Transit in london do i need a visa. London: a national visa is required for the British capital, transit under special conditions

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If the route of the planned trip, completely by chance or quite thoughtfully (which is not at all surprising), lies through the UK, then very thorough preparations must be made for such a trip. Everyone knows that the British migration and transit systems have quite strict requirements, which it is advisable to familiarize yourself with before issuing air tickets.

The need for a transit visa depends on two main factors:

how is the transit - airside or landside
which group of countries the passenger belongs to (according to the List of visa national countries or the so-called black and red lists of countries)

Airside transit

If your airfare is for a transit flight with a stopover at Manchester International Airport, or Heathrow or Gatwick, which are located in London, then you can relax and pack your bags in peace - you do not need a visa. The layout of these airports allows you to move or move from one terminal to another (within the same airport, of course) without leaving the transit zone.

That is, the passenger will not need to go through passport control, therefore, no one will ask for a visa. But there are some nuances here. For example, citizens of Ukraine (which is blacklisted) can carry out airside transit through Britain without a transit visa only if the following conditions are met:

arrival / departure by plane (this can be a through ticket or several tickets from different companies, but for the entire route)
tickets for the next flight, the departure of which must be before 23:59 on the day of arrival (the time indicated in the tickets is taken into account, regardless of the delay / cancellation of the flight)
air tickets must be international flights(exception - flight to Ireland)
availability of all documents that are necessary for entry into the country of destination
the traveler cannot leave transit zone airport

Landside transit

Passengers often book flights specifically to explore London, or are forced to purchase flights through the UK because there is no more convenient or cheaper way to get to their destination. During landside transit, the traveler needs to leave the transit area, for example, to collect / check in luggage, change airports, spend the night in a hotel, or transfer to domestic flight Or a flight to Ireland.

Usually, in such cases, customs officers require a transit visa, but there are exceptions to every rule. Absence this document during landside transit is allowed only if the passenger fulfills the following conditions:

arrival/departure only by plane (this can be a through ticket or several tickets from different companies, but for the entire route)
the availability of air tickets for the plane, the take-off of which must be before 23:59 the next day after arrival (the time indicated in the air tickets is taken into account, regardless of the delay / cancellation of the flight)

For example, a passenger arrived on June 11 at 22:00, he must fly from Britain before 23:59 on June 12. Please note that using this rule, it is quite profitable to buy air tickets for night flights. For example, a passenger arrived on July 15 at 00:15, the tickets must be on the next flight with a departure before 23:59 on July 16. In fact, the traveler has two whole days in the UK.

valid visa for New Zealand, Australia, Canada, USA and a plane ticket to one of the listed countries
an expired visa to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, but six months have not passed since the entry into one of the countries listed
a valid biometric visa to enter the Republic of Ireland (remarks must indicate "BC" or "BC BIVS"), as well as airline tickets to Ireland
a valid Irish biometric visa (remarks must indicate 'BC' or 'BC BIVS'), airline tickets proving they are flying from Ireland, and less than three months have passed since they entered that country
long-term visa category D, issued by one of the countries of the European Union or Switzerland
residence permit in australia
Residence permit in New Zealand
Residence permit in Canada (issued after June 28, 2002)
Residence permit in the USA (issued after 04/21/1008), including a valid US I-551 Temporary Immigrant Visa (please note that employees border control Britain will not accept a specified wet ink stamped document), permanent residence card, expired I-551 card (must be accompanied by a valid I-797 letter authorizing renewal), US immigration form 155A /155B (provided with a stamped brown envelope)
Residence permit in Switzerland or in any country that is part of the European Economic Area
availability of all documents that are necessary for entry into the country of destination

Note! visa-free landside transit will not be possible if the passenger has an electronic visa (e-visa) or an electronic residence permit (e-residence permit), and also do not count on luck if you have a US visa type "YY" or "ZZ" marked " Not a visa. Foil prepared at DHS request" or stamped "Processed for I-551".

Also note that even the fulfillment of these conditions does not give a 100% guarantee for visa-free transit through the UK. It all depends on the decision of the immigration officer on passport control who has every right to refuse you. Therefore, it is in your interest to carefully prepare for communication with the officer.

