How to travel 35 countries VISA-FREE with a UK visa [2020 edition]

One of the frequent questions I get is which countries can I visit with a UK visa. The short answer is the UK. The long answer is you can travel to 35 countries and territories VISA-FREE with UK visa.

I encourage you all to secure a US visa or at least a Canada visa first. Both these visas are long-term visas. These visas offer VISA-FREE travel to quite a few countries. But if you happened to have a UK visa or applying for one, then it is still better than not having any visas at all. There are about 35 countries and territories you can visit with a UK visa.

UK does not issue long-term visas like the US or Canada. UK tourist visas are mostly short-term (C-Type) visas valid for 6 months. They do issue long-term visas for 5/10 years but it would cost an arm and a leg.

The UK visa is not the most difficult to get, but it can be stressful due to its lengthy processing times and lack of customer service.

Which UK Visas are eligible?

Depending on the country, any of the below UK visas can be used.

UK Visitor Visa (Standard visitor and Short-term study)
UK Student Visa (Tier 4)
UK Work Visa (Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 5)
UK Transit Visa (DATV and Visitor in Transit)
UK Family Visa (Spouse)
UK Residence Permit (ILR and BRP)

Refer to each country below for permitted UK visa types. Some countries require the UK visa to be multiple-entry and have been used at least once to travel to the UK.

So, without further ado, let’s get started.

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North America

Basílica de Nuestra Señora in Guanajuato, Mexico

01. Mexico

Eligible nationalties: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted resident permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 180 days
Entry rules:

UK visa or residence permit must be valid during the entire stay in Mexico
Passport must be valid during the entire stay in Mexico

Original Sources:

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Central America

Church in the old town of Panama City, Panama

02. Panama

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permts: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 90 days
Entry rules:

UK visa or residence permit must have been used at least once to enter the UK before
UK visa or residence permit must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
Passport must be valid for at least 3 months from the day of arrival
Must show proof of economic solvency for a minimum of $500 USD

Original sources:

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Caribbean

Colorful streets of Havana, Cuba

03. Anguilla (British Territory)

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 90 days
Original sources:

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04. Antigua and Barbuda

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: A valid ILR
Entry granted: 30 days
Entry rules:

Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL (VOA)
VOA fee is $100 USD, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
UK Visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival

Original sources:

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05. Aruba

Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only

Bolivia
China
Cuba

Dominican Republic
Haiti
India

Jamaica
Peru
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs (applies to all nationalities)
Entry granted: 30 days
Original sources:

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06. Bahamas

Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only

India
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: A valid ILR (applies to all nationalities)
Entry granted: 30 days
Original sources:

Bahamas.com

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07. Bermuda (British Territory)

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 30 days
Entry rules:

UK visa or residence permit must be valid for a minimum of 45 days beyond the date of departure from Bermuda

Original sources:

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08. Bonaire (Dutch Territory)

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 90 days
Original sources:

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09. British Virgin Islands (British Territory)

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: None
Entry granted: 180 days
Entry rules:

UK visa must have been used at least once to enter the UK before (OR)
UK visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival

Original sources:

British Virgin Islands Tourism

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10. Cayman Islands (British Territory)

Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only

China
India
Jamaica
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 180 days
Entry rules:

Must arrive in Cayman Islands directly from the UK. Arriving from a third country is not permitted.

Original sources:

Cayman Islands Immigration Department

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11. Curaçao

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 30 days
Original sources:

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12. Dominican Republic

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 30 days
Entry rules:

If arriving by land or sea, must purchase a Tourist Card on arrival for $10 USD. If arriving by air, the tourist card is included in the airfare.
Passport must be valid from at least 6 months from the day of arrival

Original sources:

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13. Jamaica

Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only

Albania
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia

Dominican Republic
Honduras
Kazakhstan
Macedonia

Moldova
Montenegro
Romania
Serbia
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: None
Entry granted: 30 days
Entry rules:

UK visa must be valid for at least 30 days from the day of arrival

Original sources:

Jamaica Immigration Department

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14. Sint Maarten

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: None
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 30 days
Entry rules:

UK residence permit must be valid for at least 30 days from the day of arrival

Original sources:

Government of Sint Maarten

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15. Turks and Caicos (British Territory)

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas, except transit
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 90 days
Original sources:

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South America

Machu Picchu in Peru

16. Peru

Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only

China
India
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: A valid ILR
Entry granted: 180 days
Entry rules:

UK visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival

Original sources:

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Europe

Giant’s Causeway in Ireland

17. Albania

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 90 days
Entry rules:

UK visa must have been used at least once to enter the UK

Original sources:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania

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18. Georgia

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 90 days
Entry rules:

UK visa must be valid on the day of arrival in Georgia
Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 90 days in any 180 day period

Original sources:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia

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19. Gibraltar (British Territory)

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 180 days
Entry rules:

UK visa must be issued for at least 6 months or more
UK residence permit must be issued for at least 12 months or more

Original sources:

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20. Ireland

Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only

Bahrain
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
China
India
Kazakhstan

Kuwait
Montenegro
Oman
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia

Serbia
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Permitted visas: A valid used multiple-entry UK short-stay standard visitor visa
Permitted residence permits: None
Entry granted: 90 days or until the exit date on your UK entry stamp, whichever is shorter
Entry rules:

