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How to travel 25 countries VISA-FREE with UK visa

by 135 Comments

Travel 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 25 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 about 25 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?

United Kingdom UK Tourist Visa Image

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.

BONUS: Click here for a country cheat sheet for your VISA-FREE travel with UK visa

***

North America

Travel Countries VISA-FREE with UK visa - Guanajuato Mexico

Basílica de Nuestra Señora in Guanajuato, Mexico

01. Mexico

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

***

Central America

Travel Countries VISA-FREE with UK visa - Panama City

Church in the old town of Panama City, Panama

02. Panama

***

Caribbean

Travel Countries VISA-FREE with UK visa - Cuba

Colorful streets of Havana, Cuba

03. Antigua and Barbuda

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

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

08. Jamaica

Also Read: 10 Reasons for UK visa refusal (and how to overcome them)

***

South America

Travel Countries VISA-FREE with UK visa - Machu Picchu in Peru

Machu Picchu in Peru

09. Peru

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

***

Europe

Travel Countries VISA-FREE with UK visa - Giants Causeway in Ireland

Giant’s Causeway in Ireland

10. Albania

11. Belarus

12. Bosnia and Herzegovina

13. 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
  • Must enter Ireland within the exit date on your UK entry stamp (this is different than visa expiry date)
  • Can enter Ireland directly from the UK or elsewhere, but must enter before the exit date on the UK entry stamp
  • 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 and Department of Justice and Equality of Ireland

15. Macedonia

16. Moldova

17. Montenegro

18. 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

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

***

Middle East

Travel Countries VISA-FREE with UK visa - Doha Skyline Qatar

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

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

***

Asia

Travel Countries VISA-FREE with UK visa - Carabao Island in Philippines

Carabao Island in the Philippines

23. Philippines

24. Singapore

25. 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

02. Costa Rica

Caribbean

03. Aruba

  • Applies to all nationalities
  • Entry up to 30 days
  • More info: Visit Aruba

04. Sint Maarten

Europe

05. Romania

Middle East

06. United Arab Emirates

***

VISA-FREE travel with UK visa to British and Dutch Territories

***

01. Bermuda (British Territory)

02. Bonaire (Kingdom of the Netherlands)

03. British Virgin Islands (British Territory)

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)

06. Turks and Caicos (British Territory)

***

Conclusion

So, there you have it! 25 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.

***

Related Posts

135 Comments

  1. 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

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

      • I think you’re wrong. Here is the official website for immigration information of South Korea, it clearly stated that the 4 countries: USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand visa holders as well as visa holders from other 30 countries of Europe can I live to maximum 30days then depart to their home countries.

        Reply

        • Hi Dave! Thanks for pointing it out! I also apologize for the delay in responding to your comment. I was waiting to confirm the information with the consulates.

          I contacted a few consulates and I heard back from the South Korean consulates in India and Malaysia. They both said that visa exemption does not apply to UK or any EU country visa holders. The consulate officials said that the visa exemption applies to only those with visas from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

          That being said, if you have used your UK visa to enter South Korea, please let me know. If there are more cases like yours, I can consider adding it to this list/article.

          PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: I myself entered South Korea in September using my US visa. At the time of immigration in the airport, I asked the immigration officer on the visas I can use. She said that the visa exemption applies to visas from only the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I was not given a chance to ask further questions. So, I couldn’t ask anything on the 30 EU country visas.

          Reply

          • My sister recently just entered South Korea in January without any visa, she’s holding a UK spouse visa and traveling with her husband. Upon landing, she was given 30 days single entry visa.

          • Hi Dave! Thanks for the information! I’ve contacted several Korean authorities, but none of them confirmed if the visa exemption applies to the visa holders from “30 EU Countries (including the UK)”. “HiKorea” says that “30 EU Countries” are eligible but all the other authorities I’ve contacted denied it. I couldn’t find an easy way to contact HiKorea directly.

            So, I’m still looking for an official source and confirmation in order to add South Korea to this list. If you know the official source, please let me know.

