If you’re planning to visit the UK, either for personal or professional reasons, you will need to check whether you’re required to apply for a visit visa or if you can travel to the UK visa-free. This will ultimately depend on whether or not you are from a country on the ‘UK visa nationals list’.
The UK visa national list is made up of those countries whose citizens have to apply for a visa to visit the UK. Travellers who come under this requirement are called ‘visa nationals’, and they will need a visa to visit the UK, even if this visit is only short-term.
In this guide, we outline the rules relating to the UK visa nationals list and what your status as either a visa national or non-visa national means for your plans to visit the UK.
Section A: What is the UK Visa National List?
The UK visa national list is found under ‘Appendix Visitor: Visa national list’ of the UK’s Immigration Rules. Under the Rules, this list is described as a “list of nationalities requiring entry clearance (a visa) prior to travel to the UK as a Visitor, or for any other purpose for less than six months where there is no other mandatory visa requirement”. This means that if you are a national of a country that appears on this list, you will need to make an application to the UK Home Office for entry clearance as a visitor in advance of travel to the UK.
Visa nationals are required to obtain a visit visa before travelling unless an exception under Rule VN 2 applies.
Section B: Which Countries are on the UK Visa Nationals List?
The UK visa national list currently comprises over 100 countries from all around the world, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
In addition to those countries expressly set out under the UK visa national list, the rules also require stateless people to apply for entry clearance in advance, as well as those travelling on any document other than a passport (or, where applicable under the rules, a national identity card when seeking entry to the UK through the Channel Tunnel), regardless of whether the document is issued by or is evidence of nationality of a place not on the list.
Always check the live list on GOV.UK on the date you travel. The list changes periodically, and the Rules page shows the latest update date.
From 11 November 2025, nationals holding a Palestinian Authority or Palestinian Territory passport are classed as visa nationals under Appendix Visitor. They will need to apply for a UK visit visa in advance of travel, as they are not eligible for the ETA scheme.
Nationals or citizens of the following countries or territorial entities are classed as visa nationals and must obtain a visa before coming to the UK as a visitor:
UK Visa Nationals List | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Georgia | Mongolia | Tajikistan |
| Albania | Ghana | Montenegro | Tanzania |
| Algeria | Guinea | Morocco | Thailand |
| Angola | Guinea-Bissau | Mozambique | Timor-Leste |
| Armenia | Haiti | Myanmar (Burma) | Togo |
| Azerbaijan | Honduras | Namibia | Tunisia |
| Bangladesh | India | Nepal | Turkey |
| Belarus | Indonesia | Niger | Turkmenistan |
| Benin | Iran | Nigeria | Uganda |
| Bhutan | Iraq | North Korea | Ukraine |
| Bolivia | Jamaica | North Macedonia | Uzbekistan |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Kazakhstan | Pakistan | Vanuatu |
| Botswana* | Kenya | Palestine (effective 11 Nov 2025) | Venezuela |
| Burkina Faso | Kosovo | Philippines | Vietnam |
| Burundi | Kyrgyzstan | Russia | Yemen |
| Cambodia | Laos | Rwanda | Zambia |
| Cameroon | Lebanon | São Tomé and Príncipe | Zimbabwe |
| Cape Verde | Lesotho | Senegal | Jordan |
| Central African Republic | Liberia | Serbia | Colombia |
| Chad | Libya | Sierra Leone | Trinidad and Tobago |
| China (People’s Republic of China) | Madagascar | Somalia | |
| Comoros | Malawi | South Africa | |
| Congo (Republic of) | Mali | South Sudan | |
| Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | Mauritania | Sri Lanka | |
| Cuba | Moldova | Sudan | |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Morocco | Suriname | |
| Djibouti | Myanmar (Burma) | Syria | |
| Dominican Republic | Nigeria | Tajikistan | |
| Ecuador | Niger | Tanzania | |
| Egypt | Nepal | Thailand | |
| El Salvador | North Korea | Timor-Leste | |
| Eritrea | Pakistan | Togo | |
| Eswatini (Swaziland) | Philippines | Tunisia | |
| Ethiopia | Russia | Turkey | |
| Fiji | Ukraine | Turkmenistan | |
| Gabon | Uzbekistan | Vietnam | |
*Botswana: Transitional exception applies for travellers with bookings made before 15:00 BST on 14 October 2025 and arrival by 25 November 2025.
