UK ETA Transit Requirements: Do You Need an ETA for Connecting Flights?
Many travelers connect through UK airports on their way to other destinations. Whether you need a UK ETA for transit depends on your specific routing, which airport you're using, and whether you'll pass through UK passport control. This guide explains the transit rules to help you determine your requirements.
Important: Transit rules are subject to change. The current airside exemption at Heathrow and Manchester is temporary. Always verify requirements before booking transit itineraries through the UK.
Types of Transit
Understanding the difference between airside and landside transit is essential for determining whether you need a UK ETA:
Airside Transit (International Zone)
Airside transit means remaining within the airport's international zone without passing through UK passport control. You stay "airside" throughout your connection – arriving at an international gate, walking through the transit area, and departing from another international gate without entering the UK.
Current Rule: Airside transit at Heathrow and Manchester airports is currently EXEMPT from ETA requirements for visa-exempt nationals. This exemption is temporary and may change.
Landside Transit
Landside transit involves passing through UK passport control and entering the UK, even briefly. This includes situations where you need to collect luggage, change terminals via landside routes, leave the airport for any reason, or connect at airports without airside transit facilities.
Current Rule: Landside transit REQUIRES a UK ETA. If you pass through UK immigration at any point, you need authorization.
Transit Requirements by Airport
| Airport | Airside Transit Available | ETA for Airside Transit | ETA for Landside Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow | Yes (between some terminals) | Currently EXEMPT | REQUIRED |
| Manchester | Yes | Currently EXEMPT | REQUIRED |
| London Gatwick | Limited | Usually REQUIRED | REQUIRED |
| London Stansted | No | N/A | REQUIRED |
| London Luton | No | N/A | REQUIRED |
| Birmingham | No | N/A | REQUIRED |
| Edinburgh | No | N/A | REQUIRED |
| Other UK Airports | Generally No | N/A | REQUIRED |
Heathrow Transit Details
London Heathrow is the UK's busiest airport and a major international hub. Understanding its transit options is particularly important:
Terminal Connections
Heathrow has four terminals (2, 3, 4, and 5). Airside connections are possible between some terminals but not all combinations. Terminals 2 and 3 are connected airside. Terminal 5 (British Airways hub) has some airside connections. Terminal 4 often requires landside transit to reach other terminals.
When Airside Transit Works
- Arriving and departing from the same terminal
- Connecting between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3
- Some Terminal 5 connections (depends on specific flights)
- Checked baggage transfers automatically between flights
When Landside Transit is Required
- Connections involving Terminal 4 and other terminals
- Collecting checked baggage and re-checking
- Changing airlines without interline agreements
- Overnight connections requiring hotel stay
- Any connection requiring you to leave the airport
Scenarios Requiring an ETA
Scenario 1: Collecting Checked Luggage
If your baggage is not automatically transferred between flights and you need to collect it, clear customs, and re-check, you must pass through UK immigration. An ETA is required regardless of how briefly you're in the UK.
Scenario 2: Changing Terminals Landside
Some terminal changes require exiting to the landside area. At Heathrow, free inter-terminal trains connect terminals, but using these means passing through immigration. You need an ETA.
Scenario 3: Separate Tickets
If your flights are booked separately (not as a through-ticket), you typically need to collect baggage and re-check. This requires entering the UK and therefore an ETA.
Scenario 4: Long Layover with Hotel Stay
If you're staying overnight at an airport hotel or leaving the airport during a long layover, you're entering the UK and need an ETA.
Scenario 5: Connecting at Non-Transit Airports
Airports like Stansted, Luton, and most regional UK airports don't have international transit facilities. Any connection requires immigration clearance and an ETA.
When an ETA is NOT Required (Currently)
You may be exempt from ETA requirements for transit if ALL of the following apply:
- You're transiting through Heathrow or Manchester specifically
- You remain in the international/airside area throughout
- You don't pass through UK passport control
- Your luggage transfers automatically
- You're from an ETA-eligible (visa-exempt) nationality
- Your connecting flights permit airside transfer
When in Doubt, Apply: The UK ETA costs only £16 and is valid for 2 years. If there's any uncertainty about your routing or connection requirements, applying for an ETA eliminates risk and provides flexibility if your plans change.
Frequently Asked Transit Questions
Recommendations for Transit Passengers
- Contact your airline: Before booking, ask specifically about transit requirements for your routing. Airlines know whether connections can be made airside.
- Book through-tickets when possible: Single bookings with automatic baggage transfer reduce the likelihood of needing to pass through immigration.
- Consider applying anyway: The £16 ETA fee is modest insurance against unexpected routing changes, flight disruptions, or the desire to leave the airport during long layovers.
- Allow sufficient connection time: If you might need to clear immigration (even unexpectedly due to delays), ensure your layover allows time for passport control.
- Stay informed: Transit rules may change. Check current requirements close to your travel date.