    • Hi dear, I want to travel to Panama. I have a 5-year multiple tourist visa of UK C category. Can I travel to Panama on Uk visa? I’m a Pakistani passport holder.

      Reply

  3. 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?

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  6. 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 🙂

    Reply

    • 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?

      Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  10. 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

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

    • 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?

      Reply

  12. 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,

    Reply

  13. 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.

    Reply

      • 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?

        Reply

        • 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).

          Reply

          • 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.

  14. 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

    Reply

  15. 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 ?

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

      • Good day you mean one can travel to Ireland if you a UK Visa with bivs endorsement,I am a Nigerian passport holder I have 10 years valid visa

        Reply

        • Hi Oyewale! Yes, if you have a Nigeria passport and a UK visa with BIVS endorsement, you can visit Ireland. Actually, you can go back and forth between the UK and Ireland as BIVS is considered a unified visa for both UK and Ireland.

          Reply

  16. I had to apply for a South Korean tourist visa in Germany even though I still have a valid UK visa. However, proper listed documents were still checked required by the embassy. In any case, having a visa from OECD country eases the whole process for the South Korean Visa. I did not have to show any Income tax returns in Germany. On the other hand, it was a mandatory requirement from a native country Pakistan.

    Reply

    • Hi Asad! Thanks for the information! Yeah, unfortunately, you cannot use your UK visa to enter South Korea. There was a mention of 30 EU country visas on Hi Korea portal, but when I enquired with the consulates, they all said the visa waiver applied to only US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand visa holders.

      But, it is good to know that having a visa from an OECD country eases the visa process. Building travel history and getting visas from countries such as US, UK, Canada, etc definitely makes a “weak” passport stronger.

      Good luck and have a great time in South Korea!

      Reply

  17. Hi Thiruma,

    Thanks for this useful post, I hold a national permanent residency card in EU which has been issued in Hungary and I have a valid UK visa.

    I am planning to travel with my wife who is an EU citizen to ( Dublin ) Ireland for a vacation.

    Am I exempted from applying for a visa or do I still need to apply?

    I hold Egypt passport, Thank you

    Reply

    • Hi Talaat! Ireland offers visa waiver for certain passport holders with UK visas. Unfortunately, Egypt is not on that list. Also, Ireland is not part of the Schengen zone, so you can’t use your residency permit from Hungary. Therefore, you would need to apply for an Ireland tourist visa to enter Ireland.

      Reply

  18. Hi Thirumal you are going a very good job, i have valid UK 6months Visa and i’m planning to travel to Gibraltar January 20th do i still have to apply for Gibraltar visa? thanks you very much for your swift response

    Reply

    • Hi Oluseyi! You can use your UK visa to enter Gibraltar. You do not need a separate visa.

      Keep in mind that you have to fly directly into Gibraltar. If you plan to fly to Spain first and enter Gibraltar by road, you would also need a Schengen visa to enter Spain.

      Reply

      • Hi, I m Rizwan from Pakistan having a C- visit visa on my passport, may I visit to Gibraltar as well without having schengen visa

        Reply

        • Hi Rizwan! Yes, you can visit Gibraltar with your UK visa. You don’t need a Schengen visa if you fly into Gibraltar directly from the UK. But if you fly into Spain first and then enter Gibraltar by land, you would need a Schengen visa since you are entering Spain.

          Reply

  19. Hello, my parents are visiting the UK and have visited the UK many times before. They have a Type C Visitors visa. Are they eligible to apply for Turkish Evisa when they are in the UK? At the time they will be holding an Indian passport with Type C visitors visa from the UK.

    Reply

    • Hi Nandakumar! Yes, your parents are eligible to apply for Turkish eVisa as they hold a valid UK short stay visa. They just have to make sure that their UK visas are still valid at the time of entering Turkey.

