Ruth Haines
Indian citizens with a valid US, Canadian, Australian, or New Zealand visa do not need a transit visa for a layover at London Heathrow airport, provided they remain in the international transit area. However, if they need to pass through border control or change terminals, a transit visa may be required. This also applies to those with a Green Card, O1 visa, or H1B visa that has expired but has an I-797 approval letter authorizing a legal extension. On the other hand, those travelling through London Heathrow to Ireland may need a Standard Visitor visa, as a Visitor in Transit visa is not sufficient.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do Indian citizens need a transit visa for London Heathrow Airport? | No, if they have a valid US/Canadian visa or a valid Green Card/Canadian PR. |
| What if they have a B1 visa? | They may not need a transit visa if their Indian passport and B1 visa are valid. |
| What if they have a Green Card? | They may not need a transit visa if they have an I-797 approval letter authorizing a legal extension of their immigrant or non-immigrant status. |
| What if they are travelling through the UK to get to Ireland? | They will need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa unless they have a valid Irish biometric visa. |
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What You'll Learn
Transit visas for Indians travelling through London to the US
Indian citizens travelling through London Heathrow or Gatwick airport on their way to the US do not need a transit visa if they have a valid US/Canadian visa or a valid Green Card/Canadian PR. However, if they need to pass through border control, they will need to apply for a Visitor in Transit visa, which costs £70.
If you are changing flights in the UK and will not be going through UK border control, you will need to apply for a Direct Airside Transit visa. This also applies if your layover is short and you are remaining airside.
If you are going through UK border control and staying in the UK for more than 48 hours, you will need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa.
If you are travelling on to the US, you may need to apply for a US transit visa, depending on your purpose in entering the US. To apply for a US transit visa, you will need to complete an Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160, and provide evidence of your purpose in entering the US, your ability to pay costs while in the US, and your residence in your home country and intent to return there.
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Airside transit and landside transit
Indian citizens connecting through a London airport may not need a transit visa depending on the type of transit and whether they hold a valid US, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand visa or a Green Card.
Airside Transit
Airside transit allows travellers to remain within the airport's international transit area without passing through UK border control. A Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) is required for airside transit, however, there are exemptions for nationals of some countries. From 16 January 2025, an exemption has been introduced for airside transits at Heathrow and Manchester Airports, meaning passengers who do not pass through border control will not need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Nationals of some countries, including the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, are exempt from the DATV requirement and do not need any visa for airside transit. This exemption also applies to Green Card holders. However, it is important to note that some nationalities still require a transit visa even if they remain airside. Therefore, Indian citizens with a valid US, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand visa or a Green Card may not need a transit visa for airside transit, but it is always recommended to check the latest requirements before travelling.
Landside Transit
Landside transit requires passengers to pass through UK immigration, even if they plan to leave the UK within a short period, typically within 24 hours. A Visitor in Transit visa is required for landside transit. This visa allows travellers to stay in the UK for up to 48 hours. Indian citizens will need a Visitor in Transit visa for landside transit, regardless of their US, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand visa or Green Card status. Additionally, a change of connecting airports in the UK will also require a transit visa for landside transit.
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Valid visas and passports
For Indian citizens to travel through London Heathrow Airport, several requirements must be met regarding their visas and passports. Here is some information on what to expect:
Firstly, if an Indian citizen is travelling from the US to India via London Heathrow Airport and holds a valid US visa or Green Card, they do not need a transit visa for an airside transit during a layover. However, for a landside transit (immigration clearance) or a change of connecting airports in the UK, a transit visa is required, irrespective of the validity of their US visa or Green Card. It is worth noting that some airlines may have different requirements and may request a transit visa even for airside transit.
For Indian citizens with a normal passport travelling through London Heathrow Airport, specific conditions must be met. If transiting through the international area of the airport, they must have a valid visa issued by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the USA, along with a confirmed onward ticket for a flight to the visa-issuing country on the same calendar day. If they need to make a landside transit, they must hold a visa from one of the previously mentioned countries and travel to that country. In this case, their onward flight must depart before 23:59 the next day.
