113 countries that need a UK visa before travelling in 2026

The United Kingdom has reaffirmed the list of countries whose citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to the country for short visits, following an update to its Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor.

The latest guidance confirms that nationals of more than 100 countries and territories are required to secure entry clearance before travelling to the UK for visits or stays of up to six months, unless they qualify for an exemption under the Immigration Rules.

The updated rules also make it clear that visa requirements extend beyond nationality. Stateless individuals and travellers using documents other than a national passport, or, where permitted, a national identity card, must also obtain entry clearance before departure unless the travel document was issued by the United Kingdom.

Full list of countries that require a UK visa
According to the updated Immigration Rules, citizens of the following countries and territories must obtain a visa before travelling to the UK:

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Belarus
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
People’s Republic of China*
Colombia
Comoros
Republic of the Congo
Côte d’Ivoire
Cuba
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
North Korea
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Pakistan
Palestine
Philippines
Russia
Rwanda
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
St Lucia
Sudan
Suriname
Syria
Taiwan*
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Other travellers who must obtain a UK visa
The UK’s Immigration Rules also require the following categories of travellers to obtain entry clearance before travelling:

Related News

Stateless persons

Individuals travelling on documents other than a national passport or, where permitted, a national identity card, unless the document was issued by the United Kingdom.

Exceptions to the rules

The Home Office noted that limited exceptions apply to certain nationals of the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan, which are identified with an asterisk in the Immigration Rules. The specific exemptions are outlined in subsequent sections of the Appendix Visitor.

Travellers are advised to confirm whether they qualify for any exemption before making travel arrangements, as visa requirements may vary depending on nationality, travel documents and individual circumstances.

Esther Emoekpere

Esther Emoekpere is a data analyst in the audience engagement department at BusinessDay, where she uses data to understand reader behaviour, spot unusual trends, and support the newsroom with insights that shape story performance. She holds a BSc in Statistics from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. She also with the BD Weekender team, where she covers a range of beats including profiles, food, lifestyle, restaurants, and fashion—creating stories shaped by audience interest and real-time engagement trends.