      Reply

  20. Hi Thirumal!

    Thanks for such a helpful post! Quick question: I have a valid 2 year multiple entry visa for the UK and according to many different sources (including yours), all I need is a tourist card to visit Cuba. However, after ringing up the Cuban consulate in London, they said that everyone needs a proper visa to visit Cuba even UK nationals. I am severely confused. If that were the case, surely it should have been updated on the internet? I hold a Pakistani passport.

    Regards,
    AK

    Reply

    • Hi AK! Quite a few readers of mine were able to travel to Cuba with a US/Canada/UK visas. They were India, Bangladesh and Philippines passport holders.

      There seems to be confusion around Tourist Card (also called Travel Card) and A1 visa. Both are being referred to as “visa” by consulates and travel agents.

      My source of information from Cuba so far has been the TIMATIC database. Since it’s a paid service and Airlines depend on this service for visa requirements, I would say, go with TIMATIC.

      Note: The UK soon ceases to be in the EU. You can still use your UK visa for some of these countries including Cuba till March 2019. I will update this article in March with the most up to date information.

      Reply

  21. Hi Thirumal, thank you for such useful information.
    You mention permanent residency. I am studying in the UK, I have Biometric Resident Permit (BRP). Am I a UK resident? I am from Vietnam.
    In particular, with my BRP (valid until end of March 2020), can I travel to Costa Rica and Romania (tourism purpose) without these countries’ visa?

    Thank you.

    Reply

    • Hi Linh! If your BRP is a residence card (not a sticker in your passport), then yes, you can use it to enter Costa Rica. Your BRP must be valid for at least 6 months on the date of arrival in Costa Rica. I suggest traveling to Costa Rica before March 2019 as the UK ceases to be in EU. The Costa Rica visa exemption is currently only for EU permanent residents.

      For Romania, your BRP must have been issued for 5 or more years. I know it expires in 2020, but you didn’t mention when it was issued. Here is the official statement from the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

      “The holders of permanent residence permits issued by the UK or Ireland (the validity of which is of 5 years or more).”

      Reply

  22. Hi Thirumal,

    I recently have been approved of a UK visitor Visa, and i was planning on travelling the Balkans this June 2019 (Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania). All of the 4 countries except for Bosnia & Herzegovina had mentioned on their Ministry of foreign affairs website that “holders of a VALID UK Visa” can enter their country. BH mentioned “valid visa issued by the EU”, so i guessed that since Brexit is on end of MARCH 2019, i can no longer visit BH in June. am i correct on this one?

    I am a PH passport holder and a resident in Qatar. i’m planning to travel during EID (June 5, and the cheapest flight (via Pegasus Airlines) on that day is to SARAJEVO, BH.

    waiting for your response.

    Reply

    • Hi Carlo! I believe the countries that say “valid visa issued by any EU country” will soon update their terms to include “valid UK visa”. A UK visa is a strong visa and these countries would definitely honor UK visa. It’s just a matter of time. I’m actually waiting for the official statements from these countries so I can update this article.

      But in your case, I suggest contacting BH consulate and asking about the UK visa in June. They probably know the changes coming up in March 2019. If they aren’t sure, then getting a BH visa would be a smart move.

      Reply

  23. Hi Thirumal,

    Thanks for all the information. Although I think I understand from your post but I still want to clarify.

    I am on H1B US visa, do I need UK visitor visa to visit UK?

    Thanks in advance
    Manisha

    Reply

    • Hi Manisha! Yes, you would NEED a UK visitor visa to visit the UK. You CANNOT use your US H1B visa to enter the UK as a tourist.

      But, if you are traveling to the US and transiting through London’s Heathrow, you can request for a 24-hour entry at the Heathrow airport. Many of my readers were able to get the 24-hour entry without any issues. You can try this if you have a long layover in London.

      Reply

  24. Hello Thirumal

    I am so happy to find this article of yours and to realize how many more countries I can visit with my UK tourist visa. As a Vietnamese I have to admit our passport is pretty much useless.
    As much as I appreciate this blog post so much, do you mind if I translate to Vietnamese and share this article on my blog (crediting you and your blog)? I am sure this will be very helpful to others as well (although the 1st step – obtaining a UK tourist visa is very challenging haha).

