UK’s Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV)

This specific transit visa caters for South Africans that have expected short stop overs in the UK (less than 24 hours) on route to another country.

Under this visa category, applicants (South Africans) are not permitted to exit the airport (and pass through UK border control) during their stay. If applicants are looking to enter the UK during their stop over, they need to consider making use of the Visitor In Transit visa.

Further details can be found on our transit visas page.

Specifics of the UK’s Direct Airside Transit (DATV) Visa

 Introducing the UK’s Direct Airside Transit (DATV) Visa :
Caters for South Africans looking to stop over at one of the UK’s airports and thereafter depart from that same airport (within 24 hours).

What is important to note with this DATV is that applicants are not permitted to exit and enter the UK (and pass through the same UK border) during this stop over. Applicants looking to squeeze a visit in during their stop over need to consider the UK’s 6 month visitor visa.

 Duration of visa:
UK’s Direct Airside Transit (DATV) Visa is issued for a set 6 month period (set start and end date). It grants permission for multiple stopovers during its validity.

Settlement rights:
Not granted. This UK’s Direct Airside Transit (DATV) Visa does not grant settlement rights. Time spent in the airport does not count toward earning British nationality.

 Family Dependents:
Not permitted. Each applicant has to apply for their own independent visa (minors below 18 years included).

 Processing Times:
3 weeks. From the date of submission, applicants experience an average of 15 working day processing times.

 Common Reason for Refusal:
Most of these cases are refused based on insufficient evidence to qualify for the visa. The British government are very particular in their required supporting documents.

    Whole Process:
This visa caters for applicants that intent to make stop overs in the UK, on route to other countries. There are TWOV (Transit Without Visa) provisions for some applicants though.