Airport connection planning
Find official UK airport transit visa guidance
Use passport authority and expected airside or landside transfer details to reach current GOV.UK transit visa and ETA guidance. This source finder does not determine eligibility.
Use this source finder to organize an airport transit question and open current UK government guidance. It does not decide whether you need a visa, ETA, or may board or enter.
Enter the passport authority and choose what you expect to do at the UK airport. If unsure, select “I am not sure.”
Your entries stay in this browser and are not submitted to this site. The UK government checker requires your own answers and may ask for details not collected here. Ask your airline whether you will pass border control, especially if baggage, terminals, airports, or separate tickets are involved.
How to use the official checks
- Confirm whether your itinerary is airside or requires passing through UK border control. GOV.UK defines airside as leaving on the connection without passing UK border control; landside means passing through border control. The airline can tell you which applies to your transfer.
- Open the UK visa checker and answer using the exact passport you will travel with, your transit details, and destination. This page only prepares links; it does not submit your answers or infer the result.
- Read the specific Direct Airside Transit or Visitor in Transit guidance if relevant. Rules can also depend on your nationality, documents, route, and exemptions. Check current instructions with the UK authorities and your carrier before travel.
A connection to Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man can have different rules from a journey to another destination. Check the official guidance for the exact route.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: Layovers and transiting through a UK airport (airside/landside definitions and visa/ETA check; checked 3 Nov 2026)
- GOV.UK: Check if you need a UK visa (official interactive checker; checked 3 Nov 2026)
- GOV.UK: Visa to pass through the UK in transit (overview and route to visa types; checked 3 Nov 2026)
- GOV.UK: Direct Airside Transit visa (when not passing UK border control; checked 3 Nov 2026)
- GOV.UK: Visitor in Transit visa (when passing UK border control; checked 3 Nov 2026)
- GOV.UK: When you do not need an ETA (includes airside transit information; checked 3 Nov 2026)
UK entry, transit visa and ETA requirements can change and depend on individual circumstances. Confirm the current result with GOV.UK and your carrier.
How it works
Enter the passport-issuing authority, airport and onward destination, then select whether you expect to pass UK border control. Use the linked GOV.UK checker with your complete itinerary and confirm transfer details with your airline.
Good to know
Does this finder tell me whether I need a UK transit visa or ETA?
No. It organizes official starting links only. GOV.UK must assess your passport, route, transfer details, documents and any exemptions.
How do I know if my connection is airside or landside?
GOV.UK describes airside transit as leaving on a connecting journey without passing UK border control, and landside transit as passing through border control. Ask your airline about your exact airport, baggage and ticket arrangement if unsure.
Does an airside transfer always mean no permission is needed?
No. UK requirements depend on individual circumstances and can include transit visa or ETA questions. Use the official checker and current GOV.UK guidance for your itinerary.
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