    Thank you again

    Reply

    • Hi Phuong! Thanks! I can understand. I actually spent over 6 months in Vietnam. I have several friends there and we had many conversations on this topic. Vietnam’s economy and tourism is growing. I hope the Vietnamese passport becomes stronger in the coming years.

      Yes, please go ahead. It would be great if my article helps fellow Vietnamese travelers.

      Reply

  25. Hi, Could you provide official webpage link where it confirm that UK work permit holder do not need Costa Rica visa?

    Reply

    • Hi Pratibha! The three official links for Costa Rica in this article confirms that a “legal permanence” in any EU country (UK is part of EU until the end of March 2019). There are specific rules for work permits, so please read the fine print before planning your trip to Costa Rica.

      Here is the official information according to the Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington DC –

      “You have permanent residence (Greencard holder), a student visa (F1, J1), a work visa (H1B, G4, L1, EB-1, etc.) in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA, and countries members of the EUROPEAN UNION (those residence cards issued in a language other than Spanish or English must be translated into Spanish.”

      Reply

  26. Hi, I have a UK residents permit that allows me to live and work in the UK. So this means I can travel to Bermuda without applying for a Bermuda visa?

    Reply

  27. Hello! I have a Gambia passport. I have a UK resident. Please, can you tell Switzerland or any country is visa-free? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Hi Aiisha! Unfortunately, you would need a “Schengen visa” for Switzerland.

      With your Gambia passport and UK residence permit, you can travel to all the countries listed out in this article that says “applies to all passport holders”.

      Reply

  28. Hello Thirumal! I have a Thai passport and also UK tourist visa that is multiple entry and valid for 6 months. I am a US resident travelling from New York to England. My question is, can I visit Dublin after England? Or I can only visit north Ireland? Please help me. I am so confused now.

    Reply

    • Hi Lali! With your Thai passport and UK visa, you can enter Dublin (Ireland). If you follow the below rules, you can enter Ireland using your UK visa.

      Rules
      – Your UK visa must be a UK short stay visa
      – When you enter the UK, you will be given an entry stamp in your passport. Check the “date of exit” on that stamp. You can only enter and remain in Ireland (including Dublin) within that “date of exit” given by the UK.
      – The entry in Ireland will be up to 90 days or until the “date of exit” on the UK entry stamp, whichever is shorter

      Note: “Northern Ireland” is part of the United Kingdom itself. Whereas, “Ireland” is a separate country and needs an Irish visa. But you can enter “Ireland” with your “UK” visa by following the above rules.

      Reply

  29. Hi thirumal
    Great article
    Im British and my wife has Indian passport with dependent visa (brp)
    She will be a permanent resident next year
    Does she qualify for the visa free countries on her current visa?
    Many thanks

    Reply

    • Hi Biju! Yes, your wife qualifies for VISA-FREE travel to all of the countries in the list, except Ireland. Ireland requires a UK short stay C-Type visa. But your wife can secure an Irish visa easily as there are special provisions for those with UK long stay visas.

      Reply

  31. Hi I am a Kosovo citizen I have 6 mounth Touristic Uk visa can I travel in country such as Bermuda, Turks and Caicos and Mexico?

    Reply

  32. Hi, what are the countries near to United Kingdom you can visit if you have a UK- visit visa from Dubai? Holding a Philippine passport.

    Thanks

    Reply

    • Hi Mitch! You can visit Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey and Qatar with Philippines passport and UK visa. These countries are all near to the UK and UAE.

      Reply

  33. I am a Nigerian passport holder on a UK tier 4 student visa currently studying in the UK. My question is, can I apply for a US visa from the American embassy here in UK or as a UK visa holder will I be allowed to just travel to the US for a short visit without a valid US visa .

    Reply

  34. Hi, are you saying you dont need a visa to Qatar if you have UK visa? My husband and kids (Nigeria passport holders) had UK visa and they wanted to go to Qatar from London but the airline staff asked them to present their Qatar visa before they can be checked in.

