The Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) (Amendment) (No. 4) Order 2025

Published: Tue 9th Dec 25

This Order, enacted under the powers of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, amends the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014 to require nationals or citizens of Nauru to obtain a transit visa when passing through the United Kingdom while remaining airside. The legislation comes into force on December 10, 2025, and includes a transitional clause exempting those who arrived on or before January 20, 2026, provided they had a booking made before the Order’s enactment.

Arguments For

Implements necessary security or border control measures by regulating transit through the UK.
Ensures consistency in immigration control for nationals from a specific country (Nauru) regarding airside transit routes.
Provides a clear legal basis for enforcement through the specific powers conferred by the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Arguments Against

May inconvenience travellers from Nauru who have established a pattern of transit through the UK without needing a visa.
Creates additional administrative or financial burdens for affected nationals who must now apply for a transit visa.
The implementation date creates a short window for affected persons to adjust their travel plans or visa status if they have complex itineraries.

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 41 and 166(3) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

The Secretary of State issued this legislative Order using authority granted by specific sections (41 and 166(3)) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Citation, commencement and extent

(1) This Order may be cited as the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) (Amendment) (No. 4) Order 2025.

(2) This Order comes into force on 10th December 2025.

(3) This Order extends to the United Kingdom.

The measure is officially named the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) (Amendment) (No. 4) Order 2025.

It legally takes effect on December 10, 2025.

The rules established by this Order apply across the entire United Kingdom.

Amendment to the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014 2. (1) The Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014 is amended as follows.

(2) In Schedule 1 (countries or territories whose nationals or citizens need transit visas), at the appropriate place, insert “Nauru”.

This regulation specifically changes the rules established in the 2014 Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order.

Specifically, the regulation adds 'Nauru' to Schedule 1 of the 2014 Order.

This schedule lists countries whose nationals require a transit visa when passing through the UK.

Transitional provision 3. Nothing in article 2 applies in respect of a national or citizen of Nauru transiting through the United Kingdom who—

(a) arrives in the United Kingdom on or before 20th January 2026, and

(b) before the date this Order comes into force already held a booking for that journey.

A transitional rule exempts certain nationals of Nauru from the new visa requirement detailed in Article 2.

The exemption applies if the individual arrives in the UK on or before January 20, 2026.

Additionally, the person must have already secured a booking for that specific journey before this amending Order officially became law.

EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/2702) which requires certain passengers to hold a transit visa to pass through the United Kingdom without entering whilst transiting to another country.

Schedule 1 to that Order sets out a list of countries or territories whose nationals or citizens need transit visas, and this Order adds Nauru to that list.

Article 3 of this Order contains a transitional provision to disapply the requirement for a transit visa to people who at the time this Order comes into force had already booked travel to the United Kingdom to arrive on or before 20th January 2026 and arrived on or before that date.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private or voluntary sector or community bodies is foreseen.

This note clarifies that the Order amends the 2014 legislation, which mandates visas for passengers transiting through the UK without formally entering.

This specific update adds Nauru to the list in Schedule 1 triggering the transit visa requirement.

Article 3 provides protection for travellers who already had travel booked to arrive by January 20, 2026, before the new requirement took effect.

A full impact assessment was deemed unnecessary because little to no significant effect on businesses or community groups is anticipated.

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