Transit Visa Requirements At Heathrow: What You Need To Know

If you're transiting through Heathrow Airport, the type of visa you need depends on your nationality, whether you're going through UK border control, and whether you're leaving the international transit area. From 16 January 2025, a temporary exemption has been introduced for airside transits at Heathrow, meaning passengers who do not pass through border control will not need an ETA. However, some nationalities still require a transit visa even if they remain airside. If you will be going through UK border control, you will need to apply for a Visitor in Transit visa if you'll be leaving the UK within 48 hours.

Heathrow Airport Transit Visa Requirements

Transit from non-UK/EEA countries

If you are transiting from non-UK/EEA countries, you may need a Direct Airside Transit visa if you arrive in the UK by flight and leave again without passing through immigration control. This depends on your nationality and whether you need to enter the UK.

You do not need a transit visa if you have a valid visa for Canada, New Zealand, Australia, or the USA. If you have a valid Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW), you also do not need a transit visa, but you must use it in accordance with the rules. Nationals of Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia can obtain an EVW instead of a visa. However, these nationals will soon need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead of an EVW. The ETA scheme is a new security system being introduced in the UK for the screening of overseas nationals before travel.

If you are catching an onward flight on the same day and from the same UK airport at which you arrived, you should apply for a Direct Airside Transit Visa. Airside transit passengers do not pass through UK border control. If you will be going through UK border control, you will need to apply for a Visitor in Transit visa, which costs £64. This may change slightly depending on which country you are in.

Heathrow Airport provides airside transfer buses between terminals. You can check your itinerary on the Heathrow website by selecting "Connections" and entering your details, such as the date and flight information.

Transit with a valid US, Canadian, New Zealand, or Australian visa

If you have a valid visa for the US, Canada, New Zealand, or Australia, you do not need a Direct Airside Transit visa to pass through the UK in transit. This is because these visas can be used for travel to any country. However, it is important to note that this exemption only applies if you will not be passing through UK border control or immigration control. If you need to pass through border control or immigration control, you will need to apply for a Visitor in Transit visa.

For example, if you are an Indian citizen travelling from India to the US with a valid US visa and have a connecting flight at Heathrow Airport, you do not need a UK transit visa as long as you do not pass through border control. In this case, you can use the airside transfer buses between terminals without needing a transit visa.

Similarly, if you are travelling to Vancouver, Canada, from Mumbai, India, with a layover in London Heathrow, you do not need a UK transit visa as long as you do not pass through border control or immigration control.

It is always recommended to check with your airline to confirm if you will be passing through border control or immigration control during your layover, as this will determine whether or not you need a transit visa for the UK.

In addition, it is important to note that if you are transiting through New Zealand on your way to another country, you may need to apply for a Transit Visa or an NZeTA, depending on your nationality and the specific requirements of New Zealand's immigration authorities.

Transit without passing through border control

If you are transiting in Heathrow without passing through border control, you may not need a visa. This is known as transiting 'airside'.

If you are an Indian national, you will need a transit visa or a Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) to pass through the UK in transit, even if you are not passing through border control. This also applies to other nationalities. However, if you have a valid visa for Canada, New Zealand, Australia, or the USA, you do not need a separate visa for the UK.

If you are a British or Irish national, you do not need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). As of January 16, 2025, the UK government has agreed on a temporary exemption for passengers who transit airside and do not pass through UK border control from needing an ETA. An ETA is a new requirement for visitors to the UK who do not currently need a visa. It permits you to travel to the UK for up to six months and is electronically linked to your passport. It costs £16 and is valid for two years, allowing multiple entries to the UK.

To determine whether you need a visa for transiting through Heathrow Airport without passing through border control, it is recommended to check with the UK government and your airline.

Transit with checked-in baggage

If you are transiting through Heathrow Airport with checked-in baggage, there are a few things you need to keep in mind in terms of visa requirements. The type of visa you need, or whether you need a visa at all, depends on several factors, including your nationality, the length of your layover, and whether you will be passing through UK border control.

Firstly, if you are an Indian citizen, you will generally need a visa to enter, transit, or engage in direct airside transit in the UK, unless you hold a valid visa or residence permit for another country, such as an EEA residence permit or a US visa. Other nationalities that require a visa for transit through the UK include Jordanian, Lebanese, and Palestinian. However, starting from February 22, 2024, nationals from Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE will also need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to transit through the UK.

If you have a long layover and plan to leave the airport to visit London, you will likely need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa, unless you are exempt. A Visitor in Transit visa is required if you will be passing through UK border control but leaving the UK within 48 hours. This visa typically costs £64 but may vary depending on your country of origin.

On the other hand, if you will not be passing through UK border control and will remain airside during your layover, you may need a Direct Airside Transit visa, depending on your nationality. From January 16, 2025, a temporary exemption has been introduced, meaning passengers who do not pass through border control at Heathrow Airport will not need an ETA. However, this exemption may change, so it is important to check the latest requirements before your journey.

It is important to note that even if you have a valid visa for another country, such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, or the USA, you may still need to apply for a UK transit visa if your checked baggage is not transferred internally and you need to collect and re-check it during your layover at Heathrow Airport. This typically occurs when your connecting flights are with different airlines.

To summarize, the visa requirements for transiting through Heathrow Airport with checked-in baggage depend on your nationality, the length of your layover, and whether you will be passing through UK border control. It is always best to check with your airline and the UK government's visa website to confirm the specific requirements for your situation.

Transit with a valid residence permit

If you are a residence permit holder and are transiting airside at Heathrow Airport, you do not need a transit visa. Airside transit allows travellers to remain in the airport's international transit area without passing through UK border control. However, if you need to go through border control, for example, to check in luggage or change airports, you will need to apply for a Visitor in Transit visa instead.

From 16 January 2025, a temporary exemption was introduced for airside transits at Heathrow, meaning passengers who do not pass through border control do not need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). This exemption applies to British and Irish nationals, who do not require an ETA. An ETA costs £10-£16 and is valid for two years, allowing multiple entries to the UK.

If you are not a national of the country you are travelling to, you will need to provide proof that you are allowed to enter that country, such as a residence permit or valid visa. You may also be asked to prove that your onward journey has been booked or confirmed, such as with a flight booking confirmation or ticket. It is recommended to have all your documents ready when passing through border control, including your passport, and any necessary visas.

It is important to note that even if you possess a qualifying document, neither an e-visa nor an e-residence permit will be acceptable unless your airline can verify it with the issuing country. Travellers should check the latest requirements before their journey to ensure compliance with evolving transit regulations.

Frequently asked questions