Air France-KLM has announced that it will require an airport transit visa (ATV) for some passengers connecting to the UK. This means citizens from certain countries in Africa and Asia will require an ATV in addition to their UK visas to transit through France or Netherlands. The rule comes into effect when the UK exits the European Union on January 1st, 2021.
Visa needed
Following Brexit tomorrow, passengers from 30 countries will require ATVs before transiting to the UK from France or Netherlands, according to the BBC. Prior to this, passengers with a UK visa were technically traveling to the EU, removing the need for an ATV. However, the UK’s exit means these passengers will now be treated as traveling to a non-EU country.
The following nationals are affected by the new rules:
- Africa: Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan.
- Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Philippines, Palestine, Russia, Syria, and Sri Lanka.
- Caribbean & South America: Angola, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic.
All other passengers transit (changing flights without exiting the airport) through France or Netherlands to the UK remains visa-free.
Exemption
The new rules cover any nationals of the listed countries holding a normal UK visa, long-stay visa, or residence permit, effectively covering everyone. However, there is an exception to the new rule.
Passengers are exempt from the ATV requirement if they have a valid residence permit/visa from the US, Canada, Japan, or any European country. There are also specific exemptions for certain nationalities, so reaching out to the airline beforehand can be helpful.
Brexit Impact
The long-drawn Brexit process officially comes to an end tomorrow, as the UK formally leaves the European Union for good. Starting January 1st, 2021, the UK will have a new trade deal with the EU and there will be some changes across the industry.
Under the last-minute trade deal, there will definitely be no disruptions in flights or transport from tomorrow. Airlines, however, have been begun changing shareholder rights, and there are some questions over ownership in the future.
For passengers, there will be new border checks and visa requirements, such as the one announced this week. However, the Brexit deal still allows for visa-free travel, albeit for a shorter time, between the UK and the EU. While too much may not change immediately, the future aviation relationship could look very different across the channel.
Current border restrictions mean that most countries have bans on travel to the UK due to the new strain of COVID-19. For those who can travel, strict border and testing requirements are in place.
