Destination guide  

Note: (a) A passport is not required for travel between Great Britain and Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. (b) Passengers transiting the UK destined for the Republic of Ireland are advised to hold return tickets to avoid delay and interrogation.

Visas: Required by all except the following:
(a) nationals listed in the chart above;
(b) nationals of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominica, El Salvador, Estonia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel (unless travelling on an Israeli 'Laissez-Passer' passport), Jamaica, Kiribati, Korea (Rep. of), Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
All other nationals do require a visa.

Note: Nationals not requiring visas are advised to be in possession of either a return ticket or, if arriving on a one-way ticket, proof of sufficient funds to accommodate and support themselves for the duration of stay.

Types of visa and cost: Visitor, Business and Transit £33 (single entry). Visitor £55 (mulitple entry for 1 year); £65 (2 years); £80 (5 years). Business £50 (multiple entry). Visa prices may vary according to the country in which Consulate is located but must be paid in local currency. Enquire at nearest High Commission/Embassy.

Validity: Visitor visas: 6 months (single-entry); 1-, 2- or 5-years (multiple-entry). Transit visas are not required by those continuing their journey to a third country by the first connecting aircraft within 24 hours, provided possessing confirmed onward travel documentation. Travellers who do not qualify for this exemption must possess a Direct Airside Transit visa, which is valid for 7 days. These countries are Afghanistan, China (PR), Colombia, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Croatia, Ecaudor, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Macau (SAR), Nigeria, Slovak Republic, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Uganda.

Application to: Nearest British Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission).

Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) 2 passport-size photographs (some nationals may require 3 photographs). (c) Fee. (Postal applications must be accompanied by bank draft, postal or money order only.)

Working days required: Dependent on nationality of applicant. Applications that are referred to the Home Office may take 6 weeks or more.

Temporary residence: Enquiries can be made at nearest British Consulate, Embassy or High Commission.