What is a transit visa? It is a short-term permit to pass through a country, or just its airport, on the way somewhere else. It doesn’t let you visit. Whether you need one depends on your passport, airside or landside transit and layover length. Run the 3-question check below before you find flights.
In this article
Key takeaways
EU/EEA passports: rarely needed, but you may need an e-authorisation (UK ETA, US ESTA, Canada eTA) if you pass border control outside Schengen.
Airside, one ticket: most passports need nothing; some nationalities need an airport transit visa (Schengen, UK).
Passing border control: separate tickets, bag re-check, airport change — you need that country's entry document.
Via the US: no airside transit; everyone clears immigration.
TL;DR: When You Need a Transit Visa
- EU/EEA passports: rarely needed, but you may need an e-authorisation (UK ETA, US ESTA, Canada eTA) if you pass border control outside Schengen.
- Airside, one ticket: most passports need nothing; some nationalities need an airport transit visa (Schengen, UK).
- Passing border control (separate tickets, bag re-check, airport change): you need that country’s entry document.
- Via the US: no airside transit; everyone clears immigration.
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What Is a Transit Visa? It Covers the Connection, Not the Trip
A transit visa lets you pass through a country for a short, fixed window that varies by country. Unlike a tourist visa, it can’t cover sightseeing, business or staying beyond your connection.
E-authorisations (ESTA, UK ETA, Canada eTA and ETIAS, once launched) are pre-clearances for visa-free passports, not visas. In the UK, an ETA means no transit visa is needed.
A layover is the wait between flights, a stopover a planned longer stay: see stopover vs. layover .
Airside vs. Landside Transit Decides Which Visa You Need
Airside means staying in the international transit area and never passing passport control. Landside means going through border control, even only to collect bags.
The UK’s Direct Airside Transit visa (DATV) covers airside connections and its Visitor in Transit visa landside ones: see the UK transit visa rules on GOV.UK . Schengen’s airport transit visa doesn’t let you leave the international transit area.
Airside turns landside if you collect checked bags, change terminals or airports (London Heathrow to Gatwick, Istanbul Airport to Sabiha Gökçen), or arrive from outside Schengen and connect through two Schengen airports, which means entering Schengen at the first.
Bags checked through to your final destination usually mean airside; your airline can confirm. See how to leave the airport during a layover .
When You Need a Transit Visa: The 3-Question Check
You need a transit visa when your passport isn’t exempt and either the country requires one even airside, or you will pass border control.
Your passport. Rules are set per nationality; some need a transit visa even airside.
Airside or landside. One ticket with checked-through bags usually means airside; separate tickets, a bag re-check or an airport change means landside.
How long. Many exemptions are time-limited (see the table), and overnight layovers often push you landside.
Example: Paris to New York to Mexico City on one ticket still means US immigration and an ESTA or US visa.
Airlines can refuse boarding (see the FAQ), so any “not sure” means checking before booking. See long layovers .
Which Countries Need a Transit Visa: 2026 Cheat Sheet
Rules depend on your passport, so treat this as a starting point. Fees and rules as of October 2026.
| Country / area | Airside, no visa? | Transit visa | Max time | Fee | E-authorisation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen | Yes for most; 12 nationalities need a visa, some countries add more | Airport transit visa | Transit area only | €90; €45 aged 6–12 | ETIAS: not yet in operation |
| UK | Yes for most; DATV for listed nationalities | DATV / Visitor in Transit | Visitor in Transit: 48 hours | £41.50 / £74.50 | ETA £20 if you pass border control; not for British or Irish citizens |
| US | No; everyone clears immigration | C-1 | Continuous transit | $185; additional fees may apply, check the US embassy site | ESTA |
| Canada | No; visa-exempt passports need an eTA | Transit visa | 48 hours | Free | eTA; Transit Without Visa on some US flights (24 hours) |
| Türkiye | Yes, in the transit lounge | None airside | None | None | e-Visa if you leave the airport |
| China | Yes, up to 24 hours with an onward ticket | Visa-free transit | 24 hours; 240 hours via 65 ports for 57 countries | Free | None; many EU passports have visa-free entry until 31 December 2026 |
| UAE | Yes, if you stay airside; leaving the airport needs a visa unless you qualify for visa-free entry or visa on arrival, as many EU passports do | Transit visa via a UAE airline | 48 or 96 hours | Etihad: AED 55 (48 h), AED 216 (96 h); other airlines set their own | None |
| Qatar | Yes; Hamad Airport says no transit visa is needed if you don’t leave the airport | Transit visa via Discover Qatar (Qatar Airways ticket, not eligible for visa-free entry) | Up to 4 days | QAR 100 | None |
Sources: European Commission, GOV.UK, U.S. Department of State, canada.ca, Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China National Immigration Administration, UAE Government portal, Qatar’s official visa pages.
