Transit visa for San Francisco (SFO)
Who can connect at San Francisco International Airport, United States, without a visa: an airside transfer on one ticket, staying in the international transit area.
- Indian passportTransit visa needed
US airports have no international transit area, so every connecting passenger clears US immigration. You need a C-1 transit visa or a valid B1/B2 visitor visa.
- Pakistani passportTransit visa needed
US airports have no international transit area, so every connecting passenger clears US immigration. You need a C-1 transit visa or a valid B1/B2 visitor visa.
- Bangladeshi passportTransit visa needed
US airports have no international transit area, so every connecting passenger clears US immigration. You need a C-1 transit visa or a valid B1/B2 visitor visa.
- Sri Lankan passportTransit visa needed
US airports have no international transit area, so every connecting passenger clears US immigration. You need a C-1 transit visa or a valid B1/B2 visitor visa.
- Nepali passportTransit visa needed
US airports have no international transit area, so every connecting passenger clears US immigration. You need a C-1 transit visa or a valid B1/B2 visitor visa.
Leaving the airport during the layover
Every connection already enters the US; to go sightseeing during the layover you need a B1/B2 visitor visa rather than a C-1.
Watch out
Even a one-hour connection between two international flights needs a US visa, and none of these passports can use ESTA.
Checked on 25 October 2026 against these sources. Transit rules change often, and the airline and the immigration authority have the final say, so confirm with your airline before you travel.