Must enter the UK first before entering Ireland
Must enter and exit Ireland within the exit date on your UK entry stamp (this is different from the visa expiry date)
Can enter Ireland directly from the UK or elsewhere, but must enter Ireland within the exit date on the UK entry stamp

Original sources:

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21. Montenegro

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 30 days
Entry rules:

UK visa must be valid for the intended period of the stay

Original sources:

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22. North Macedonia

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: None
Entry granted: 15 days
Entry rules:

UK visa must be valid for at least 5 days beyond the intended period of stay
Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 3 months in any 6 months period

Original sources:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia

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23. Romania

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: None
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 90 days
Entry rules:

UK residence permit should have been granted for 5 or more years
Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 90 days in any 180 day period

Original sources:

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24. Serbia

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: None
Entry granted: 90 days
Entry rules:

UK visa must be valid for the entire duration of the stay
Total duration of consecutive stays must not exceed 90 days in any 180 day period

Original sources:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia

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25. Turkey

Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only

Afghanistan
Angola
Bangladesh
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Cote d’Ivoire
Congo, Dem. Rep, of
Congo, Rep. of
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea

Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
India
Iraq
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mozambique
Nepal
Niger

Nigeria
North Korea
Pakistan
Philippines
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Uganda
Vietnam
Yemen
Zimbabwe
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 30 days
Entry rules:

Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for eVisa online
eVisa fee is $43 USD, valid for 180 days, single-entry only

Original sources:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey

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26. United Kingdom (Of course!)

Includes all parts of the United Kingdom: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Includes British Crown Dependencies: Isle of Man and the Channel Islands (Bailiwick of Jersey and Bailiwick of Guernsey)

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Middle East

The city skyline of Doha, Qatar

27. Oman

Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only

Albania
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bhutan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Costa Rica
Cuba
El Salvador

Guatemala
Honduras
India
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Maldives
Mexico

Morocco
Nicaragua
Panama
Peru
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 30 days
Entry rules:

Visa in NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for eVisa online
eVisa fee is 50 OMR, valid for 1 year, multiple entry and must be used within 1 month of approval

Original sources:

Sultanate of Oman, Royal Oman Police

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28. Qatar

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas, except transit
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 30 days
Entry rules:

Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for eTA and then obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL at international airports in Qatar
eTA is free of charge, valid for 30 days, single-entry only
UK visa must be valid for at least 30 days from the day of arrival

Original sources:

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29. Saudi Arabia

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities
Permitted visas: A valid used multiple-entry UK standard visitor visa
Permitted residence permits: None
Entry granted: 90 days
Entry rules:

Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL at all international airports in Saudi Arabia
VOA fee is 440 SAR (equivalent to $117 USD), valid for 1 year, multiple-entry
Must arrive by air on one of the official Saudi National airline – Saudia, Flynas, and Saudi Gulf
UK visa must have been used at least once to enter the UK

Original sources:

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30. United Arab Emirates

Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only

India
Permitted visas: None
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR, BRP and spouse visas
Entry granted: 14 days
Entry rules:

Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL at UAE airports
VOA fee is 100 AED, valid for 14 days, single-entry only
UK residence permit must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival

Original sources:

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Asia

Carabao Island in the Philippines

31. Armenia

Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only

India
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 120 days
Entry rules:

Visa is NOT EXEMPT but are eligible to obtain Visa ON ARRIVAL
VOA fee is 15,000 AMD, valid for 120 days, single-entry only
Passport must to be valid during the entire stay in Armenia

Original sources:

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32. Philippines

Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only

India
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused multiple-entry UK visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 14 days
Entry rules:

UK visa must be valid for the entire duration of stay
Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of departure

Original sources:

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33. Singapore

Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only

China
India
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused single/multiple-entry UK visas, except transit
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 96 hours (4 days)
Entry rules:

Must be traveling to or from the country of passport. Example: Must be traveling to a third country from India via Singapore or traveling to India from a third country via Singapore. An example itinerary would be India-Singapore-Bali or Bali-Singapore-India.
Both arriving and departing flights in Singapore must be on the same itinerary

Original sources:

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34. South Korea

Eligible nationalities: All nationalities (except these 24 countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameron, Cuba, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Uzbekistan and Yemen)
Permitted visas: All valid used/unused single/multiple-entry UK visas, except transit
Permitted residence permits: All valid ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 30 days
Entry rules:

Must be traveling to go to any of the 26 Schengen countries or Cyprus, Ireland, Romania or UK through South Korea (OR)
Must depart from any of the 26 Schengen countries or Cyprus, Ireland, Romania or UK to go to a third country through South Korea

Original sources:

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35. Taiwan

Eligible nationalities: Following nationalities only

Cambodia
India

Indonesia
Laos

Myanmar
Vietnam
Permitted visas: All valid/expired used/unused single/multiple-entry UK visas, except transit visas
Permitted residence permits: All valid/expired ILR and BRPs
Entry granted: 14 days
Entry rules:

Visa is EXEMPT but must apply for ROC Travel Authorization Certificate online before arrival
ROC Travel Authorization Certificate is free of charge, valid for 90 days, multipe-entry
If using an EXPIRED UK visa or residence permit, the visa or residence permit must have expired in the last 10 years
Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival

Original sources:

Bureau of Consular Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)

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Conclusion

So, there you have it! 35 countries and territories you can travel VISA-FREE with UK visa.

Do you know any other country (I haven’t listed here) that you can travel VISA-FREE with UK visa? Let me know in the comments below.

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