Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Visa national list

List of nationalities requiring entry clearance prior to travel to the UK as a Visitor, or for any other purpose for less than six months

  1. VN 1.1. A person who meets one or more of the criteria below needs entry clearance (a visa) in advance of travel to the UK for any purpose, unless they meet one of the exceptions set out in VN 2.1., VN 2.2. (subject to VN 2.3.) or VN 3.1.
    1. (a) Nationals or citizens of the following countries or territorial entities (a “*” indicates there are exceptions in VN 2.2 to VN 6.5):
      1. Afghanistan
      2. Albania
      3. Algeria
      4. Angola
      5. Armenia
      6. Azerbaijan
      7. Bahrain*
      8. Bangladesh
      9. Belarus
      10. Benin
      11. Bhutan
      12. Bolivia
      13. Bosnia Herzegovina
      14. Burkina Faso
      15. Burundi
      16. Cambodia
      17. Cameroon
      18. Cape Verde
      19. Central African Republic
      20. Chad
      21. People’s Republic of China*
      22. Comoros
      23. Congo
      24. Côte d’Ivoire (formerly Ivory Coast)
      25. Cuba
      26. Democratic Republic of the Congo
      27. Djibouti
      28. Dominica
      29. Dominican Republic
      30. Ecuador
      31. Egypt
      32. El Salvador
      33. Equatorial Guinea
      34. Eritrea
      35. Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
      36. Ethiopia
      37. Fiji
      38. Gabon
      39. Gambia
      40. Georgia
      41. Ghana
      42. Guinea
      43. Guinea Bissau
      44. Haiti
      45. Honduras
      46. India
      47. Indonesia*
      48. Iran
      49. Iraq
      50. Jamaica
      51. Jordan
      52. Kazakhstan
      53. Kenya
      54. Korea (North)
      55. Kosovo
      56. Kuwait*
      57. Kyrgyzstan
      58. Laos
      59. Lebanon
      60. Lesotho
      61. Liberia
      62. Libya
      63. Madagascar
      64. Malawi
      65. Mali
      66. Mauritania
      67. Moldova
      68. Mongolia
      69. Montenegro
      70. Morocco
      71. Mozambique
      72. Myanmar (formerly Burma)
      73. Namibia
      74. Nepal
      75. Niger
      76. Nigeria
      77. North Macedonia (formerly Macedonia)
      78. Oman*
      79. Pakistan
      80. Philippines
      81. Russia
      82. Rwanda
      83. São Tomé and Principe
      84. Saudi Arabia
      85. Senegal
      86. Serbia
      87. Sierra Leone
      88. Somalia
      89. South Africa*
      90. South Sudan
      91. Sri Lanka
      92. Sudan
      93. Suriname
      94. Syria
      95. Taiwan*
      96. Tajikistan
      97. Tanzania
      98. Thailand
      99. Timor-Leste
      100. Togo
      101. Tunisia
      102. Turkey*
      103. Turkmenistan
      104. Uganda
      105. Ukraine
      106. United Arab Emirates*
      107. Uzbekistan
      108. Vanuatu
      109. Venezuela
      110. Vietnam*
      111. Yemen
      112. Zambia
      113. Zimbabwe
    2. (b) stateless people; and
    3. (c) people travelling on any document other than a national passport, or, in the case of a person to whom paragraphs 11A and 11B of these rules apply, a national identity card, regardless of whether the document is issued by or evidences nationality of a state not listed in VN 1.1. (a), except where that document has been issued by the UK.

Exceptions to the list of visa nationals

Holders of specified travel documents

  1. VN 2.1. It is not necessary for a Transit Visitor to hold an entry clearance before they travel to the UK if they are travelling on an emergency travel document issued by, and evidencing the nationality of, a country not listed in VN 1.1.(a) and the purpose of their transit is to travel to the country in which they are ordinarily resident.
  1. VN 2.2. The following people do not need a visit visa before they travel to the UK as a Visitor, other than where VN 2.3. applies:
    1. (a) nationals or citizens of the People’s Republic of China who hold a passport issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; or
    2. (b) nationals or citizens of the People’s Republic of China who hold a passport issued by the Macao Special Administrative Region; or
    3. (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
    4. (d) people who hold a Service, Temporary Service or Diplomatic passport issued by the Holy See; or
    5. (e) nationals or citizens of Oman who hold a diplomatic or special passport issued by Oman; or
    6. (f) DELETED
    7. (g) nationals or citizens of the United Arab Emirates who hold a diplomatic or special passport issued by the United Arab Emirates; or
    8. (h) nationals or citizens of Turkey who hold a diplomatic passport issued by Turkey; or
    9. (i) nationals or citizens of Kuwait who hold a diplomatic or special passport issued by Kuwait; or
    10. (j) nationals or citizens of Bahrain who hold a diplomatic or special passport issued by Bahrain; or
    11. (k) nationals or citizens of South Africa who hold a diplomatic passport issued by South Africa; or
    12. (l) nationals or citizens of Vietnam who hold a diplomatic passport issued by Vietnam; or
    13. (m) nationals or citizens of Indonesia who hold a diplomatic passport issued by Indonesia.
    14. (n) DELETED
    15. (o) nationals or citizens of Dominica, Honduras, Namibia, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu, who hold confirmed bookings to the UK made on or before 15:00 BST 19 July 2023 where arrival in the UK is no later than 16 August 2023.
  1. VN 2.3. VN 2.2. does not apply where the person is:
    1. (a) visiting the UK to marry or to form a civil partnership, or to give notice of marriage or civil partnership, unless they are a “relevant national” as defined in section 62 of the Immigration Act 2014; or
    2. (b) seeking to visit the UK for more than 6 months.