For example, if a passenger purchased air tickets for a plane that arrives in London in the evening, and the next flight is tomorrow morning, then an additional argument confirming the need to leave the transit zone will be a document (printout) confirming the booked hotel room near the airport.

If your air tickets provide for a route with a change of airport (for example, you arrive in Luton, and air tickets depart from Heathrow), then it would be prudent to pre-book bus or train tickets and present them to the immigration officer.

And remember - if you do not want to immediately nullify all the dreams of a visa-free landside transit, you should not tell the officer at passport control that you specifically picked up flights with long connections in London to see the city.

What you need at passport control:

international passport
valid visa to the country of destination (if necessary)
tickets for flights with the corresponding route (for example, tickets for the Kyiv-London-Toronto flight look much more convincing than flights with the Kyiv-London-Berlin route. The UK immigration officers will clearly guess that you have specifically chosen this route to walk around London .The risk of staying at the airport increases dramatically)
a fully completed immigration form (the form is taken at the counter before control or on the plane of some air carriers)

In what cases it is desirable to obtain a visa in advance:

the passenger has already been denied a UK visa
deportation or denial of entry to any country
problems with the law (in any country)
during a previous visit to Britain, the traveler violated the visa regime (illegally worked for a tourist or student visa etc.

Up-to-date information on the migration policy of the country,

check with official sources - visa center and consulate.

England, as the most attractive European country for tourism and business trips, stands apart in political, economic and international relations. Relations with the European Union were recently severed, Brexit took place. The state closes the borders more tightly, the reason for this is the flow of illegal migrants, the difficult political situation, the threats of Islamists against the government, and a host of other reasons. Relations with Russia have cracked, and there is little hope for their stabilization. A transplant in London requires knowledge of the rules set by the UK immigration authorities, the officers of diplomatic missions have the right to consider each case individually.

Rules for a short stay in the country

Despite the strict migration system, English customs officers still delimit the possibilities of staying in the United Kingdom, depending on the reasons, timing, and status of a person. The current year 2017 was marked by the introduction of new customs regulations in relation to Russia. They have not become simpler, but the circle of persons entitled to transit through London has become wider. The innovations did not touch the paperwork, the UK remains one of the countries that is not easy to enter.

Citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus have a concession regime: compliance with the regulations allows them to stay in the transit zone for a day without issuing a visa to England. The concession is not declared, therefore, at the slightest suspicion, the British customs officer has the right not to let the voyager through border area. The latest data show that such cases are not uncommon, the slightest suspicion of someone who wants to pass through the country will close it for a long time.

Important! An unspoken list of airlines has been compiled in which employees do not let passengers on board without a mark in their passport allowing them to get off at a British airport: WizzAir, EasyJet, RyanAir. Airlines value their reputation, not wanting to get in trouble with the law.

Short stay without applying to the consulate

The requirements of the authorities of the United Kingdom in relation to those passing through it without a transit visa are as follows:

delay at Heathrow or Gatwick airports lasting no more than 24 hours (only Heathrow and Gatwick are equipped with zones where air passengers are waiting for a flight to a third country);
the flight is scheduled to land at the same airport;
if the transplant is carried out in London, the traveler will not leave the territory of the air harbor;
the air passenger will not leave the customs zone, he is not scheduled to enter the city;
one mode of transport is used: aircraft or ship.

In addition, one of the following conditions must be met:

flight or return to Russia from the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland;
residence in these countries for no more than six months;
the presence of a residence permit in America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, EU countries.

Short stay

Staying in the UK for more than a day, without meeting the above requirements, will make you wonder if you need a visa for a transplant in London? Russians who wish to stay on the shores of foggy Albion for more than a day will have to contact the embassy with an impressive set of papers.

Important! Since 2017, the UK authorities have banned going out for a walk in the city transit passengers Russia and CIS countries. Previously, they had the opportunity to travel to the metropolis on an excursion.

A short-term visa is issued for a period not exceeding 48 hours and cannot be extended. Stays beyond this time require permission from diplomatic missions. Not all air harbors England is equipped with transit zones, for example, they are absent in the large interchange hubs of Stansted and Luton.

