Do I need a UK ETA for a layover at Heathrow?

The short answer

GOV.UK says you need an ETA if you are passing through border control at a UK airport before continuing your onward journey. The official page does not spell out the position for passengers who stay airside, so confirm with your airline before you fly.

What GOV.UK says about transit

The official ETA transit guidance states that you need an ETA if you are passing through border control at a UK airport before continuing your onward journey. That is the test it applies: whether you will go through UK border control, not simply whether you change planes in the UK.

The page does not describe airside transit directly, and it does not mention transit visas. It says most visitors need either an ETA or a visa, depending on nationality and the purpose of the trip, and it links to a visa checker.

• If your connection means you will go through UK border control, GOV.UK says an ETA is needed.
• If you are unsure, the page says to check with your airline.
• UKVI does not handle ETA enquiries by phone, so the page points to the UKVI webchat.

Fee and validity

The page gives the ETA fee as £20 and says an ETA lets you travel to the UK for up to 6 months. It warns that other websites may charge more and that you should avoid sites that imitate government services.

Who does not need one

The page says people with a British or Irish passport, or with permission to live, work or study in the UK, do not need an ETA, and it links to a separate page with the full list of exemptions. The page does not set out different rules for US, UK or EU travellers, so check your own nationality on the official pages.

Before you travel

Rules and fees change, so check the official GOV.UK ETA page and your airline's guidance before you book a layover at Heathrow.

Sources: GOV.UK: UK ETA and transit. Read 5 November 2026. Rules and fees change, so check the official page before you travel.

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