Transit Visa Guides
Whether you need a visa just to change planes — country by country, with the exemptions and the traps.
What is a transit visa?
A transit visa is permission to pass through a country on the way to somewhere else, without staying there. Some countries ask for one even if you never leave the airport.
Whether you need one depends on three things:
- Your passport. The same connection can be visa-free for one nationality and need a visa for another.
- Where you connect. Each country sets its own rules, and they differ from airport to airport within some countries.
- Whether you stay airside. If you stay in the international transit area, many countries ask for nothing. If you have to pass through immigration — to collect and re-check bags on separate tickets, change airports, or stay overnight in a hotel outside — the rules for entering the country apply.
The guides below give the rules for each connecting airport. Always confirm with the airline or the country's embassy before you fly.