Exception where the applicant holds an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) Document (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates nationals or citizens only)

  1. VN 3.1. The holder of a valid Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) Document does not need to obtain a visit visa, or a visa for entry for six months or less where there is no mandatory entry clearance requirement, in advance of arrival in the UK, but can instead apply for permission to enter at the UK border.
  1. VN 3.2. VN 3.1. will not apply (meaning that the person will normally be refused permission to enter the UK) unless the EVW Document is used in the manner specified in VN 6.1. to VN 6.5.
  1. VN 3.3. An EVW Document relates to one person and may only be used for one application for permission to enter the UK or, where applicable, one crossing of the land border from the Republic of Ireland to the UK.

Obtaining an Electronic Visa Waiver Document

  1. VN 4.1. Only passport holders who are nationals or citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates can obtain and use an EVW document.
  1. VN 4.2. To obtain an EVW Document, a person must provide the required biographic and travel information at the website established by the UK Government at https://www.electronic-visa-waiver.service.gov.uk/.
  1. VN 4.3. EVW Documents are issued to the applicant in electronic form.

Validity Requirements for an Electronic Visa Waiver Document

  1. VN 5.1. To be valid the biographic details on the EVW Document must match those of the holder’s passport, except where:
    1. (a) an apostrophe, space or hyphen is present in the holder’s name on their EVW Document but is not present in the holder’s name on their passport; or
    2. (b) an apostrophe, space or hyphen is present in the holder’s name on their passport but is not present in the holder’s name on their EVW Document.
  1. VN 5.2. To be valid an EVW Document must be able to be presented by the holder:
    1. (a) n clear, legible format; and
    2. (b) in English; and
    3. (c)electronically or in printed form.
  1. VN 5.3. To be valid the EVW Document must specify the flight, train or ship on which the holder intends to arrive in the UK, including the port of departure and arrival, and the scheduled date and time of departure and arrival, unless VN 5.4. or VN 5.5. applies.
  1. VN 5.4. Where the holder of an EVW Document is seeking to arrive in the UK by entering a control zone in France or Belgium or supplementary control zone in France, the EVW must specify the train or ship on which the holder intends to arrive in the UK, including:
    1. (a) the railway station or port where the holder intends to enter the control zone or supplementary control zone and from which the holder intends to depart for the UK; and
    2. (b) the railway station or port at which the holder intends to leave the train or ship after arrival in the UK; and
    3. (c) the scheduled date and time of departure from, and arrival at, the specified railway stations or ports.
  1. VN 5.5. Where the holder of an EVW Document intends to cross the land border from the Republic of Ireland to the UK by train, car or any other means, the EVW must specify the place at which it is intended to cross the border and the intended date and time of arrival in the UK.
  1. VN 5.6. For the EVW to be valid the required information must be submitted at least 48 hours before the holder departs on a flight, train or ship to the UK or crosses the UK land border from the Republic of Ireland by train, car or any other means.
  1. VN 5.7. To be valid the EVW Document must not have been issued more than 3 months before the date of the holder’s scheduled departure to the UK as specified on the EVW Document or, where the holder intends to cross the land border with the Republic of Ireland, before the intended date of the holder’s arrival in the UK as specified on the EVW Document.

Use of the Electronic Visa Waiver Document

  1. VN 6.1. The holder must present the EVW Document to an Immigration Officer on request upon the holder’s arrival at the UK Border or, where the holder is seeking to arrive in the UK by entering a control zone in France or Belgium or a supplementary control zone in France, upon arrival in that zone.
  1. VN 6.2. Where the holder has presented a printed copy of the EVW Document, it must be surrendered to an Immigration Officer upon request.
  1. VN 6.3. The holder must travel on the flight, train or ship specified on the EVW Document unless VN 6.4. or VN 6.5. applies.
  1. VN 6.4. If the holder travels on a different flight, train or ship from that specified in the EVW Document it must depart from the same port or railway station and arrive at the same UK port or railway station as specified on the EVW Document and either:
    1. (a) depart after the departure time specified on the EVW Document and arrive in the UK no more than 8 hours after the arrival time specified on the EVW Document; or
    2. (b) if the holder is seeking to arrive in the UK by entering a control zone in France or Belgium or a supplementary control zone in France, arrive no more than 8 hours after the departure time specified on the EVW Document.
  1. VN 6.5. If the holder is seeking to arrive in the UK by crossing the land border from the Republic of Ireland, the holder must cross at the time specified on the EVW Document, or no more than 8 hours after the time specified on the EVW Document.