Paperwork takes from 14 days to 2 months. The increased rate of the English consulate will allow you to process them faster, but this will not give a 100% guarantee of putting down the coveted mark. Documents are provided in English. A visa to London costs 80 euros. Efforts to obtain permission to travel through Britain will yield results if the papers are properly selected.

Collection of documents

England is traditionally considered a country that strictly monitors migration policy. The attitude towards compatriots is also influenced by the foreign policy of governments. The paperwork continues, the requirements are getting tougher, however, strict adherence to the requirements of the receiving party will eliminate possible failures. Russians are required to submit a package of documents to the consulate.

Foreign passport valid for six months after the trip with two blank pages and a copy of the first. Attach old passports or their copies.
The photo is required one, taken in a specialized studio on photographic paper, other options are rejected. Children under six are allowed to be photographed in any position: standing, sitting, smiling, up to the age of one, even sleeping in strollers. A child who has reached the age of six is considered a full citizen, is obliged to be photographed as a father and mother. No smiles, antics, only serious officials. One photo is attached to the application form.
A certificate from work on the letterhead of the enterprise, it indicates the date of issue: the paper is valid for a month. It is obligatory to mention the name of the company, the position of the applicant, the terms of work in the position, the average monthly salary (not less than 30 thousand rubles). They write about granting leave for the duration of the trip. The document signs CEO and chief accountant. A citizen submitting a certificate to a diplomatic mission does not have the right to sign it himself, being the head. This is done for him by another authorized official.
A certificate from the place of study of students with the seal of the university or college is officially certified. Prescribe the name of the university or school, the course of study. A sponsorship letter, written in any form, is attached to the certificate, guaranteeing the solvency of the young man during the trip.
A visa to England is issued upon confirmation of the financial solvency of the applicant. There must be sufficient funds in the accounts, starting from 100 pounds per day. They provide bank statements on the availability of money, their passage for three months through the applicant's accounts, statements are valid for 30 days.
Proof of marital status: certificates of marriage, divorce, death of spouse.
Filling out the questionnaire provided by the embassy website.
Availability of purchased round-trip air tickets.
Proof of residence in England: hotel reservations, Airbnb, staying with relatives, other options.

Questionnaire, certificates, account statements are provided in paper form, electronic document management is prohibited.

Important! At the interview at the consulate, sometimes you need to prove that the route through the Kingdom is optimal: a cheap, short route, or there are no direct flights to the country of destination. If there are identical routes, bypassing the Kingdom, the request to cross its borders may be denied.

Registration through an agency

When planning a trip, it is important to understand whether a visa is required when transiting through London. Tourists often combine a flight to distant continents with the opportunity to stay in foggy Albion, applying to a diplomatic mission for transit. Travelers see the sights, stay overnight in a hotel, get impressions of British metropolitan areas. The journey does not seem tiring, it becomes filled with impressions.

A UK transit visa is not easy to obtain - you need certificates, financial viability, accurate filling of the questionnaire, visiting the consulate. Migration officers rarely make concessions to the Russians, one mistake in the questionnaire gives them the right not to put a mark in the passport. Therefore, a long-planned trip may be in jeopardy. It is sometimes difficult for a tourist to cope with the collection of certificates and confirmations.

It will be better for him to do this by professionals of special agencies who have experience in obtaining permits for short-term entry, who know the nuances that British migration services require to take into account.

Agents will help assess the chances of getting the coveted sticker by considering a set of papers. They will correct the mistakes in them, most importantly, they will complete the long procedure for filling out the questionnaire for the tourist, it contains 100 points, some of which are obscure to the Russians. Moreover, the fields must be filled in in English. Agents track the movement and exit of the passport from the diplomatic mission, receive it by proxy, without the participation of the owner.

Tourists who travel in the UK have to open a tourist visa, as the government is strict about entering the country as a whole. Visa requirements are also tightened for those who are passing through England.

Today it is impossible to leave the territory of the airport without an appropriate document, while obtaining a transit visa if a transfer is planned in London is not always necessary. It depends on the purpose of the traveller.

There are several factors that influence the need for a pass when visiting London. To understand whether you need a visa, it is enough to think over the purposes and duration of your stay in England.

