Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order consolidates and amends the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2003 (the “2003 Order”). The 2003 Order requires certain passengers to hold a transit visa to pass through the United Kingdom, without entering the United Kingdom, while transiting to another country.
Article 2 defines a “transit passenger” as a person who on arrival in the United Kingdom passes through to another country or territory without entering the United Kingdom and is either a citizen or national of a country or territory listed in Schedule 1 (article 2(2)); a person holding a travel document issued by the purported “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (article 2(3)); or holds a non-biometric passport issued by the Republic of Venezuela. However, a person will not be a transit passenger if they have a right of abode in the United Kingdom; are a national of an EEA State; or are a national or citizen of China and hold a passport issued by either the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or the Macao Special Administrative Region.
Article 3 imposes a requirement for transit passengers to hold a transit visa unless they are subject to an exemption in article 4.
Article 4 sets out the categories of documents which, if held by a transit passenger or on his behalf by a person with whom the transit passenger arrives in the United Kingdom, exempt the transit passenger from the requirement to hold a transit visa.
Article 5 provides that an application for a transit visa may be made to any British High Commission, Embassy or Consulate which accepts such applications.
Article 6 revokes previous orders relating to transit visas as part of the consolidation of the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2003 (as amended).