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
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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
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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
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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 RepublicEstonia
Honduras
Kazakhstan
Latvia
Lithuania
MacedoniaMoldova
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
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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
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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 - 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
Kuwait
Montenegro
Oman
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia - 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
EritreaEthiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
India
Iraq
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mozambique
Nepal
NigerNigeria
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.
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Middle East
The city skyline of Doha, Qatar
21. Oman
- Applies to the following passport holders only
- 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
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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
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VISA-FREE travel with UK Permanent Residency
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Central America
01. Belize
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Belize.com, Belize High Commission in London and Consulate of Belize in Alberta, Canada
02. Costa Rica
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Embassy of Costa Rica in Canada and Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington DC, USA
Caribbean
03. Aruba
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Visit Aruba
04. Sint Maarten
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Government of Sint Maarten
Europe
05. Romania
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 90 days
- More info: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania
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VISA-FREE travel with UK visa to British and Dutch Territories
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01. Bermuda (British Territory)
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Bermuda Attractions and Government of Bermuda
02. Bonaire (Kingdom of the Netherlands)
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Bonaire Travel Guide, VFS Global India – Dutch Caribbean Visas and The Netherlands and You
03. British Virgin Islands (British Territory)
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: British Virgin Islands Tourism
04. Cayman Islands (British Territory)
- Applies to China and Jamaica passport holders only (if in possession of UK visa)
- Applies to all nationalities (if in possession for UK residence permit)
- Entry up to 30 days
- More info: Cayman Islands Immigration Department
05. Gibraltar (British Territory)
- Applies to all nationalities
- UK multiple-entry visas must be issued for at least 6 months or more
- Entry up to 180 days
- More info: Government of Gibraltar and Gibraltar Borders & Coastguards Agency
06. Turks and Caicos (British Territory)
- Applies to all nationalities
- Entry up to 90 days
- More info: Turks and Caicos Tourism and Visit Turks and Caicos Islands
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So, there you have it! 20+ countries 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.
Hi Sir. Is Romania exempt for 30 days o a 2 year UK Visa? Also, is there an exemption for South Korea as well. Despite South Korea not being on your list, I asked this because Australian Visa allows a transit thru South Korea.
Thanks
Shyam
Hi Shyam! What you have is still a visa. You would need a UK residence permit (something like permanent residence) to get a visa exemption for Romania.
No, South Korea doesn’t offer visa exemption with UK visa. South Korea exempts visa for those with a visa from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the US. You must be in transit to reach the country of visa as your destination.
Thank you for such a prompt enlightening!!
Hey, yesterday I got a UK visitor visa for attending a conference. What if Due to my university commitments in Germany as a student I can not attend a conference which is going to be held on November 26 but can I visit the UK during my semester break in February 2019? What I understand is that Standard Visitor Visa has replaced visas like tourism, business, family visit and merge them into one category. However, on my visa application, my purpose of travel was to attend a conference/attend lectures, not as tourism. Would I be facing any issues at the UK airport later on If I travel because Immigration officers have the final authority to allow you in or not, having a visa itself is not a final guarantee of things. So I am kind of confused right now?
As a side question, Did you travel to Panama and Dominican Republic on the UK visitor visa?
Hey Asad! It is absolutely fine to change/tweak your plans after you receive your visa. There is a reason why the UK grants visa valid for 6 months. Even if you were asked why you haven’t attended the conference, you can always tell the reason why couldn’t. Not attending the conference will not prevent or impact your entry in Feb 2019.
Great article. Very helpful. Thank you.
You’re welcome!
Thank you very much for this info..
You’re welcome, Ogie!
Good list!
However, Gibraltar in Spain which is British overseas territory is missing in this list.
Beautiful place and the airport is one of its kind in the world with runway running from middle of a road and with rock of Gibraltar featured in James bond movie, beautiful weather..
I am Indian passport holder with UK work visa. Visa free entry in this part of Spain 🙂
Hi Priya! That’s fantastic! Thank you very much for the info. I will add it to the list. I do want to check out Gibralter at some point. By the way, do you remember the number of days of entry given at the immigration?
Wow, amazing been searching for a comprehensive list for a long time. Many Thanks
Hi Taiwo! You’re welcome! I’m very glad you found my list. Take care and enjoy your travels!
Hello, can one travel to Scotland with a UK C-visit visa….I am from Nigeria
Yes, Scotland is part of the United Kingdom. Your UK C-type visa entitles travel to the entire United Kindom i.e. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Can a philippino passport holder with a 3 year work visa in uk with nhs visit ireland without a visa?
Hi Sarah! The UK visa must be a short stay (C-type) visa with BIVS endorsed on it. Also, Philippines passport holders are not eligible for the BIVS scheme.
