What is a transit visa - and do I need one for my layover?
A transit visa lets you pass through a country during a layover. Whether you need one depends on your nationality, the country, and whether you leave the international transit area.
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What is a transit visa?
A transit visa is a special short-term visa for travelers passing through a country en route to another destination. It is not for tourism or extended stays - just for the time needed to make your connection.
Some countries waive visa requirements for travelers who remain in the airport's international transit area. Others require a transit visa even if you never officially enter the country. trip1 helps you book a hotel near a transit airport when you have a long layover, with crypto payment options that work globally.
When do I need a transit visa?
You typically need a transit visa if your nationality requires a visa for the transit country, you need to leave the international transit area, you have to collect baggage and re-check it for the next leg, or your layover lasts more than 24 hours.
Visa-free nationals such as US, EU, Japanese, and Canadian passport holders rarely need transit visas. Travelers from countries like India, China, Pakistan, or Nigeria often do, depending on the transit hub.
Schengen Airport Transit Visa (ATV)
A Schengen Airport Transit Visa (ATV) is required for citizens of certain countries to transit through a Schengen airport's international zone. The list includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the DRC, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Sri Lanka. Some Schengen countries, such as Italy and Spain, add other nationalities, including Syria.
An ATV does not allow you to leave the airport. If you need to leave during your layover, you must apply for a regular Schengen short-stay visa instead.
US transit visa (C-1)
The US C-1 transit visa is for travelers passing through the United States to another country. It allows up to 29 days for the connection. The application fee is 185 USD, and most applicants need an in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate.
There is no airside transit option in US airports - all transit passengers must clear US immigration. If you cannot transit visa-free under the Visa Waiver Program with an approved ESTA, you need a C-1 visa or a regular B-1/B-2 visa.
Transit visa for layovers - FAQ
It depends on your passport, the country where you connect and whether you pass through immigration. US, EU, Japanese and Canadian passport holders rarely need one. Many hubs let you stay airside without a visa, but some nationalities need an airport transit visa even there, and in the US every passenger must clear immigration, so check before booking.
Citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka need one to change planes at any Schengen airport. Some countries add more nationalities for their own airports, so check the embassy of the country where you connect. Holders of a valid Schengen visa or an EU residence permit are usually exempt.
The application fee for a US C-1 transit visa is 185 US dollars, the same as for a tourist or business visa, and it is not refunded if you are refused. Some nationalities also pay an extra issuance fee under US reciprocity rules. Check the State Department's fee page for the current amount before you pay.
It is not a shortcut. A C-1 transit visa goes through the same process as other US visitor visas, and most applicants need an in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate. You must show you are passing straight through to another country. Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries can usually transit with an approved ESTA instead.
Not with an airport transit visa, which only covers the international transit area. To leave the airport, you need a short-stay visa or visa-free entry for that country. The UK separates the two: a Direct Airside Transit visa if you stay airside, and a Visitor in Transit visa if you pass border control and leave within 48 hours.