*Taiwan: Holders of Taiwan passports that include an identification card number are treated as non-visa nationals for short visits but will require an ETA before travel.
Section C: Exceptions to the UK Visa Nationals List
Under the rules, as a visa national, you will need to obtain a visa in advance of travel to the UK as a visitor, or for any other purpose for less than 6 months where there is no mandatory visa requirement, unless you meet one of the exceptions. The exceptions under the UK visa national list rules include:
a. Rule VN 2.1: where you are a transit visitor travelling on an emergency travel document that is issued by, and evidences the nationality of, any country not listed in VN 1.1(a), and the purpose of your transit is to travel to the country in which you are ordinarily resident.
b. Rule VN 2.2, subject to VN 2.3: the following do not need a visit visa before travelling to the UK as a Visitor, unless VN 2.3 applies:
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport holders, Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) passport holders, Taiwan passport holders with an identification card number, Holy See diplomatic or service passport holders, and nationals of Botswana with bookings made before 15:00 BST on 14 October 2025 for arrival by 25 November 2025.
c. Rule VN 2.3: VN 2.2 does not apply to those visiting the UK to marry, form a civil partnership, or stay for more than 6 months.
Section D: UK Entry Requirements for Visa Nationals
Before making an application, check that you need a visa and confirm which type. You can use the ‘Check if you need a UK visa’ online tool at GOV.UK. You will be asked for your nationality, as shown on your passport or other travel document, and what you are coming to the UK to do. You will then be told whether you need a visa, an ETA, or neither, based on your answers. If you are unsure, contact our UK immigration experts for advice.
As a visa national, the requisite entry requirements will partly depend on the reason for your trip, for example, for personal or professional reasons. However, in broad terms, you will need to meet the following eligibility requirements when applying for a visit visa:
- Be genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted under the visitor rules, for example, tourism, visiting friends and family, carrying out a permissible business activity such as attending meetings or conferences, or undertaking a short course of study
- Be visiting the UK for a period of no more than 6 months
- Have sufficient funds to both support and accommodate yourself for the duration of your stay, or have funding from someone else to support you
- Be able to pay for either your return or onward journey, or have funding from a third party to pay for this journey
- Intend to leave the UK at the end of your stay
- Not intend to live in the UK for extended periods through either frequent or successive visits, and not intend to make the UK your primary home
There are other types of visit visa for which specific requirements apply for visa nationals, for example:
a. Marriage Visitor visa: if you want to either get married or form a civil partnership in the UK, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership.
Read more about the UK’s Marriage Visitor visa here >>
b. Transit visa: if you want to transit the UK en route to another country outside of the Common Travel Area and will enter the UK for up to 48 hours — unless you can transit visa-free under the special rules for visa nationals transiting the UK land-side without a visa.
Read more about the Transit visa here >>
Section E: How to Apply for a UK Visitor Visa
As a visa national, to apply for a visit visa, you must make an online application and pay the relevant fee. Provided you do need a visa to visit the UK, and having submitted your online application, you may need to attend an overseas visa application centre to provide a scan of your fingerprints and a photograph of your face. This is known as your biometric information.
You will also need to submit a number of documents, including a valid passport or travel document, together with documentation to show that you meet the eligibility requirements. This can include evidence of where you will be staying in the UK and any travel itinerary, together with proof of earnings or savings to show that you can support yourself, and evidence of any personal, professional and economic ties to your country of residence.
When applying for a standard visit visa, this will usually be for a period of just 6 months. However, you can apply for a visa with a longer validity period of either 2, 5 or 10 years — to cover any additional trips to the UK — although each stay in the UK must not exceed the maximum permitted length of stay for a visit visa, which is typically six months.
