Visas needed?
Feb 27, 2008 | 7:38 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 2
Visas needed?
My spouse and I are taking a 10 day vacation to Italy in March. We're traveling with British Airways and stopping over for 7 hours in London. We arrive at Heathrow and then need to transfer to Gatwick for the rest of our leg to Italy. Do we need any type of visa to do this landside transfer? We are US citizens, and we are planning on taking the Tube to London Victoria from Heathrow, getting lunch somewhere nearby the station and then taking a train (Gatwick express) to Gatwick from Victoria.
Also, for the 10 day trip to Italy, do we need to apply for a visa there?
Thanks.
Also, for the 10 day trip to Italy, do we need to apply for a visa there?
Thanks.
Feb 27, 2008 | 7:46 am
#2
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
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Can't speak for Italy as I haven't had the pleasure, but for London, you only need your passport. No Visa required.
Feb 27, 2008 | 7:51 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 286
Assuming you are US citizen no visas.
In the UK they will ask why you are there - you say "in transit."
They say "in transit to where?" Tell them "Italy via Gatwick." They stamp passport, write "IT" on stamp, you are on your way.
In Italy they won't ask you anything just give you a stamp.
Italy will stamp on exit of the country. UK does not.
You should wind up with 4 stamps total - 2 entries for UK, 1 entry and 1 exit for Italy.
In the UK they will ask why you are there - you say "in transit."
They say "in transit to where?" Tell them "Italy via Gatwick." They stamp passport, write "IT" on stamp, you are on your way.
In Italy they won't ask you anything just give you a stamp.
Italy will stamp on exit of the country. UK does not.
You should wind up with 4 stamps total - 2 entries for UK, 1 entry and 1 exit for Italy.
Feb 27, 2008 | 10:51 am
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 22,778
My spouse and I are taking a 10 day vacation to Italy in March. We're traveling with British Airways and stopping over for 7 hours in London. We arrive at Heathrow and then need to transfer to Gatwick for the rest of our leg to Italy. Do we need any type of visa to do this landside transfer? We are US citizens, and we are planning on taking the Tube to London Victoria from Heathrow, getting lunch somewhere nearby the station and then taking a train (Gatwick express) to Gatwick from Victoria.
Also, for the 10 day trip to Italy, do we need to apply for a visa there?
Thanks.
Also, for the 10 day trip to Italy, do we need to apply for a visa there?
Thanks.
Last edited by Yaatri; Feb 27, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Feb 27, 2008 | 12:44 pm
#7
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As others have pointed out that no US citizens need no visa for visiting Western Europe as long as the visit is less than 90 days. As a matter of practice, it's a good idea to look into visa requirements in advance as in some cases visa cannot be obtained in a short time. There was a time in the 80's when the US citizens were required to get a visa to France.
Feb 27, 2008 | 2:00 pm
#8
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 22,778
The US is the glaring exception to this but most of the time, one does not require even a transit visa if not leaving the airport. Even citizens who need visas to Schengen countries (for example) sometimes do not need transit visas, such as South African citiznes, but others (mostly the poorest of the poor countries out there) do.
Feb 27, 2008 | 5:54 pm
#9
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I think it was needing travel visas when one doesn't "enter" the country, ala AMS where one remains in "neutral zone" and does not enter Dutch territory.
Feb 27, 2008 | 8:27 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: rural Indiana - IND
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In case you don't have the link, here is country-specific information from the US State Department including entry requirements for US citizens.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1765.html
A useful bookmark when considering your travel options. ^
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1765.html
A useful bookmark when considering your travel options. ^