Do I need a UK visa to transit through the UK although I won't leave the airport?
I bought a British Airways flight ticket from Nigeria to Belgium to transit in Heathrow for 5+ hours with no intention of coming out on the 28th February 2020. But to my surprise I was denied boarding the aircraft: the British Airways staff insisted I must have a UK visa to transit in UK even though am not going to come out.
I know definitely there is no way they will allow me out of Heathrow airport without UK visa so he advice to buy another air ticket from other air lines because of that I slept in the airport for three days so that I will be able to buy another country ticket and a cheaper one because at that time I was advised to buy another ticket all the tickets were expensive.
When I asked what will happen to the one I bought if I can get refund he said no, which I disagreed with. He also gave me option of changing the ticket to a certain date because in my passport I have a UK visa which has not started counting so he told me to change it to that date. I told him I have important meeting in Belgium. Even to change it to that date is more expensive to buying a new one.
So now I am in Belgium I got another ticket very expensive to Belgium, this was happening 4 day ago. Please how do I go about this can someone tell me what to do and get my money back because I need my money back.
Best Answer
I'm afraid that even if you don't exit the airport or go through passport control, Nigerian citizens (and many others) need a Direct Airside Transit Visa to transit via the UK.
This can be seen very easily using the check if you need a visa tool provided by the UK government.
There are some conditions which could exempt you, I assume none applied to you.
You are solely responsible for making sure you have all the relevant paperwork before buying your ticket. BA were in their right in denying boarding (actually, they were required to do so by UK regulations), and they are in their right in refusing to refund you if the fare does not provide for it.
Pictures about "Do I need a UK visa to transit through the UK although I won't leave the airport?"
Do I need a UK visa if I have a connecting flight?
You might need a Visitor in Transit visa if you're: changing flights in the UK on your way to another country. going through UK border control, for example to check in your luggage for a connecting flight. leaving the UK within 48 hours.Do UK residents need transit visa?
British citizens do not require a visa for any kind of transit through the European Union's Schengen Member States provided that the duration of the combined transits does not exceed 90 days within any 180 day period.Do you really need Transit Visa for UK
More answers regarding do I need a UK visa to transit through the UK although I won't leave the airport?
Answer 2
There seems to be a basic misunderstanding on what the word transit means and is being mixed up with visiting.
When you are passing through another country, soley to arrive to a country of destination: you are in transit.
For this type of travel, many countries require a visa or some form of authorization.
As for visitor visa, it is the sole responsibility of the traveler that
- they have the needed authorization from the country used in transit
Precondition is mostly that the traveler be allowed into the country of destination.
Such requirements have existed now since the 1920's, so it is really nothing new and should be no cause for surprise.
Annex 11: Paris Conference on Passports & Customs Formalities and Through Tickets (1920-10-21)
- Page 154 (Page 153 of PDF)
E. TRANSIT VISA.
9. Issue of visa. -Transit visas will, unless for exceptional reasons (e.g., undesirables), be issued at once without enquiry solely upon production of the entrance visa for the country of destination in addition to transit visas for the intermediate countries.
10. Duration of validity of visa. - The duration of validity of a visa shall always be the same as that of the entrance visa of the country of destination ; it being clearly understood, moreover, that the transit visa only authorises one or more journeys of normal duration without voluntary interruption of the journey on the part of the traveller across the territory of transit in question.
11. Fee charged. -The maximum fee charged will be 1 franc (gold), and will be subject to the same provisions as contained in Article 8 as regards conditions of equality, reciprocity, the abolition of individual reductions and total exemptions.
Sources:
- 1926-05-18: Geneva Passport Conference (PDF)
- List of Annexes: pdf page 70
- Annex 1: Graz Agreement 1922-01-27: pdf page 71
- Annex 11: Paris Conference on Passports & Customs Formalities and Through Tickets (1920-10-21) pdf page 152
- Annex I, II, Passport sample (155,156)
- Final Act (1926): pdf page 163
- List of Annexes: pdf page 70
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Paul Macallan, Curry 2Night, Curry 2Night, Curry 2Night