In the case of travelling from Delhi to London Heathrow and then to Dublin, Indian citizens may need a UK visa or UK residence permit. Obtaining a UK Standard Visitor visa may be necessary, but it is a more expensive and challenging process. Alternatively, an Irish visa can be obtained, which may allow eligibility for Transit Without Visa (TWOV) through the UK. However, a Visitor in Transit visa is not suitable for this itinerary since it does not allow entry to Ireland.
It is important to note that Indian citizens with a B1 visa and a valid Indian passport may not require a transit visa for London Heathrow if they are transiting airside, even with a short layover. However, a terminal change within a short time frame may not be feasible.
Additionally, for Indian citizens with a valid Canadian tourist visa, transiting through London Heathrow without a UK visa may be possible, provided they do not leave the international transit area and arrive and depart from Terminal 2 at Dublin.
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Green Card holders
For Indian citizens who are Green Card holders, there is no need for a transit visa for airside transit during a layover at London Heathrow or Gatwick airport. This is applicable if you are travelling on British Airways flights from the USA to India via London and have a confirmed onward flight from the same airport on the same day. However, if your itinerary involves a change of connecting airports in the UK or landside transit (immigration clearance), you will need a transit visa, irrespective of your Green Card validity status.
It is important to note that Green Cards have varying validity periods, ranging from 2 to 10 years. If your Green Card expires before your travel date, you may still be eligible for a transit-visa-free layover at London Heathrow if you possess an I-797 approval letter. This letter authorizes a legal extension of your immigrant or non-immigrant status in the US. However, these letters come in different forms (I-797A, B, C, and D), and airline crew and airport staff may not always be familiar with these specifics. Additionally, some airlines maintain strict transit visa requirements and may overlook I-797 approval letters.
When planning your travel, carefully review the layover information in your itinerary. If your layover is longer than 10 hours at London Heathrow Airport, it is recommended that you contact the airline to clarify any transit visa requirements. Additionally, if your travel involves a change of airports, such as from Heathrow to Gatwick, you will need a transit visa for landside transit that involves immigration checks.
In summary, as an Indian citizen and Green Card holder, you can generally transit through London Heathrow or Gatwick airports without a transit visa during airside layovers when travelling to India from the USA. However, visa requirements may arise if there is a change of connecting airports or if you require landside transit. It is always advisable to check the specific requirements of your airline and the details of your layover before booking your travel.
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Travel via Heathrow or Gatwick
Indian citizens can travel through London Heathrow or Gatwick airports without a transit visa if they hold a valid US, Canadian visa, or Green Card. However, if you need to go through immigration clearance or change connecting airports in the UK, you will need a transit visa.
Heathrow Airport has better transport links into London, with the Piccadilly line going straight from the airport to Hyde Park. However, Gatwick Airport is also easily accessible by train from London Victoria, with a journey time of 31 minutes. There are also direct coach services between the two airports, which take around an hour.
If you are travelling through Heathrow and need to get to Gatwick, or vice versa, you have several transport options. The Heathrow Express runs between Heathrow and Paddington, from where you can take the Underground to Victoria. The journey will take around 45 minutes and costs from £27.50. Alternatively, you can take the Elizabeth line between Heathrow and Paddington and then the Underground to Victoria, which will take around an hour and cost from £12.80. The London Underground also runs directly between Heathrow and Victoria, taking an hour and costing from £5.50.
National Express, Flixbus, and Airline coaches run directly between the two airports throughout the day, seven days a week.
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Frequently asked questions
Indian citizens with a valid US, Canadian, New Zealand or Australian visa can travel through London Heathrow Airport without a transit visa, as long as they remain in the international transit area of the airport. However, if they need to pass through border control, they will need a Visitor in Transit visa.
Indian nationals with a Green Card do not need a transit visa for airside transit during a layover at London Heathrow. However, if they need to pass through border control (landside transit), they will need a transit visa.
Indian citizens with a valid US visa can travel through London Heathrow Airport without a transit visa, as long as they remain in the international transit area of the airport. However, if they need to pass through border control, they will need a Visitor in Transit visa.