Transfer airport

There are three airports in Britain where tourists from several countries, including Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and Kazakhs, do not need to issue a pass. These are the airports of Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, they are in London. Most flights connect here. If you fly to another airport - obtaining a permit is required.

The movement between terminals is organized so that travelers do not leave the transit area (airside transfer). Therefore, additional permissions from the British Embassy are not needed.

But even in the case of being at the capital's air terminals, this condition does not guarantee that the customs inspector will let the tourist through. There can be many reasons for refusal, even personal suspicion is enough. In any case, the official reason will be indicated as follows - non-compliance with the rules of migration.

It is worth knowing that a transit pass cannot be issued directly at the airport, even if a short-term transfer is planned there.

Other conditions

In the case when the UK is an intermediate point of travel, it is not necessary to issue a visa. But for this, the tourist must meet one of the following conditions:

Be a citizen of the European Union or Switzerland.
Have refugee or stateless status.
Use the same mode of transport before and after the transfer.
Do not plan to stay in the kingdom for longer than a day.
Mandatory presence of a visa to the final country of the route.

In addition, when transferring in London, a transit pass will not be required if the passenger is in possession of a standard visitor, tourist or residence visa for the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland or Australia.

Change of transport

Travelers sea cruises who pass through Britain, you can not issue a transit document if you do not plan to walk around the city. Even during a daily stop at the port, only those tourists who have made a pass for themselves in advance will be able to enter the capital.

In the case of changing planes, a passenger can transfer to another flight without a visa only if the planes are at the same airport. Getting to another airport terminal by car or train without a document will not work.

Registration

A visa can be opened at the consulate, and the package of documents is the same and does not depend on its type. All paperwork must be translated into English language and certified by a notary.

Documentation

In addition to the questionnaire, originals and copies of all international passports, you need an insurance policy, a photograph of 35x45 mm, a certificate from work and documents confirming income.

Additionally, some categories of citizens may be required to:

pensioner's ID;
student ticket;
hotel/hostel booking confirmation;
certificate of work experience;
copies of visas that were received earlier.

Procedure

After preparing the papers, you need to fill out an electronic form of the questionnaire, then the date of visiting the consulate will be set. There you will need to hand over all originals and fingerprints. Next, a personal interview will be held with the tourist.

Russians need a visa to visit London. And You can't enter the country with a Schengen visa, since the UK did not sign an agreement on a simplified passport and visa regime at the borders of the EU countries. Similarly with a British visa document, it is not possible to enter other European countries. A visa to London is issued in British service centers, which are located in a number of cities in Russia.

Types of visa documents

Depending on the purpose of travel to the country, one or another type of visa document is issued. Let's consider the main ones.

Visitor Visa

This visa is required if the purpose of travel is tourism, a visit to relatives or a business trip. And in each case, supporting documents will be required.

For example, a tourist visa requires documents confirming the availability of a booked hotel room or renting an apartment.

If a foreigner travels as a guest to friends or relatives, then an invitation letter from them is required, which indicates the time, purpose of the trip and the proposed address of residence. Moreover, documents confirming the status of the inviting party are required: copies of a residence permit or passport.

In the case of a business visit, a foreigner is required to provide an invitation letter from a British company indicating the duration of the trip and information about who sponsors it.

Transit visa

When transiting through England, a visa is required. However possible transit through London without a visa. To do this, the foreigner must:

travel exclusively by plane;
depart from the Kingdom within 24 hours of arrival at the airport;
have a ticket for a flight to a third country;
stopping in Britain should have a logical explanation. For example, a flight through London will seem more than strange if a foreigner travels from St. Petersburg to Paris.

These are the so-called general conditions. But in order to not be required, the traveler must also meet one of the following requirements:

the country of arrival is the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. Or foreign citizen flies from these countries via Britain to a third country;
the traveler has a residence permit in the above countries or in;
the person has a visa type "D",;
a foreigner is flying to (or from) and he has a national visa of this state.

More detailed information about all types of English visas and their registration can be obtained.

