London Airport: Do You Need A Transit Visa?

If you're travelling through a London airport and need to know whether you require a transit visa, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it depends on whether you will be passing through UK border control. If you will not be going through border control, you may not need a transit visa, but this also depends on your nationality and whether you have a valid visa for your destination country. If you do need to pass through border control, you will likely need a Visitor in Transit visa, unless you are only staying in the UK for a very short period.

Direct Airside Transit Visas

Whether or not you need a transit visa to pass through the UK depends on whether you will be going through UK border control. If you will be going through UK border control, you will need to apply for a Visitor in Transit visa. This costs £64 and you will need one if you will be going through border control but leaving the UK within 48 hours.

If you will not be going through UK border control, you may need to apply for a Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) instead. This is the case if you are catching an onward flight on the same day and from the same UK airport at which you arrived. Airside transit passengers do not pass through UK border control. Direct Airside Transit Visas last for up to 24 hours, meaning the onward flight must be within 24 hours of your arrival in the UK. The DATV application typically costs £35, though this may vary depending on which country you are applying from. You can apply online for a DATV, unless you are applying from North Korea, in which case you will need to fill out a printed form. You will then need to make an appointment at the UK embassy or a visa application centre in your country.

If you are unsure whether or not you need a DATV, and what documentation means you are exempt, 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. You may want to apply for a UK transit visa before you travel if you are still unsure if you are exempt. Nationals of Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia can obtain an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) instead of a visa, provided the EVW is used in accordance with the rules. However, these nationals will soon need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead of an EVW.

It is important to note that you do not need a transit visa if you have a valid visa for your destination country and your layover is less than 24 hours. This is because, during this time, you will not be deemed to have entered the UK and therefore do not need permission to enter the UK for this type of journey.

Visitor in Transit Visas

A Visitor in Transit visa is required if you are going through UK border control but leaving the UK within 48 hours. This visa costs £64, although this may vary slightly depending on the country. If you are staying in the UK for more than 48 hours, you will need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

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 instead. Direct Airside Transit visas last for up to 24 hours, and you will not be deemed to have entered the UK with this type of visa. Nationals of Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia can obtain an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) instead of a Direct Airside Transit visa, provided the EVW is used strictly in accordance with the rules. However, these nationals will soon need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead of an EVW.

If you are a Canadian citizen, you do not need a transit visa as long as your layover is less than 24 hours and you are not planning to leave the airport. Similarly, if you have a valid visa for Canada, New Zealand, Australia, or the USA, you do not need a transit visa.

To find out if you need a visa, you can use the UK government's 'Check if you need a UK visa' page.

Visa exemptions

Whether or not you need a visa to transit through the UK depends on several factors, including your nationality, the airport you are transiting through, and whether or not you need to go through border control or enter the UK.

If you are transiting through Heathrow or Manchester Airport and do not pass through border control, you do not need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) thanks to a temporary exemption in place from 16 January 2025. This is known as airside transit, where travellers can remain in the airport's international transit area.

If you are a Canadian citizen, you do not need a transit visa for the UK, even if you are passing through border control, as long as your onward flight leaves within 48 hours or two calendar days.

If you have a valid Irish biometric visa (marked 'BC' or 'BC BIVS' in the 'Remarks' section), you are exempt from needing a transit visa for the UK.

Additionally, if you are transiting to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or Ireland, you may need to apply for a visitor visa, unless you are exempt.

Border control

Direct Airside Transit Visa:

If you are transiting through a UK airport and will not leave the international transit area, you may need a Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV). This type of visa is required if you need to change airports or check-in luggage for a connecting flight, as these actions would involve passing through UK border control. The DATV is valid for up to 24 hours and allows you to remain in the airport's international transit area.

Visitor in Transit Visa:

If you need to pass through UK border control during your layover, you may require a Visitor in Transit Visa. This visa is necessary if you plan to leave the airport and enter the UK for a short period, as long as your stay is less than 48 hours. The visa costs £64, although the price may vary slightly depending on your country of origin.

Exemptions:

Some nationalities are exempt from obtaining a transit visa for a UK airport layover. For example, citizens of Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the USA can transit through a UK airport without a separate visa as long as they have a valid visa for their destination country. Additionally, nationals of Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia may be eligible for an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which is a new security system being introduced in the UK.

Airline Information:

It is important to check with your airline to confirm whether you will need to pass through UK border control during your layover. Airlines can provide information about the specific requirements for your journey and advise you on the necessary visas or exemptions.

Visa Application:

If you determine that you need a transit visa for your layover in a London airport, you can apply for the appropriate visa through the UK government's website or the UK ETA app. The application process typically involves providing personal information and may require supporting documents. It is recommended to apply for the visa well in advance of your travel date to ensure smooth processing.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a new requirement for people who do not need a visa to enter the UK for short stays. It is a digital permission to travel and is electronically linked to the passport used during the application. An ETA costs £10 and is valid for multiple journeys to the UK for up to six months at a time or two years, whichever is sooner, or until the holder's passport expires.

British and Irish citizens do not require an ETA. People who are legally resident in Ireland and from a nationality that does not usually require a visa to visit the UK (e.g. EU, EEA, Swiss, and US nationals) also do not require an ETA when travelling to the UK from within the Common Travel Area (CTA). The CTA facilitates the movement of people between the UK, the Crown Dependencies, and Ireland. There are no immigration controls on the Ireland-Northern Ireland land border.

Nationals of Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates need an ETA to travel to the UK. This scheme has replaced the Electronic Visa Waiver scheme (EVW).

The ETA scheme will give the UK a comprehensive understanding of those travelling to the country and the ability to prevent the travel of those who pose a threat, including those who are transiting through UK airports. Individuals applying for an ETA must provide their biographic, biometric, and contact details, and answer a short set of suitability questions.

Frequently asked questions