UK imposes transit visa requirement for Russian and Georgian travelers

The UK government has introduced a new measure affecting Russian and Georgian nationals. Since 8 September 2023, those traveling through the UK without entering the country must now hold a transit visa to reach their final destination elsewhere.

This change, introduced under the Immigration Order 2014, targets a growing issue: the abuse of asylum requests within British territory. Authorities have observed that since 2018, many Russian and Georgian travelers have been exploiting layovers in UK airports to apply for asylum rather than continuing their journey. Often, these individuals stayed in the country.

The solution: a transit visa for specific travelers

• Russian and Georgian nationals must now possess a transit visa, ending their visa-free travel privileges.

• The aim is to reduce the number of asylum seekers exploiting transit routes.

• A limited number of exceptions apply (see below).

Exemption criteria: specific conditions to meet

There are a few scenarios where Russian and Georgian travelers can still enter UK transit zones without a visa:

• Arriving in the UK before 5 October 2023.

• Having booked onward travel before the Immigration Order 2014 came into effect (8 September 2023).

Additional exemptions include (technical requirements apply):

• Holders of a valid visitor visa for Australia🇦🇺, Canada🇨🇦, New Zealand🇳🇿, or the US🇺🇸, regardless of final destination.

• Passengers with a valid entry visa for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the US, transiting via the UK, provided they last entered these countries more than six months ago with a valid visa.

• Permanent residents of Australia (after 28 June 2002), Canada, New Zealand (after 21 April 1998), or US immigrants with an I-797 approval notice and an arrival stamp.

• Holders of a valid residence permit for countries in the European Economic Area or Switzerland.

• Schengen "D" category visa holders.

• Irish Biometric Visa BC or BC BIVS holders transiting to destinations outside the Common Travel Area (Great Britain and Ireland).

• Travelers with a valid group Schengen tourist visa heading to the country that issued it.

• Passengers with valid flight tickets from Schengen Zone countries, having entered those countries no more than 30 days prior with a valid group Schengen ADS tourist visa.

Measures already showing results

According to the Home Office, the policy has been effective. Since its implementation, the number of Russian and Georgian nationals using temporary stays in UK airports to file asylum claims has reportedly declined significantly.

Possible expansion to other nationalities

This transit visa requirement could be extended to other nationalities in the coming months or years. The Home Office states it is monitoring the situation and may introduce similar restrictions for other countries if deemed necessary to protect UK security and prevent the entry of potential refugees.