Obtaining a visa

To get started on the site //www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/account/register you need to create your own account, fill out, print and sign the application form. All information is entered in English. After entering all the data, a personal number will be sent to the email address specified when creating the account. In the future, you will need it to register at the visa center. Then you should prepare a package of documents:

Passport with a validity period of more than six months and at least two blank sheets;
One photo that meets all the requirements described below. The photo is pasted into the questionnaire;
, where the position held and the amount of the monthly salary are indicated;
Availability financial documentation Money enough to complete the trip.

Photo Requirements

One photo is attached to the application form, which must meet the following conditions:

photo size is 3.5x4.5 cm;
the photograph was taken no later than six months before the application was submitted;
photographs of the applicant wearing sunglasses, a hat or other accessories are not accepted if their use is not related to religious beliefs;
the image is performed on a light background and occupies at least 70% of the entire image.

Financial documents

You can confirm financial solvency if you provide the following documentation:

Bank statement for the last six months;
Certificate 2-NDFL or other document confirming the receipt of wages;
Tax returns stamped by the IFTS.

Supporting documentation does not include certificates of ownership of real estate. However, their presence can significantly increase the chances of obtaining a visa. It is worth adding that when paying for a trip by a third party, financial documentation on the solvency of the sponsor is provided.

Submission of documents to the visa center

Prepared documents are submitted to one of the visa centers. Embassies and consulates located in the Russian Federation do not deal with visa issues. You can sign up for the submission of documents on the website tpcontact.co.uk but first you need to create your own account. When registering, an e-mail, a previously issued personal number, passport data, last name and first name are indicated. After the account is created, the place and date of application submission is selected. Here, the visa fee is paid online, and, if necessary, ordered Additional services, for example, courier delivery or urgent visa processing. After entering all the data, a letter will be generated, which must be printed and attached to the package of documents.

At the specified time, you should visit the visa center (it is better to arrive 15 minutes earlier). You will have to go through the procedures of scanning fingerprints and taking a digital photo. If the applicant refuses to take part in these activities, then the issuance of a British visa will automatically be denied. In the presence of cuts or scratches, as well as swelling on the fingers or face, it is necessary to wait for their healing: if the skin is damaged, biometric data is not taken. The procedure itself takes no longer than 20 minutes.

It usually takes up to 15 days to process a visa to London. But it is advisable to take care of applying in advance. It takes no more than 3-5 days to issue an urgent visa. In a shorter time, applications from persons who have visas to, or countries of the Schengen agreement are considered. When issuing a visa for a period of more than two years, the documents are studied within one month.

Visa to certain regions of the country

There is no separate visa to enter certain parts of the country (Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales), as well as cities of the Kingdom, for example, to London. In all cases, a UK national visa is issued.

Traveling with children

If you plan to travel with minor child, then you must provide a birth certificate (make a copy) and have the written consent of the other parent. If a child travels to the UK unaccompanied, the consent of both parents is required. In the absence of a second parent, it is necessary to provide certificates confirming this fact.

All supporting documents must be translated into English. Moreover, both the applicant himself and the specialist of the Translation Agency or another person who speaks the language can translate the documentation. Notarization is not required.

Issuing a visa: independently or through agencies?

If the question arises about a trip to Britain, then there are two options for solving it: contact the agency to complete the necessary documentation or get a visa to London on your own. Given that The UK is a country with a fairly strict migration policy., then the advantages of seeking help from agencies are obvious. The specialists of such organizations know all the subtleties, pitfalls and nuances of obtaining a visa, in addition, the process of obtaining an entry document is reduced to the shortest possible time. But for their services, such organizations, of course, will charge an additional fee.

On average, depending on the type of visa, the cost of processing documents at the agency will vary in the range of 3000-9000 rubles. To this amount should be added the cost of the consular fee, which will vary depending on the type of visa. For example, the cost of a visa to London for up to 6 months will be $132. If a visit is planned that will last two years, the consular fee increases to $459. It is, of course, cheaper to apply for a visa on your own, but the probability

- one of those points on the world map that instills vague doubts and anxiety in the hearts of travelers. In view of the strict migration policy, the British approach the visa issue with all caution. As a result, there is an ambiguous situation with a transit visa when transferring from flight to flight.

The good news is that you may not need a visa (but don't count on it too much), the bad news is that there are many "pitfalls" of passing customs control. We will tell you everything you need to know for a successful transfer flight in the capital of the Foggy Albion.

