hold a passport issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; or
b) nationals or citizens of the People’s Republic of China who hold a passport issued by the Macao Special Administrative Region; or
c) nationals or citizens of Taiwan who hold a passport issued by Taiwan that includes in it the number of the identification card issued by the competent authority in Taiwan; or
d) people who hold a Service, Temporary Service or Diplomatic passport issued by the Holy See; or
e) nationals or citizens of Oman who hold a diplomatic or special passport issued by Oman; or
f) nationals or citizens of Qatar who hold a diplomatic or special passport issued by Qatar; or
g) nationals or citizens of the United Arab Emirates who hold a diplomatic or special passport issued by the United Arab Emirates; or
h) nationals or citizens of Turkey who hold a diplomatic passport issued by Turkey; or
i) nationals or citizens of Kuwait who hold a diplomatic or special passport issued by Kuwait; or
j) nationals or citizens of Bahrain who hold a diplomatic or special passport issued by Bahrain; or
k) nationals or citizens of South Africa who hold a diplomatic passport issued by South Africa; or
l) nationals or citizens of Vietnam who hold a diplomatic passport issued by Vietnam; or
m) nationals or citizens of Indonesia who hold a diplomatic passport issued by Indonesia.
The exceptions do not apply where a person is:
- visiting the UK to marry or to form a civil partnership, or to give notice of such; or
- seeking to visit the UK for more than 6 months.
There are further exceptions where the applicant holds an Electronic Visa Waiver Document (Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates nationals or citizens only), which are set out at paragraphs 4 to 18 of Appendix V to the Immigration Rules.
Gherson has extensive experience with travel to the UK under all the immigration categories and the Immigration Rules. If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact us.
The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please don’t hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.
©Gherson 2019