I have 2years UK C class valid visa, planning to visit Gibraltar by next 12days. I booked my hotel at Tarifa, 10 miles away from Gibraltar. Can my UK visa allow me to stay in Tarifa hotel? I later noticed that Tarifa is in Spain
Hi Olufemi! If your hotel is in Spain, then it’s in the Schengen zone. Therefore, you would need a Schengen visa to enter Spain and stay in that hotel.
If you are flying into Gibralter using your UK visa and then taking a taxi to your hotel in Spain, then you will be entering the Schengen Zone en route your hotel.
I suggest you call the hotel and check with them to be clear.
I think someone can travel to Israel with UK valid Visa
Hi Olufemi! I’m not aware of any such visa exemption with UK visa for Israel. Where did you get this information from? Do you have a link to the official information?
I am travelling to London in December, and plan to visit Ireland (Dublin) thereafter.
As per what I checked on the web, I don’t need separate Ireland visa. I have a multiple-entry visitor visa (C) to Uk.
But your site says we need BIVS stamp – I don’t have that,
Hi Nanda! As far as my knowledge goes, you would need BIVS endorsed on your UK visa in order to travel to Ireland. When you say that you checked on the web, what websites are you referring to?
https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/alldfawebsitemedia/travel/Information-Note—Visa-Waiver-Programme-October-2016.pdf
This is the Visa Waiver Programme, as distinct from the BIVS
I apologize! You are correct, Nanda. You can travel to Ireland from the UK using the Visa Waiver Programme.
Thanks for pointing it out! I see the distinction between VWP and BIVS clearly now. I will update the article accordingly. Please let me know how it goes in December. So, I can help others better. Thanks again!
Hi Thirumal,
I am travelling to Mexico and as I hold a Standard Visa of UK. I don’t need a separate Mexico visa. As the embassy site clarifies that I would not need one. Do you agree? Just want to have a double confirmation. I hold a Indian passport. Appreciate your help.
Hi Ashwin! Agree. You DO NOT need a separate Mexico visa since you already hold a valid UK visa. You can enter Mexico with your UK visa.
In addition, Can you guide me on cost effective route to Mexico from India using the UK visa? I looked at few routes and a found a route from Canada, so for that I will require a transit visa. Can I use the UK visa to apply for Canada transit visa. Mexico as the destination country?
Hi Ashwin! I suggest you look for flights that transit via France or England.
– India passport holders do not need a transit visa to transit through France.
– You already have a UK visa, so transiting or changing airports in the UK is not a problem for you.
– Search from all big cities in India (New Delhi, Mumbai, etc) to both Mexico City and Cancun. Flights to Cancun are sometimes cheaper from Europe. Here is an example, one way flight from Mumbai to Cancun via the UK for $700 USD (https://goo.gl/flights/okRLk).
Hi Thirumal! Glad you are helping everyone. Can you help me with this? I have a valid UK visa. I am going to Mexico and the layover is in Canada. I intentionally want to go this route. I am applying for a Canada transit visa, but they are asking for a valid visa for the final destination (Mexico). What do I provide them? I am confused since Mexico visa is not required for UK visa holders.
Hi Randy! I suggest providing a copy of your UK visa along with a print of visa requirements from the Mexico consulate page. Make sure to highlight the text in the requirements that says that you can use your UK visa to enter Mexico. This makes it easy for visa officers to understand the Mexico visa requirements easily.
Also, make sure to mention that you will be using your UK visa to enter Mexico in your cover letter.
Such a great help and information you have passed on Thanks alot Thirumal.
Regards,
Ashwin
Hi Thirumal, that’s an exhaustive list of useful information.
I would like to know whether i can visit US from UK if i am having all the below
1. Indian Passport
2. UK Work Permit VISA
3. US Business VISA
Thanks
Hi Ragu! Yes, you can visit US from the UK since you already have a US visa. You can travel to the US from anywhere in the world (including the UK). It doesn’t have to be from your home country.
Thanks for the clarification Thirumal!
Hi Thirumal … how are you ?
i have 2 question just couple of days back i have recieved my UK visa with BIVS endorsed on my passport … so the first question is can you please tell me if i travel to Ireland for 2-3 days from UK will they put a proper sticker visa or just stamp once i arrive dublin airport. Second question is some travel agents told me if i want to visit Romania as a tourist i must have US/UK/CANADA OR SCHENGEN visa valid in my passport is that true ?
Hi Tarun! I’m doing good. How are you? When you arrive in Dublin, you will receive an entry “stamp” in your passport. No visa sticker will be issued since you already have a UK visa with BIVS.
To visit Romania, you would need either a multiple-entry Schengen visa or a UK permanent residence permit. Romania DOES NOT honor US or Canada visas.