27.11.2025
Do you need a visa for transit? Rules for the Schengen Area, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and the UAE. How to apply for a transit visa: required documents, processing times, and fees.
Layovers and connecting flights have become a fundamental part of modern travel. They allow us to find better prices, mix and match airlines, and create the most efficient routes. However, even a brief stop between flights can turn into a bureaucratic challenge if you overlook the transit requirements of the country you’re passing through. A transit visa is the key instrument here: it can either allow you to move on without additional formalities or become a mandatory barrier — one that, if missing, may prevent you from boarding your flight at all.
As global transit rules evolve and border controls tighten, understanding when a transit visa is required has become essential. Below is a comprehensive guide on when a transit visa is actually required, how to apply for it, and how to avoid potential complications.
A transit visa is an official permit that allows you to stay temporarily in a country while connecting between flights. It does not grant the right to a full stay in the country, but it does allow you to either remain in the airport’s transit zone or, under certain conditions, leave it.
The crucial point to understand is this: transit is not just a formality. Whether you have a visa or not determines your ability to continue your journey. Airlines have the right to refuse boarding on a connecting flight if your documents do not meet the requirements of the transit country, even if a visa is not required for your final destination.
In some cases, a layover is possible without a visa, however these situations always depend on the specific country’s rules, the type of ticket, and the airport’s operating procedures.
Typically, transit without a visa is allowed if the following conditions are met:
you do not leave the airport’s international transit zone (Airside Transit);
you have a single ticket (one itinerary) and your luggage is automatically transferred by the airline;
the airport officially supports a visa-free transit regime;
the layover time falls within the limit set by the country;
the country does not require a visa for short-term transit.
However, there are important exceptions:
not all airports have a fully operational international transit zone;
some transit zones close at night;
certain countries (for example, the United Kingdom) impose additional restrictions based on nationality;
entry into the Schengen Area without a visa is not possible under any circumstances, even if it’s just a layover and your nationality allows visa-free entry to another country on your route.
That is why transit rules should always be checked before buying tickets — not at the airport.
A transit visa is required if a passenger needs to:
Exit the airport’s transit zone.
The most common case is having two separate tickets or flying with low-cost carriers. The passenger must collect their luggage and check in again, which automatically requires a visa.
Change terminals or airports in the same city.
For example, connecting in London between Heathrow and Gatwick, or in Paris between CDG and Orly.
Use low-cost airlines such as Wizz Air, Ryanair, EasyJet, and others.
These carriers do not automatically transfer luggage to the final destination, so transit without a visa is not possible.
Transit through countries that always require transit visas.
This applies to countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Schengen Area. In these cases, a transit visa is required regardless of whether you are leaving the airport’s international transit area or not.
Exceed the maximum layover time.
Each country sets a maximum allowed time for a transit stay. If your connection is longer than this limit, you can no longer remain visa-free and must obtain a transit visa in advance. For example: in the UAE, visa-free transit is allowed for up to 24 hours; in Qatar, up to 72 hours; and in China, visa-free transit can range from 24, 72, 144, or even 240 hours, depending on the arrival city and your route.
If your itinerary includes more than one Schengen airport, it counts as entry into the Schengen Area — even if you never leave the airport’s transit zones. In such cases, an airport transit visa is not enough; a standard Schengen visa (Type C) is required. For example, the route Yerevan — Helsinki — Paris — Canada passes through Finland and France. Even if you are only connecting and do not leave the transit zone, you are still moving between Schengen countries, which counts as entry into the EU. Therefore, for such itineraries, a standard tourist Schengen visa is needed.
In many countries, a general rule applies: if a passenger stays only in the international transit zone and the layover lasts up to 24 hours, a visa is not required.
However, this rule always depends on:
the airline;
the airport;
whether a visa is required for the final destination;
political restrictions.
Transit rules change frequently. For example, in 2025 Spain introduced a mandatory airport transit visa for citizens of certain countries — even for direct plane-to-plane transits without entering the city.