    Reply

    • Hi Okin! Even if you hold a UK visa, you would need to first apply for Qatar eTA. With an approved eTA, you can get Visa on Arrival (VOA) at the arriving airport in Qatar. If you do not hold an approved eTA from Qatar, the airline will not allow you to board the plane.

      If you read carefully, I have clearly mentioned that “Visa is NOT EXEMPT, but are eligible to apply for eTA and then avail Visa ON ARRIVAL at international airports in Qatar”

      Reply

  35. You cannot go to Bosnia and Herzegovina with a UK VISA, you can visit Bosnia and Herzegovina only by schengen or USA visa or residence permit… Please try to be accurate next time and thanks for your effort…

    Reply

    • Hi Mohammed! Thanks for the update! UK ceased to be a member of EU from this month due to Brexit. Therefore Bosnia and Herzegovina do not honor UK visas anymore. I will be updating the article this week and I’m waiting for official confirmations from some more countries.

      Regarding being accurate next time, first of all, it’s highly impossible to be up to date with 200+ countries’ visa requirements for 200+ nationalities. That is close to 40,000 individual visa requirements. I continuously check with authorities, but not all 200+ countries respond in a timely fashion. There may be inaccuracies due to such delays.

      Reply

  36. 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 Pakistani passport. Appreciate your help.

    Reply

    • Hi Inayat! Different Mexico consulate sites are saying differently on the UK visa. I have had many readers use their UK visas without any issues so far.

      Reply

  37. Hi

    I am indian passport holder with a UK BRP card valid for another 2 years, from the above i see that i should apply for a evisa to the above countries you mentioned through their respective consulate websites if i need to travel.

    Is there any country(Asian/European) for which i can travel without visa at all since i hold the residence to UK.

    Thank you
    Prasanth

    Reply

    • Hi Prasanth! You are VISA EXEMPT (without visa) for the above countries if holding a UK visa, except Turkey (eVisa), Oman (eVisa), Qatar (eTA) and Taiwan (eTA).

      Reply

  39. Good day sir!

    Please, can I travel with the UK visit visa to all the countries mentioned? Please, I want to know the countries I can visit with UK VISIT VISA without a visa.

    Reply

    • Hi Ibrahim! Yes, you can visit all the countries in this article with your UK visit visa. There have been some changes since last month as the UK ceased to be part of the EU because of Brexit. I haven’t received updates from some countries and the updates are still pending. Therefore, make a list of countries that you like to travel with your UK visa and let me know. I can check and confirm that you can use your UK visa for those countries.

      Reply

  40. Good day,

    Please can i travel to any Schengen countries with my UK visit visa.

    And which Schengen country is that.

    Reply

  41. Hi Is this list valid for people holding a UK BRP (Bio metric residence permit) valid for 2 years. It’s normally issued if you are working in UK but not a permanent resident.

    Reply

    • Hi Adil! Yes, the list is applicable for UK BRP holders as well. First, go through the article and prepare a list of countries you want to visit. Then go through the official sources to make sure your BRP can be used. Visa requirements constantly change and it’s very difficult for me to keep the list up to date. You will have to do your due diligence as well before traveling to these countries.

      Reply

  42. I am from Nigeria and I have a UK visitors visa. I’ve used it a lot and I’d like to know if I can go to Romania without having to apply for a Romanian visa for tourism.

    Reply

  43. Hi Thirumal. You are doing a great job helping out on this lovely blog.

    I and all my family have a Permanent residence (PR) visa to the UK on my Indian passport. This visa was issued 12 yrs ago on my previous passport, which I always keep stapled to my new passport so that whenever I travel to the UK I do not have a problem.

    Can I travel to the Schengen area on my UK PR without visa requirement especially so because it is on my old passport?

    Although you have mentioned one can, there is information to the contrary on the web that you need a Schengen visa.

