Lois Larson
If you're connecting flights at Heathrow Airport, you may be able to leave the airport between flights without a visa if you have an airside transit, meaning you do not pass through UK border control. However, if you have a landside transit and pass through UK border control, you may need a visa or electronic travel authorization (ETA) to re-enter the airport. It is important to note that leaving the airport is not recommended, as you will need to pass through security again as a normal departing passenger and ensure you have enough time to catch your next flight.
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What You'll Learn
- If you leave the airport during a layover, you will need to pass through UK immigration and have the right to enter the UK
- A Direct Airside Transit Visa is required if you don't pass through UK border control
- A Visitor in Transit Visa is required if you pass through UK border control but leave within 48 hours
- You will need to go through security as a normal departing passenger when you return
- You will need proof of onward travel, such as a confirmed flight ticket, and any necessary visas for your final destination. Exemptions may apply
If you leave the airport during a layover, you will need to pass through UK immigration and have the right to enter the UK
If you are considering leaving the airport during a layover, it is important to note that you will be required to pass through UK immigration and have the necessary documentation for entering the UK. This means that, in addition to complying with security checks, you will need to ensure you have the right to enter the country, such as a valid visa or passport.
Even if you have a lengthy wait between flights, it is generally not recommended to leave the airport. However, if you do choose to leave, you will need to go through immigration and have the appropriate entry documents. This is because you will be entering the ''landside'' area of the airport, which requires passing through UK border control. To re-enter the airport and continue your journey, you will need to present yourself as a normal departing passenger, allowing sufficient time for security checks and any additional procedures.
If you are transiting through the UK and do not intend to pass through immigration or enter the country, you may be eligible for an exemption from the usual visa requirements. This is known as a Direct Airside Transit visa, which allows passengers to change flights within the UK without officially entering. However, this is only applicable if you do not leave the ''airside'' area of the airport, where you do not pass through UK border control.
It is important to note that the requirements and procedures may vary depending on your specific circumstances and the airport you are travelling through. Always check with the relevant authorities and carefully review your passport and visa requirements before making any decisions about leaving the airport during a layover. Each airport/country in your itinerary may have unique requirements that you are responsible for fulfilling.
Additionally, if you plan to leave the airport during your layover, it is crucial to ensure you have sufficient time before your connecting flight. Returning to the airport and going through security as a departing passenger can take considerable time, and you will need to be back at the airport well in advance of your departure—typically, this means three hours for long-haul flights and two hours for short-haul flights.
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A Direct Airside Transit Visa is required if you don't pass through UK border control
If you are connecting flights at Heathrow Airport and do not plan to pass through UK border control, you will need to apply for a Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV). This type of visa is required if you are catching an onward flight within 24 hours and without passing through border control or changing airports. The DATV costs £39 and can be applied for online, unless you are applying from North Korea, in which case a printed form is required. You will then need to make an appointment at the UK embassy or a visa application centre in your country.
The UK immigration rules recognise two types of 'layovers': airside and landside. An airside layover is when you do not pass through UK immigration control for your connecting journey, while a landside layover is when you do pass through UK border control but leave again within a short period of time, usually 24 hours. To reflect these two types of transiting, there are two types of transit visas: the Visitor in Transit visa for landside transiting, and the DATV for airside transiting.
If you are unsure whether you need a DATV or what documentation would exempt you from needing one, you can use the online tool at GOV.UK. You will first need to select your nationality, followed by "Transit (on your way to somewhere else)" as your reason for coming to the UK. You will then be asked where you are travelling to and whether you will pass through UK border control. It is worth noting that even if you possess a qualifying document, neither an e-visa or e-residence permit will be acceptable unless your airline is able to verify it.
Additionally, certain nationalities are exempt from needing a UK transit visa altogether. These include nationals/citizens of the People's Republic of China who hold a passport issued by either the Hong Kong or Macao Special Administrative Regions, and nationals/citizens of Taiwan with a passport issued by Taiwan. Nationals/citizens of Bahrain, Oman, Indonesia, Kuwait, Qatar, South Africa, Turkey, the UAE, and Vietnam who hold a diplomatic or special passport issued by their country are also exempt.
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A Visitor in Transit Visa is required if you pass through UK border control but leave within 48 hours
If you are travelling through Heathrow Airport and want to leave the airport between connecting flights, you will need to pass through UK border control. This means that you will require the right to enter the UK, including any necessary visas or passports.