Today, you cannot rely on outdated lists and forum posts. In some countries, rules are being relaxed, while in others they are becoming stricter, and border officials increasingly base their decisions on the specific route and airline. Therefore, the best approach is to check the conditions for each flight individually:
whether you are permitted to leave the airport during your layover;
whether a transit visa is required;
if there are any airport-specific restrictions;
whether the airline allows boarding without a visa for your route.
With Terrana, checking the rules is easy: simply provide your flights, transit country, and final destinations, and we will display the current requirements and potential risks.
Transit regulations vary significantly across countries, and many have recently become stricter.
If you do not have a UK visa, you need a Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) or a Visitor in Transit Visa;
the required documents are almost identical to those for a standard tourist visa.
A transit (C) visa is required;
the application process includes submitting a DS-160 form, paying the visa fee, and attending an interview;
even a brief layover without exiting the transit zone requires a visa.
The process is similar to applying for a short-term visitor visa.
A transit visa (Transit Visa Subclass 771) is required;
applications are submitted online, but the review process is strict and can take time.
A transit visa is required for most routes;
the itinerary must be clearly logical and the only viable option;
for complex connections, additional explanations may be requested.
In international aviation, there are two different types of connections — layover and stopover. While they may seem similar at first glance, the distinction between them is critical, as it directly impacts transit rules, visa requirements, and even your right to leave the airport.
Layover — a short connection
A layover is a connection of up to 24 hours without leaving the international transit zone. Usually, you are traveling on a single ticket, your luggage is automatically transferred, and a visa is not required — provided the rules of the route and your nationality allow it.
Stopover — a long stop
A stopover is any connection longer than 24 hours, or any situation where you leave the airport, pass through passport control, or switch airports or terminals. A stopover is always considered an entry into the country, and it may require a transit or regular visa.
The type of connection determines whether you can leave the airport, whether a visa is needed, whether the airline will allow you to board, and how your luggage will be handled. Even a short connection can become a stopover if the transit zone is closed, you need to change airports, or your route involves transit through multiple Schengen countries.
Most countries offer two basic types of transit visas:
Type A (Airport Transit Visa) allows you to remain only in the airport’s international transit zone. Leaving the airport is not permitted.
Type C (Short-Term Transit Visa) allows a short-term stay in the country for 1–5 days and is required if you need to change terminals or airports, or stay overnight.
Special visa categories:
United Kingdom: DATV (for transits up to 24 hours without exiting the airport) and Visitor in Transit (for transits up to 48 hours, which permits leaving the airport).
Schengen Area: In some countries, an Airside Transit Visa is required. This is essentially a type A visa, but only for citizens of specific countries and only on certain routes.
The application process is similar to obtaining a tourist visa, but with a strong emphasis on providing proof of your travel itinerary.
Check the requirements for your specific transit country on official government resources.
Prepare the required documents:
completed visa application form;
passport;
flight tickets for the entire journey;
visa for final destination;
hotel booking (if exiting the airport);
bank statement;
proof of employment;
travel medical insurance;
photos that meet the specific requirements.
Pay the visa fee. Approximate costs:
Schengen Area: around €90;
the United Kingdom: from £84;
the United States: $185;
Canada: about 100 CAD;Australia: 0 AUD (free of charge), but the application still requires official approval.
Submit the documents to the visa application center or consulate.
Attend a visa interview (if required).
When it comes to transit visas, it's always better to be safe than sorry. A single document error or a misunderstanding of your itinerary can lead to being denied boarding.
Recommendations:
always check the requirements on the official resources of the transit country;
take night layovers into account — some transit zones may be closed during certain hours;
if your route involves multiple countries, always follow the strictest set of rules;
for complex connections, it’s better to use partner airlines or purchase a single through-ticket.
To eliminate uncertainty, you can use the Terrana service. Our experts will review your flights, confirm the requirements of the transit countries, and advise you on whether a transit visa is needed and which documents you should prepare.
