There are 2 types of transit through a UK airport while on the way to another country:
- ‘airside’ – you do not pass through UK border control before you leave on your connecting journey.
- ‘landside’ – you do pass through UK border control, but come back through it and leave the UK within a short amount of time (usually 24 hours).
Visa Requirements for Transits
You may need a visa to transit the UK. The visa you need depends on whether you’re going through UK border control when you arrive in the UK. Your airline can tell you if you’ll go through border control. Further information can be found: https://www.gov.uk/transit-visa
- If changing flights in the UK and not going through UK border control, a Direct Airside Transit visa is required https://www.gov.uk/transit-visa/direct-airside-transit-visa
- If going through UK border control but leaving the UK within 48 hours via a different flight or airport or checking in luggage for a connecting flight, a Visitor in Transit visa is required https://www.gov.uk/transit-visa/visitor-in-transit-visa
Security Screening and Transits
Everyone who boards an aircraft departing from a UK airport has to be security screened to UK government standards. Even if a passenger has already been through security checks at another airport, there is an obligation to conduct another screening before departing the UK.
Please see the Airports & Ports: Exemption from Security Screening on Departure section for guidance on how to request exemption from security screening for those eligible.