How to Apply for a Schengen Airport Transit Visa
Nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka need an airport transit visa at all Schengen airports. Check where you transit.
Exemptions (Visa Code, Article 3(5)) include a valid Schengen visa or residence permit, a valid visa for Canada, Japan or the US (conditions apply), a residence permit from Andorra, Canada, Japan, San Marino, the UK or the US, and family members of EU citizens.
Apply at the consulate or visa centre of the transit country, 15 days to six months ahead. Processing normally takes 15 days, up to 45, with fingerprints. The table has the cost.
Entering Schengen needs a Schengen visa, not an airport transit visa. See the European Commission’s guidance on Schengen visas .
Inspiration
Stopover vs Layover: What Travelers Need to Know Now
Confused about stopovers and layovers? Learn the key differences, how they affect your travel plans, and tips to make the most of each.
Read the guideHow to Get a Transit Visa in 5 Steps
- Check what your airline will check. Agents verify documents against IATA Timatic; run the same check free on the IATA Travel Centre .
- Confirm on the transit country’s official government website, the authority if anything differs.
- Gather documents: valid passport, confirmed onward ticket, final-destination visa if needed, photos, proof of funds where asked.
- Apply and pay via the embassy, consulate or official portal. Most transit visas can’t be bought at the airport, and processing varies from days to weeks, so apply early.
- Carry printouts of the visa and onward booking.
See how to know if you’ll need a visa .
Self-Transfer Turns Your Layover Into a Border Crossing
On separate tickets, you collect your bags, pass passport control and check in again. This is a self-transfer, and some airports force you out of the transit area even without bags. See self-transfer itineraries .
That makes the layover country an entry, not a transit. Kiwi.com’s help centre says: “You’ll need the same documents as if the transfer country were your final destination.”
For passports that need a Schengen visa, a self-transfer in Rome or Barcelona means entering Schengen. Short connections need extra care. Two separate tickets through Doha mean passing Qatari passport control, not an airside transfer.
Virtual Interlining combines airlines that don’t normally work together, and the Kiwi.com Guarantee helps on eligible bookings if a delay or cancellation breaks the connection. Documents are yours to check before booking. See the self-connecting flights guide .
What’s Changing for Transit Passengers in 2026
EES: fully operational since 10 April 2026. It registers non-EU travellers with fingerprints and a photo on entry to Schengen, so it affects landside connections, not airside ones.
ETIAS: no start date announced as of October 2026; the European Commission says it will announce one several months before launch. It won’t apply if you stay in the international transit area.
UK ETA: required for most visa-free visitors, including EU citizens, passing UK border control.
China: added Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam to its visa-free transit scheme in August 2026.
See the Schengen travel rules .
Book a Connection That Works for Your Passport with Kiwi.com
Check your passport, airside or landside, and layover length before booking. Kiwi.com lets you compare connections across many airlines and pick one through a country that works for your passport, whether that’s a route via Türkiye or a non-stop flight within Europe .
Transit Visa FAQs
Do I need a transit visa if I don’t leave the airport?
It depends on your passport. Most don’t, but some nationalities need an airport transit visa even airside (Schengen, UK), and the US has no airside transit. See the table.
Can I leave the airport during a layover without a visa?
Leaving means passing border control, so you must meet that country’s entry requirements. Some countries offer visa-free entry or transit schemes (see the table).
Can I get a transit visa on arrival at the airport?
Generally no. The Schengen airport transit visa and UK Direct Airside Transit visa must be issued before you fly.
Do EU citizens need a transit visa?
Almost never for a connection. Outside Schengen you may need an e-authorisation when you pass border control: a UK ETA, US ESTA or Canada eTA (see the table).
Do I need a transit visa if I already have a US visa?
Often not. A valid US visa exempts you from the Schengen airport transit visa and can qualify some passports for Canada’s Transit Without Visa programme. Other countries set their own exemptions.
What happens if I’m denied boarding for a missing transit visa?
Under EU Regulation 261/2004, airlines can deny boarding for missing travel documents without compensation. Check your documents before booking, not at the airport.
Do children need a transit visa?
Yes, if their passport requires one: rules follow nationality, not age. The Schengen airport transit visa costs €45 for ages 6–12 and is free under 6.
