ETA UK Transit: Do You Need an ETA for a Layover?
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Is an ETA UK transit authorisation required when you only change planes in Britain? It depends on whether you leave the secure area of the airport. This guide explains the rules so you can book your connection with confidence.
When no ETA is needed for a connection
According to the government, you do not need an ETA if you change flights at London Heathrow or Manchester and stay airside (an ETA UK airside connection), which means that you never go through UK border control. In that case an eta uk layover is possible without any authorisation, provided you are not required to hold a transit visa for your nationality.
In practice this applies when your bags are checked through to the final destination, when your onward flight leaves from the same airport and when you stay in the international departures area for the whole stopover.
When you do need an ETA UK transit authorisation
An ETA is needed as soon as you pass through border control, even for a few hours. Typical cases are:
- you must collect your luggage and check in again for the next flight;
- your connection leaves from another airport, for example from Gatwick after landing at Heathrow;
- you leave the airport to visit London during a long ETA UK layover;
- you arrive by train or ferry, where the operator checks the authorisation before boarding.
If one of these situations applies, treat the stopover like a normal visit: you need an ETA if your nationality can travel without a visa, or a visa if it cannot. For details on nationalities, read the page on ETA UK countries.
Airside stopovers: what the term means
An ETA UK airside rule only works while you stay in the secure part. Airside is the secure part of the airport that you reach after the security check, before arrivals and border control. A passenger who stays airside does not enter the United Kingdom. This is why an ETA UK airside connection does not require an authorisation, and why an ETA UK airside stopover is the main exemption. Two details matter: separate tickets can force you to leave the secure area, and a missed connection may oblige you to pass the border to rebook. Many travellers prefer to apply anyway, to avoid a problem on a day when plans change.
ETA UK layover: how to check your own situation
- Write down your route and the duration of the layover: airports, terminals, airline and ticket type.
- Ask your airline whether your bags are checked through.
- Use the government tool Check if you need a UK visa, which includes transit questions.
- Apply early if there is any doubt.
The rules are published at gov.uk/eta.
Applying when you need one
If your layover requires an ETA UK transit authorisation, you can start your ETA UK application online in about two minutes. The price is from €83 per traveller with the £20 government fee included, and the decision usually arrives within a day, up to 3 working days. Families should also read the page on the ETA UK for children, and Americans can check the rules for US citizens. If a decision is negative, see what to do when an ETA UK is rejected.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an ETA at Heathrow for a connection?
Not if you stay airside and do not go through border control. If you enter the country, you need one.
Does an eta uk layover at Manchester follow the same rule?
Yes. The airside exemption applies to Heathrow and Manchester.
What about transit at other UK airports?
Check the government tool before you book, as the exemption is described for Heathrow and Manchester only.
Can a missed connection change the situation?
Possibly. If you must pass the border to rebook, you could need an ETA at that moment, so many travellers apply in advance.
Is a transit visa the same as an ETA?
No. Some nationalities need a transit visa instead. The government tool tells you which document applies.