How to travel 20+ countries VISA-FREE with UK visa

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 20+ countries 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 over 20+ countries 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?

The following UK visas can be used

UK tourist visa
UK student visa
UK work visa
UK permanent residency

Some countries require the UK visa to be multiple entries and have been used at least once to travel to the UK.

So, without further due, here are the countries.

Also Read: Everything you need to know about UK tourist visa

***

North America

Basílica de Nuestra Señora in Guanajuato, Mexico

01. Mexico

Applies to all nationalities
Entry up to 180 days
More info: Secretary of Foreign Relations, Mexico, Consulate of Mexico in Washington DC, USA, Consulate of Mexico in Toronto, Canada and Consulate of Mexico in India

Also Read: How to travel 30+ countries VISA-FREE with US visa

***

Central America

Church in the old town of Panama City, Panama

02. Panama

Applies to all nationalities
UK visa must be valid for at least one year from the date of arrival
UK visa must have been used at least once to enter the UK before
Entry up to 30 days
More info: Embassy of Panama in the USA and Consulate of Panama in Toronto, Canada

Also Read: How to travel 20+ countries VISA-FREE with Canada visa

***

Caribbean

Colorful streets of Havana, Cuba

03. Antigua and Barbuda

Applies to all nationalities
Entry up to 30 days
More info: Department of Immigration, Antigua and Barbuda and Consulate General of Antigua and Barbuda in NYC

04. Aruba

Applies to Bolivia, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, India, Jamaica and Peru passport holders only
Entry up to 30 days
More info: Visit Aruba

05. Bahamas

Applies to India passport holders only
Entry up to 30 days
More info: Bahamas.com and TIMATIC web

06. Cuba

Applies to all nationalities
Must hold the Tourist Card, which can be obtained from Cuban embassies, authorized airlines and travel agencies
Entry up to 30 days
More info: IATA Travel Center, TIMATIC Web and Go Cuba

07. Dominican Republic

Applies to all nationalities
Entry up to 30 days
More info: Embassy of Dominican Republic in the UK, Embassy of Dominican Republic in the US and Internal Revenue Department

08. Jamaica

Applies to the following passport holders only

Albania
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Dominican Republic

Estonia
Honduras
Kazakhstan
Latvia
Lithuania
Macedonia

Moldova
Montenegro
Romania
Serbia
Slovenia
Entry up to 30 days
More info: Consulate General of Jamaica in NYC and Jamaica Immigration Department

Also Read: 14 ways to get a travel itinerary for visa application

***

South America

Machu Picchu in Peru

09. Peru

Applies to India and China passport holders only
The UK visa must have been granted for at least 6 months
Entry up to 180 days
More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peru and Embassy of India in Lima, Peru

Also Read: 11 mistakes that can get your visa denied. And how to avoid them

***

Europe

Giant’s Causeway in Ireland

10. Albania

Applies to all nationalities
Must have used the visa to enter the UK at least once
Entry up to 90 days
More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania

11. Belarus

Applies to the following passport holders only

China
Gambia
Haiti

Honduras
India
Lebanon

Namibia
Samoa
Vietnam
Must have used the visa to enter the UK at least once
Must enter and exit through Minsk National Airport only
Entry up to 5 days
More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus

12. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Applies to all nationalities
Entry up to 30 days
More info: Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in India and Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Norway

13. Georgia

Applies to all nationalities
Entry up to 90 days
More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia

14. Ireland

Applies to the following passport holders only

Bahrain
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
China
India
Kazakhstan

Kuwait
Montenegro
Oman
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia

Serbia
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
The UK visa must be a short stay (C-Type) visa with BIVS (British-Irish Visa Scheme) endorsed on it
Must enter Ireland by land from the UK (or) by a direct flight from the UK
Must have entered the UK and went through the UK immigration before entering Ireland
Entry up to 90 days or until the exit date on the UK entry stamp, whichever is shorter
More info: Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service

15. Macedonia

Applies to all nationalities
The visa must be valid for at least 5 days beyond the intended period of stay
Entry up to 15 days
More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia

16. Moldova

Applies to China, Kuwait and Qatar passport holders only
Entry up to 90 days
More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova

17. Montenegro

Applies to all nationalities
Entry up to 30 days
More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro

18. Serbia

Applies to all nationalities
Entry up to 90 days
More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia

19. Turkey

Applies to the following passport holders 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
Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for a 30 day eVisa online.
More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey

20. United Kingdom (Of course!)

Includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

FREE eBook: How to travel 56 countries VISA-FREE with a visa from US, Canada, UK, Schengen, Australia, etc.

***

Middle East

The city skyline of Doha, Qatar

21. Oman

Applies to the following passport holders only

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

Georgia
Guatemala
Honduras
India
Iran
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Maldives

Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Peru
Russia
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Visa in NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for eVisa
Entry up to 30 days
More info: Sultanate of Oman, Royal Oman Police

22. Qatar

Applies to all nationalities
Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for eTA and then avail Visa ON ARRIVAL at international airports in Qatar
Entry up to 30 days
More info: Qatar Tourist Authority and Ministry of Foreign Interior, Qatar

Also Read: What is Visa on Arrival and how to get it successfully every time

***

Asia

Carabao Island in the Philippines

23. Philippines

Applies to only India passport holders
Entry up to 14 days
A 7 day extension is possible
More info: Embassy of Philippines in Singapore and Embassy of Philippines in India

24. Singapore

Applies to India passport holders only
Must be traveling to or from India
Both arriving and departing flights in Singapore must be on the same itinerary
Entry up to 96 hours (4 days)
More info: Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

25. Taiwan

Applies to Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam passport holders only
Visa is EXEMPT but must apply online for Republic of China Travel Authorization Certificate (Valid for 90 days) before arrival
Entry up to 30 days
More info: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)

Also Read: What to pack for international travel

***