Air France- KLM has announced the reintroduction of Airport Transit Visas (ATV), for citizens of certain countries, including those from Nigeria, who intend to travel to the UK from January 1, 2021.
An ATV is a document which allows a traveller to pass through the international zone of an airport, without entering the country’s territory.
The airline issued a statement saying the Airport Transit Visas had become necessary for these citizens to pass through France or the Netherlands because of Brexit.
It also said citizens of the affected countries who have British visa, long-stay visa or British residence permit must still have ATV to go through France or the Netherlands.
The countries affected include Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Ghana.
Others include Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Senegal, Syria, Palestinians, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Sri Lanka.
“As of January 1, 2021, citizens of the following countries who are holders of a British visa, long-stay visa or a residence permit issued by the British authorities will need to be in possession of an airport transit visa (ATV) if they transit through France and or the Netherlands,” the statement read.
The airline did, however, say that citizens of the listed countries who possess visas or residence permits from Canada, Japan, the USA or any other European country, in addition to a UK visa/residence permit will be allowed to travel through France or the Netherlands without Airport Transit Visas.
The UK On December 24, sealed a Brexit trade deal with the European Union (EU).
The new Brexit deal will almost certainly mean lower tariffs and exportation costs than they would have faced if the UK had left the EU without reaching an agreement.
In January, The UK ceased to be a full member of the EU following the Brexit vote on June 23, 2016.