Read our full guide to the Standard Visitor visa application process here >>
Section F: Non-Visa National UK Travel Requirements
A non-visa national is someone who does not usually need a visa to visit the UK, provided their trip is for no more than 6 months and the purpose for the trip falls within any of the activities permissible under the visitor rules. They are able to travel to the UK as a visitor without needing to secure a visa. However, this system is in the process of being digitised, with the phased introduction of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme.
The ETA requires certain visitors from certain countries, including many non-visa nationals, to apply for pre-authorisation to travel to the UK through an online application system. The application costs £16 per traveller and permission is valid for two years or until the traveller’s passport expires, whichever is soonest.
The ETA already applies to nationals of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, and is being rolled out in phases to cover most non-visa national countries, including those in Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia.
Unless and until your country is included on the ETA list, non-visa nationals who are visiting the UK for a holiday, or to visit friends and family, do not need to apply for a visa in advance of travel, but instead seek permission to enter the UK on arrival at a port of entry.
Where the ETA does not apply, when seeking permission to enter as a non-visa national, for example, at an airport or seaport, you will still need to explain to Border Force officers the reason for your visit and how long you are looking to stay in the UK. You may also be asked to provide documentation to prove, among other things, the reason for your stay. If immigration officials are not satisfied with the reasons given by you for the purpose of your stay, or if they suspect that you may be living in the UK through frequent or successive visits, they may refuse you entry.
If you have a criminal record or have previously been refused entry into the UK, you may want to apply for a visit visa prior to travelling to the UK. However, even if you apply for entry clearance in advance of your arrival in the UK, the grant of a visa does not guarantee entry. This is because immigration officials are still likely to seek to establish whether your purpose for travelling to the UK is different to that for which permission was granted by the Home Office, and whether there has been any subsequent change in your circumstances.
If you are looking to stay in the UK for more than 6 months, or the purpose of your trip requires prior entry clearance, for example, to undertake paid employment, you will have to apply for a visa in advance under the appropriate immigration route. Again, the grant of a visa will not necessarily guarantee you entry to the UK, where a visa will only entitle you to travel to a UK port of entry to seek admission. It is therefore always advisable to travel with sufficient documentation to be able to prove your reason(s) for coming to the UK, and that you meet all of the other eligibility requirements under the route in question.
Section G: UK Visa Nationals List FAQs
What countries are visa nationals?
Visa nationals include anyone from a country listed on the UK visa national list under Appendix Visitor of the UK’s Immigration Rules. This is a list of more than 100 countries in alphabetical order, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. From 11 November 2025, Palestinian nationals holding a Palestinian Authority or Palestinian Territory passport will also require a UK visit visa in advance of travel.
What’s a non visa national?
A non-visa national is someone who does not usually need a visa to visit the UK, provided their visit is for less than 6 months and the purpose of that visit falls within the activities permissible under the visitor rules, and that their country of nationality is not included on the list of visa nationals. Many non-visa nationals are now required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK.
Do I need an ETA?
If you are a non-visa national from Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia or another country covered by the UK’s ETA scheme, you need to apply for an ETA before travel. An ETA costs £16, is valid for two years or until your passport expires, and allows you to travel to the UK to seek entry as a visitor. Without an ETA, boarding may be refused.
What countries need a visa to enter the UK?
The UK visa national list under Appendix Visitor of the UK’s Immigration Rules provides a list of more than 100 visa national countries, where visa nationals will usually need to apply for a visa in advance to enter the UK. Always check the live GOV.UK page before travel, as the list is regularly updated through Statements of Changes.
What is the visa nationals list?
The visa nationals list is a list of countries whose nationals must obtain a visa before entering the UK for any purpose, including tourism, business, study, or family visits. This list is maintained by the UK government and is regularly updated to reflect changes in immigration policy.
Why are some countries included on the visa nationals list?