    I also have a 10 yr B1/B2 to the US on my new passport, if it helps to visit Schengen without a visa.

    Thanks in advance

    Reply

    • Hi Dr. Purushottam! Unfortunately, you CANNOT use your UK PR or US B1/B2 visa to enter any country in the Schengen zone. You would need a Schengen visa to travel to any Schengen country.

      Reply

  44. Hi, I am an Indian passport holder and wanted to check if I can go to Bermuda with a UK visitor visa (C category for 6 months) from India. Further, do I need to file for a Bermuda eVisa online also?

    Reply

  45. Hello, I hold a Schengen student visa and a UK tourist visa on my Indian passport. I need to travel to Dubai, as per the blog’s info I do not need UAE visa. Do I need to undergo any other formalities before my travel? Thanks for answering.

    Reply

  46. Hello, I have UK student visa valid till October 2020. We planned to visit Costa Rica on 27 May. So with Indian passport can we travel without a visa?

    Reply

    • Hi Sunny! Unfortunately, NO. Costa Rica allowed residence permits from any country in the EU. But the UK ceased to be in the EU and therefore UK residence permits are not eligible for Costa Rica anymore.

      NOTE: I’m yet to update this article after Brexit. I’m making my best efforts to update it as soon as I can.

      Reply

  47. But Brexit is not done yet the UK still part of the EU. I called Costa Rica embassy in London today. The lady was on phone, she said you are good to go with out visa but it’s so confusing man. Please find some information for me. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Hi Sunny! If it’s confusing for just one country, imagine how confusing it would be to update this entire article. Brexit, it’s delays and extensions are causing confusion to many countries and travelers. I’m waiting for official information from these countries whether they allow UK visa, but I guess they are waiting for the final word on Brexit as well.

      Anyways, you are told that you are good to use your UK visa. Enjoy your trip to Costa Rica!

      Reply

  48. Thanks bro! You are doing an amazing job. Today I got an email confirmation from Costa Rica embassy in London. I share with you. so it might help you to advise. Again thanks!

    Email received on:- 03 May 2019
    Dear Mr. Patel,

    Holders of a UK residence permit can go without a consular visa, provided the residence card is valid for 6 months from the day of entry into Costa Rica, and could be allowed to stay up to 30 days.

    You need to show a return ticket or ongoing travel, hotel reservation and proof of financial means (credit cards), if requested.

    Thank you,

    Jorge Aguilar
    Minister Counsellor and Consul General
    Embassy of Costa Rica
    23 Woodstock Street, Mayfair
    London W1C 2AS, United Kingdom
    phone 020 7629 3111

    Reply

  49. Dear sir/Madam,
    I have UK/USA & CANADA multiple tourist visas. How many countries I can travel visa-free? I have returned confirmed air tickets. Please guide me I want to travel in June/July & August 2019. Thanks.

    Reply

  50. Hi Mr. Thirumal
    I have a previous UK student visa, and now it has expired. I am a Sri Lankan passport holder. So, is there any European countries that I can travel with that previous visa? Thank you in advance!

    Reply

    • Hi Sameera! Unfortunately, no. All countries in Europe require the UK visa to be valid.

      There are one or two countries in this list (non-European) that accept expired visas. One of them being Taiwan, but their visa exemption with a UK visa is not applicable to Sri Lankan passport holders.

      Reply

  51. Hello, I have a UK six month visa and I am planning to travel to Dublin from London for 2 days. I am an Indian citizen but applied for the UK visitor visa from the UAE (I live in Dubai). Will I be able to travel to Dublin? visa type is UKVI05 multiple entries valid for 180 days, C visit.

    Reply

    • Hi Cruz! Yes, you can enter Ireland from the UK using your UK short stay visa. No separate visa for Ireland is necessary. Make sure you follow the below two rules –

      – Must have entered the UK and went through the UK immigration before entering Ireland
      – Must enter Ireland within the exit date on your UK entry stamp (this is different than visa expiry date)

      Reply

  52. Hi,
    I am Zargham from Pakistan. I got a UK visit visa (6-Month). I want to visit Turkey on my way back from the UK to Pakistan. As per your suggestion, I will have to obtain E-Visa for Turkey or I can have a transit visa while traveling back through Turk Air.

