DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-912-05                                                                                                                                                                                                                          22 December  2005
 
 

SECURE UK TRANSIT VISAS WHEN TRAVELING TO THIRD COUNTRIES VIA LONDON AIRPORTS,
DFA ADVISES TRAVELING PUBLIC



22 December 2005 – The Department of Foreign Affairs advises Filipinos traveling overseas to secure United Kingdom transit visas when traveling to third countries, especially the Caribbean, via the international airports in London or Manchester.

The Department issued the advisory after receiving a report from the  Philippine Embassy in London of  cases of Filipino nationals, particularly tourists traveling to third countries via London airports, being detained by UK immigration for  failure to present UK transit visas.

In report to the Department, Charge d’Affaires Mario L. de Leon  said that these cases of detention by UK immigration are especially true for those Filipinos going to the Caribbean who have to transfer from London Heathrow airport to Gatwick airport for the connection flights.    The United Kingdom also has an international airport in Manchester.

The Department has already coordinated with the appropriate agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Overseas Employment Agency and the Bureau of Immigration to further advise the public on this visa requirement for Filipino travelers in transit via UK airports. END
 
 

/bjg