Countries are included on the visa nationals list based on various criteria, including security concerns, immigration risk, and diplomatic relations. The aim is to ensure that individuals from certain countries meet specific entry requirements before arriving in the UK, thereby maintaining border security and managing immigration effectively.
How can I find out if my country is on the visa nationals list?
You can check if your country is on the visa nationals list by visiting the official UK government website. The list is published in the Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Visa National List, which provides detailed information on which nationals need a visa to enter the UK. If you are not on the list but are from an ETA country, you will still need to obtain an ETA before travel.
What should I do if my country is on the visa nationals list and I want to visit the UK?
If your country is on the visa nationals list, you are required to apply for a visa before travelling to the UK. This involves completing an online application, paying the visa fee, providing biometric information, and submitting supporting documents. The application process can take several weeks, so it is advisable to apply well in advance of your planned travel date.
How often is the visa nationals list updated?
The visa nationals list is reviewed and updated periodically by the UK Home Office, usually through Statements of Changes to the Immigration Rules. Changes are published on the UK government’s website, so travellers should always check the latest version before booking or travelling.
What are the consequences of travelling to the UK without a required visa or ETA?
Travelling to the UK without the required visa or ETA can result in being denied boarding or refused entry at the border. You may be held in immigration detention and removed from the UK. Even if you hold a visa or ETA, this only allows you to travel to the UK to seek permission to enter and does not guarantee admission. Always ensure you have the correct authorisation and travel documentation before departing.
Section H: Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Visa Nationals | Nationals of countries listed in Appendix Visitor: Visa National List who are required to obtain a visit visa before travel. The requirement applies to any purpose for less than six months where there is no other mandatory visa rule. |
| Non-Visa Nationals | Nationals of countries not on the Visa National List who can usually visit the UK for up to six months without applying for a visa, provided their activities fall within the visitor rules. Many non-visa nationals are now required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK. |
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | A digital travel permit required by many non-visa nationals before travelling to the UK. It costs £16, is valid for two years or until the passport expires, and allows travel to the UK to seek entry as a visitor. |
| Standard Visitor Visa | A visa for individuals visiting the UK for tourism, business, short study courses of up to six months, or medical treatment. Each stay is limited to a maximum of six months. |
| Short-term Study Visa | A visa for individuals wishing to study an English language course lasting more than six and up to eleven months in the UK. |
| Transit Visa | A visa required for travellers passing through the UK on their way to another country. It is normally for those staying up to 48 hours and not qualifying for visa-free transit. |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) | Immigration status granted to individuals who have lived in the UK for a qualifying period, allowing them to live and work in the UK without time restrictions. |
| Common Travel Area (CTA) | An open travel zone comprising the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands, within which citizens can travel freely without a visa. |
| EU Settlement Scheme | A programme allowing EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens who lived in the UK before the end of the Brexit transition period to apply for settled or pre-settled status, enabling them to continue living and working in the UK. |
| Visa Application Centre (VAC) | An overseas facility where applicants provide biometric information, submit documents, and attend interviews as part of the visa application process. |
| Sponsorship Licence | A licence issued by the UK Home Office allowing employers or educational institutions to sponsor non-UK nationals for eligible work or study visas. |
| Points-based System | The UK’s framework for assessing visa eligibility based on objective criteria such as skills, qualifications, job offers, and salary level. Applicants need to meet the specified points threshold for their route. |
| Settlement Visa | A visa that allows individuals to live in the UK permanently, typically granted to family members of British citizens or settled persons. |
| Visitor Visa | A general visa category for short stays in the UK, including visits for tourism, business meetings, or visiting friends and family, usually lasting up to six months. |
Section I: Additional Resources
UK Government Visas and Immigration
https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
The official UK government website providing comprehensive information on visa types, application processes, and immigration rules.
UK Visa Application Centres
https://www.vfsglobal.com/en/individuals/index.html
This website provides information on visa application centres worldwide, including addresses, contact details, and services offered.
Gov.uk: Apply for a UK Visa
https://www.gov.uk/apply-uk-visa
Direct access to the online visa application portal, where applicants can start, manage, and track their visa applications.