If you are passing through UK border control and leaving the airport, you will need to apply for a Visitor in Transit Visa. This type of visa is specifically for travellers who will be in the UK for a short period, typically within 24 to 48 hours, and need to go through border control.
It is important to note that this visa is different from the Direct Airside Transit Visa, which is for travellers who will be changing flights in the UK without passing through border control. If you have a long layover and want to leave the airport, the Visitor in Transit Visa would be the appropriate option.
When applying for the Visitor in Transit Visa, you should ensure that you have all the necessary documentation, including proof of onward travel, such as a confirmed flight ticket, and any required visas or permissions for your final destination. It is always your responsibility to check the specific passport and visa requirements for your particular situation and itinerary.
Additionally, if you are travelling with checked baggage, you will need to consider the logistics of collecting your bags and transferring them to your next flight. While your airline may transfer your bags to your next flight, you will still need to pass through security as a normal departing passenger when you return to the airport.
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You will need to go through security as a normal departing passenger when you return
If you are connecting flights at Heathrow Airport and wish to leave the airport between flights, you will need to pass through UK immigration and customs. This means you will need the right to enter the UK, including any necessary visas or passports. If you are eligible for a Direct Airside Transit visa, you may be exempt from needing a visa to enter the UK. This visa is for those changing flights in the UK without passing through UK border control.
Upon returning to the airport, you will need to go through security as a normal departing passenger. This means you will need to allow enough time to pass through security and catch your next flight. Heathrow Airport recommends arriving at the airport three hours before departure for long-haul flights and two hours for short-haul flights.
It is important to note that leaving the airport between connecting flights is not recommended, especially if you do not have the necessary documentation to enter the UK. Additionally, you will be responsible for ensuring you have the correct passport and visa requirements for each country in your itinerary.
If you are transferring between terminals at Heathrow Airport, you can utilise the airside transfer buses. These buses allow you to transfer between terminals without passing through UK border control. However, if you need to check in luggage or change airports, you will pass through border control and may require a different type of visa.
When returning to the airport after leaving during a layover, you will need to go through security as a normal departing passenger. This includes complying with security checks and any liquid restrictions, such as the 100ml rule. Make sure to allow enough time to pass through security and reach your gate without rushing.
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You will need proof of onward travel, such as a confirmed flight ticket, and any necessary visas for your final destination. Exemptions may apply
If you're connecting flights at Heathrow Airport, you will need to go through UK border control and therefore require the right to enter the UK, such as a visa. This applies to both landside and airside transit. However, there are exemptions for airside transit at Heathrow Airport.
Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV)
If you are transiting through the UK without passing through border control, you may need to apply for a DATV. This type of visa is for those who are catching an onward flight within 24 hours without going through border control or changing airports. Please note that not all visa nationals are required to apply for a DATV. Additionally, there is a temporary exemption for airside transits at Heathrow Airport, meaning passengers who do not pass through border control do not need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
Visitor in Transit Visa
If you will be going through UK border control and staying in the UK for less than 48 hours, you will need to apply for a Visitor in Transit visa. This type of visa requires you to provide proof of onward travel, such as a confirmed flight ticket, and any necessary visas or permissions for your final destination. You will also need to provide your current passport or other valid travel identification.
Standard Visitor Visa
If you are staying in the UK for more than 48 hours or meeting someone outside the airport, you will need to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. This type of visa will require you to provide proof of onward travel and any necessary visas for your final destination, as well as a valid reason for your extended stay in the UK.
It is important to note that the requirements for transit visas may vary depending on your nationality and the specific circumstances of your journey. It is always your responsibility to check the passport and visa requirements for each country in your itinerary. Failure to meet the transit requirements can result in being denied boarding or refused entry at the UK border.
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Frequently asked questions
If you are travelling ''airside', you do not need to pass through UK border control before your connecting flight and therefore do not need a visa. However, if you are travelling 'landside', you will need to pass through UK border control and will need the right documentation to enter the UK, such as a visa.
'Airside' refers to passengers who do not pass through UK border control before their connecting flight. 'Landside' refers to passengers who do pass through UK border control but leave the UK within a short amount of time, usually 24 hours.
If you are catching an onward flight within 24 hours and without passing through border control or changing airports, you will need a Direct Airside Transit visa. If you are going through UK border control but leaving the UK within 48 hours, you will need a Visitor in Transit visa.
Travellers should have proof of onward travel, such as a confirmed flight ticket, and any necessary visas or permissions for their final destination.