How to check if I need a visa if I am flying in transit?

The first question that comes to travelers in transit is whether a visa is required? For a full guarantee, we recommend checking the information on transit flights on the official website of the British Migration Service.

Another way to check is to look at TIMATIC. This is a unified information system of the International Association air transport IATA (International Air Transport Association). Here, with all scrupulousness and accuracy, all the rules for those who travel by plane are collected. So, to double-check the need for a transit visa, use TIMATIK on one of these resources:

The development of events also depends on the airport of arrival: if you arrive at international Airport Manchester or Heathrow - life is wonderful and you definitely don’t need to worry about a visa. The layout of these airports allows you to move from one terminal to another without leaving the transit zone. This type of transit is called airside.

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The second type of transfer is landside transit. With landside transit, the traveler leaves the territory of the airport, and, consequently, the transit zone. At this time, you can visit: in a couple of hours you can see the legendary sights of London, better understand the history of the city and feel its special atmosphere. Usually in such cases a transit visa is required, but you may not need it if you comply with the following:

you have tickets for a flight that departs on the day of your arrival or before midnight the next day;
arrival and departure only by plane;
an open visa to the country that is the final destination, or, if a visa is not needed, a receipt for payment of the hotel.

BUT, in addition to this, you necessarily must be one of the following documents:

a valid visa to New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the USA and a plane ticket to one of the listed countries;
an expired visa to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, but six months have not passed since the entry into one of the listed countries;
a valid biometric visa to enter the Republic of Ireland (remarks must indicate "BC" or "BC BIVS"), as well as air tickets to Ireland;
a valid Irish biometric visa (remarks must indicate "BC" or "BC BIVS"), air tickets confirming that he is flying from Ireland - moreover, more than three months have not passed since the moment of entry into this country;
long-term visa category D, issued by one of the countries of the European Union or Switzerland;
residence permit in Australia;
Residence permit in New Zealand;
Residence permit in Canada (issued after June 28, 2002);
Residence permit in the United States (issued after 04/21/2008), including a valid US I-551 Temporary Immigrant Visa (please note that British border control officers will not accept the agreed document with a stamp made with wet ink), permanent residence card (permanent residence card residence), expired I-551 card (must be accompanied by a valid I-797 letter authorizing renewal), U.S. Immigration Form 155A/155B (provided with a stamped brown envelope);
Residence permit in Switzerland or in any country that is part of the European Economic Area;
availability of all documents that are necessary for entry into the country of destination.

But there is a nuance - a visa concession does not yet guarantee trouble-free transit. If suddenly you seem suspicious to the customs officer, he may refuse to visit you in the UK, justifying this by inconsistency with the rules of migration. And in general, your fate at this moment depends entirely on his decision.

Therefore, prepare for customs control: it will not be superfluous to print out your hotel reservation if you are staying overnight, and during the interview itself, you should not be frank that you specifically chose a long transfer in order to see the city. You will not be denied a stay at the airport, but they may not be allowed to leave the city.

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At passport control you will need:

International passport;

Tickets for flights with the corresponding route. For example, air tickets for the Kyiv-London-Toronto flight look much more convincing than air tickets with the Kyiv-London-Berlin route. UK immigration officers will clearly guess that you have chosen this route on purpose to walk around London;

Valid visa to the country of destination (if necessary);

A fully completed immigration form (the form is taken at the counter before control or on the plane of some air carriers).

What are we doing?

First you need to print boarding passes for all connecting flights on your route.

On departure, during check-in for a flight, you need to stamp the airline employee stating that the airline has no questions about your documents. To do this, you need to tell him that you are flying in transit, show boarding pass for a flight from London and a passport with a valid visa of the destination country.
Go through passport control and fly to London.
Fill out the landing card on board the aircraft.
Upon arrival in London, at passport control, present your passport, landing card and boarding pass for a flight from London.
When boarding the next flight, you will be checked for a visa to visit the country you are going to.

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It should be remembered that you only have 24 hours for everything about everything. For stays longer than 24 hours, a transit visa is already required - it allows you to stay in the UK for up to 48 hours.