    Please also guide if I get Russian visit visa, are there other countries I can visit too?

    Reply

    • Hi Zargham! Yes, you can obtain eVisa for Turkey using your UK visa. I’m not aware of the transit visa facility by Turk Air. So, I cannot comment on that.

      Unfortunately, Russian visa does not give access to any other countries.

      Reply

  53. Dear, I have a UK visitor visa. After attending my business meeting, can I go around for the six months to allowed countries from the UK?

    Another question is whether Malaysia is on the list? If not, what is the legal process to visit Malaysia after being entered to the UK in visit visa?

    Reply

    • Hi Mshoaib! Yes, you can travel to the countries listed in this article with your UK visa after your business meeting in the UK.

      You cannot use your UK visa to enter Malaysia. You would need a Malaysia visa. You can refer to my Malaysia visa guide for more details.

      Reply

  54. Dear Thirumal, Thanks for sharing this blog. It was really useful it worked well for me.

    I travelled
    – Serbia
    – Bosnia
    – Montenegro
    – Albania
    – Macedonia
    – And Turkey (evisa)
    With my UK multiple entry Visa
    Thanks again!

    Reply

    • Hi Ananda Kumar! That’s fantastic! I’m glad the article was useful in your travel through those countries. Thanks for sharing your experience!

      Reply

  55. I want to travel to Ireland, Europe. Can I travel with a UK tourist visa to Ireland? And if yes, then there is one past rule that after or within 6 months you have to enter UK for at least once.
    And a Schengen visa is required or not.

    Reply

    • Hi Piyu! You can travel to Ireland with a UK visa. But there are two types of UK visas and the rules are different.

      UK short stay visa: If you have this visa, you must first enter the UK. From there, you can enter Ireland by land or air. Your stay in Ireland must be within the “leave to enter” time specified in the UK entry stamp.
      UK short stay visa with BIVS: If you have this visa, you can enter Ireland any time. You don’t have to enter the UK at all.

      A Schengen visa cannot be used for Ireland as Ireland is not part of the Schengen zone. You would need an Irish tourist visa.

      Reply

  56. Hi there. I have a Nigerian passport. Can I travel to the UK with a Canada visitor visa and or travel to Canada with a UK visitor visa.
    Thanks for your time.

    Reply

    • Hi King! Unfortunately, no. You CANNOT travel to the UK with Canada visa or Canada with a UK visa. There is a 24-hour entry provision at London’s Heathrow airport. If you are traveling to Canada via London’s Heathrow airport, you can request for a 24-hour entry at the Heathrow airport.

      Reply

  57. Hi, I have an Indian passport and a UK Tier 4 student visa with a BRP valid till October 2020. I have a university trip to France for 2 weeks. Is my BRP sufficient or will I need to apply for a Schengen Visa?
    Thank you.

    Reply

  58. Hi there, I am from the Philippines holding a c-visit visa. Are all your list of countries above updated for the visa-free travel? I would like to visit Bosnia next week but I’m not sure whether I can go travel without having to apply for a separate visa. Many thanks!

    Reply

    • Hi April! I have updated this article in March but I haven’t found any changes since then. I suggest making a list of countries that you would be visiting in this trip and then using the links (official sources) I have provided to verify the requirements.

      Reply

  59. Hi Thirumal,

    Firstly thanks a very nice and informative article.
    My parents have a 3-year Australian visitor/family visa, could they visit the UK on any visa exemption?

    Really appreciate your response.

    Regards,
    Kiran

    Reply

    • Hi Kiran! Unfortunately, they would need a UK tourist visa to visit the UK. They cannot use their Australia visa.

      NOTE: There is a 24-hour entry provision for Australia visa holders but that is only when transiting through the UK while heading to Australia.

      Reply

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