The UK Home Office has activated its “Exceptional Assurance” system, allowing travellers stranded in the UK due to the Middle East airspace crisis to remain legally without being classified as overstayers. If your visa expired on or after 28 February 2026, you are likely covered by this emergency measure.
Since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on 28 February 2026 and triggered retaliatory attacks across the region, airspace closures across the Middle East have grounded tens of thousands of flights, leaving visitors stuck in countries they were only transiting through or vacationing in. The UK is one of over 22 countries that have rolled out emergency visa relief in response. Here’s everything you need to know about staying legal in the UK while flights remain disrupted.
What Is Exceptional Assurance and Who Qualifies?
The UK’s emergency visa relief
The UK Home Office activated its “Exceptional Assurance” system in early March 2026. This is the same mechanism the government used during COVID-19, now reactivated for the Middle East crisis.
Under Exceptional Assurance, you do not need to submit a formal visa extension application. You simply notify UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that you are unable to depart due to the travel disruption. Once notified, you are protected from being classified as an overstayer.
Who qualifies
Exceptional Assurance applies broadly to travellers who meet all of the following conditions:
- Your visa expired on or after 28 February 2026 — the date the regional airspace disruptions began.
- You are unable to leave the UK due to flight cancellations, airspace closures, or the unavailability of safe travel routes to your home country.
- You hold any type of UK visa — tourist, business, student, medical, or other categories are all covered.
If your visa expired before 28 February 2026, this emergency measure does not apply to your situation. You would need to explore the standard visa extension process (covered below) or contact UKVI directly to discuss your options.
What you get
- Legal protection from overstay penalties — you will not be fined, detained, or have your immigration record flagged for the duration of the disruption.
- No fees — Exceptional Assurance is entirely free. It avoids the cost of a formal extension application.
- No end date announced — the protection lasts as long as the travel disruption continues. The Home Office has not set a specific deadline.
How to Notify UKVI and Activate Your Protection
Contact UKVI
Unlike the automatic visa extensions offered by countries like Qatar and Kuwait, the UK system requires you to proactively notify UKVI. You are not automatically protected just because the crisis exists.
Here’s how to reach UKVI:
- Phone (inside the UK): 0300 790 6268 (Monday to Thursday 09:00–16:45, Friday 09:00–16:30)
- Phone (outside the UK): +44 203 875 4669
- Online: Use the contact form on the UKVI website
Explain your situation
When you contact UKVI, provide your full name, passport number, visa type, and visa expiry date. Explain that you are unable to depart due to the Middle East airspace crisis and request Exceptional Assurance.
You do not need to submit extensive documentation. The Home Office is aware of the crisis and the assurance process is designed to be straightforward.
Keep a record
Save any confirmation you receive from UKVI — whether it’s an email, a reference number, or notes from a phone call. This serves as your proof of legal status if questions arise at a later date, such as when you apply for a future UK visa.
What If You Don’t Qualify for Exceptional Assurance?
The standard visitor visa extension route
If your visa expired before 28 February 2026, or if your circumstances don’t directly relate to the Middle East crisis, you may still be able to extend your stay through the standard visitor visa extension process. However, this route is more limited and more expensive.
Under normal UK immigration rules, visitor visas can only be extended in exceptional circumstances. Valid reasons include:
- Ongoing private medical treatment that requires continued care in the UK
- Compassionate grounds such as a serious illness or death of a close family member in the UK
- Travel disruption that genuinely prevents departure (which the current Middle East crisis would qualify as)
Fees and processing
A standard visitor visa extension costs £1,000 and extends your stay for up to 6 months. Standard processing takes approximately 8 weeks. Priority processing is available for an additional £500 (5 working days) or £1,000 (next working day).
You apply online through the GOV.UK website. You’ll need to provide supporting evidence for the exceptional circumstances that prevent your departure.
