Changing planes in the UK (ETA)
If you are connecting through a UK airport, you need an ETA if you pass through UK border control. Airside transit, where you stay in the international area, is currently exempt. This guide explains when a transit ETA is required and when you can transit without one.
- Section
- ETA
- Reading time
- 7 min
- Last checked
- 9 June 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- You need an ETA for transit only if you pass through UK border control (landside).
- An ETA covers both airside and landside transit if you have one.
- Airside transit without passing through border control does not need an ETA. Check with your airline if unsure.
- If you need to change airports (landside), you always need an ETA.
Travellers transiting through the UK need an ETA, if their nationality requires one, only when they pass through UK border control (landside). GOV.UK lists airside transit without passing through border control as a case where no ETA is needed. This guide explains the rules and exceptions.
Understanding UK Transit
Transit through the UK means passing through a UK airport on your way to another country. There are two types:
- Airside transit. You stay within the airport's international transit area and do not pass through UK border control. Your bags are checked through to your final destination.
- Landside transit. You pass through UK border control — for example, because you need to change airports (Heathrow to Gatwick), collect baggage and re-check it, or your flight arrives on a different day.
When You Need an ETA for Transit
If your nationality is on the ETA countries list, you need an ETA for landside transit: GOV.UK says you need one if you are passing through border control at a UK airport before continuing your onward journey. An ETA also allows you to leave the airport if you wish.
If you are a national of a visa-required country (not on the ETA list), you may need a separate transit visa instead.
Exceptions
GOV.UK lists transiting through a UK airport without passing through border control (airside) as a case where you do not need an ETA, and says to check with your airline if you are not sure. The Home Office has described this airside exemption as temporary and under review, so it may change. Check the GOV.UK visa checker for your specific nationality and circumstances. You should also confirm with your airline, as carriers check travel documents before boarding.
Changing Airports
If your journey requires you to change airports in the UK (for example, arriving at Heathrow and departing from Gatwick or Stansted), you must pass through UK border control. This means you definitely need an ETA (or a visa if your nationality requires one).
How to Get an ETA for Transit
The process is the same as for a regular visit. See our ETA application process guide. The cost is £20 and it is valid for 2 years, so it covers future transits as well.
At the Airport
Airlines will check your ETA status before boarding. At the UK airport:
- If transiting airside, follow the "International Connections" or "Flight Connections" signs
- If transiting landside (or if you wish to leave the airport), go through UK border control
What If My ETA Is Refused?
If your ETA is refused, you will not be able to transit through the UK. You will need to:
- Book a route that does not transit the UK
- Or apply for a transit visa if your nationality allows it
Do I Need an ETA If...
- I have a connecting flight on the same ticket? Yes if you pass through UK border control and your nationality requires an ETA. Not if you stay airside; check with your airline.
- I am staying less than 24 hours? The duration of your transit does not affect the requirement. What matters is whether you pass through border control.
- I already have a visa for my destination country? Having a visa for another country does not exempt you from the UK ETA requirement.
- I am a child? Yes, children need their own ETA.
Common Travel Area
If you are travelling between the UK and Ireland, note that the Common Travel Area (CTA) means there are normally no passport controls between the two countries. However, you should still have valid travel documents. See our Ireland-UK travel guide.
Next Steps
If you are transiting the UK, apply for your ETA before booking flights. Apply through GOV.UK.
Related guides:
Questions and answers
Do I need an ETA to transit through the UK?
If your nationality requires an ETA, you need one when you pass through UK border control (landside transit). GOV.UK says you do not need an ETA if you are transiting through a UK airport without passing through border control (airside), and to check with your airline if you are not sure.
Can I leave the airport during a UK transit?
If you have an ETA, you can leave the airport during your transit since the ETA allows entry to the UK for up to 6 months. If you only have a transit visa, you must remain in the transit area.
How long can I stay in the UK on transit with an ETA?
With an ETA, you can technically stay up to 6 months as a visitor. However, if you are only transiting, border officials may ask about your plans. If your purpose is genuinely transit, a brief stop is expected.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.