The 14-day overstay rule
Under normal rules (outside of Exceptional Assurance), UKVI may overlook overstaying of up to 14 days if you apply within that window and can prove there were exceptional circumstances beyond your control. This is not a right — it’s discretionary. Provide evidence such as flight cancellation notices, airspace closure announcements, or airline correspondence.
This 14-day window is a safety net, not a strategy. Apply for your extension or contact UKVI before your visa expires if at all possible.
What Changes Are Coming to UK Visa Fees
Fee increases from 8 April 2026
The Home Office has confirmed that most UK visa fees will increase on 8 April 2026. If you need to apply for a formal visa extension (rather than relying on Exceptional Assurance), submitting your application before this date could save you money.
Key changes include:
| Visa Type | Current Fee | New Fee (from 8 April) |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term visit visa (up to 6 months) | £127 | ~£135 |
| Long-term visit visa (up to 2 years) | £475 | ~£506 |
| Long-term visit visa (up to 5 years) | £848 | ~£903 |
| Long-term visit visa (up to 10 years) | £1,059 | ~£1,128 |
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | £16 | £20 |
These increases apply to visa applications submitted on or after 8 April 2026. The fee for a visitor visa extension under exceptional circumstances remains at £1,000 until further notice.
What to Do Right Now
If your UK visa is expiring and you can’t leave
- Contact UKVI immediately on 0300 790 6268 (or +44 203 875 4669 from outside the UK) and request Exceptional Assurance. Don’t wait until your visa has expired.
- Save all confirmation — emails, reference numbers, or call records. This protects your immigration history for future applications.
- Monitor flight availability using Wego’s flight tracker. Some airlines have rerouted services through alternative airports outside the affected airspace.
- Check alternative routes home. Several airlines are operating via Dammam, Muscat, and other airports outside the closed airspace zones. Search for available flights from London on Wego.
- Contact your embassy if you need consular assistance or have nationality-specific concerns.
If you’re planning to travel to the UK
Standard UK visa applications are still being processed, though the Home Office has warned of potential delays for applicants from countries directly affected by the conflict. The UKVI website has the latest processing time estimates.
If you’re applying for a UK visit visa and your travel dates are flexible, consider waiting until the airspace situation stabilises before booking flights through the affected region. You can track the status of affected airports on Wego’s flight tracker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to apply for a formal visa extension to stay in the UK?
Not if your visa expired on or after 28 February 2026 and you’re unable to leave due to the Middle East crisis. The Home Office’s Exceptional Assurance system protects you from overstay penalties once you notify UKVI. No formal application, documents, or fees are required.
Will Exceptional Assurance affect my future UK visa applications?
No. Exceptional Assurance is specifically designed to ensure that overstaying during the crisis does not count against you. Keep your UKVI confirmation as evidence in case it’s ever queried in a future application.
How long does Exceptional Assurance last?
There is no fixed end date. The assurance remains in place for the duration of the travel disruption. The Home Office will announce when the measure is withdrawn, as it did when the COVID-era assurance ended.
Can I work in the UK while on Exceptional Assurance?
No. Exceptional Assurance does not grant you new immigration permissions. If your original visa did not allow you to work, that restriction still applies. You are simply protected from overstay consequences.
What if my visa expired before 28 February 2026?
Exceptional Assurance does not cover visas that expired before the crisis began. You would need to apply for a standard visitor visa extension (£1,000) through GOV.UK, citing exceptional circumstances. Contact UKVI on 0300 790 6268 to discuss your options.
Sources
- UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)
- VisaHQ — Middle East Conflict Prompts Temporary Relaxation at UK Border Control Posts
- GOV.UK — Extend Your Stay as a Standard Visitor
- GOV.UK — UK Visa Fees
- OTS Solicitors — UK Visa Fees Increase on 8 April 2026
- Wego Travel Blog — Emergency Visa Extensions in 22 Countries
- UK Civil Aviation Authority — Middle East Passenger Travel Advice
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
