Do I need a transit visa at UK - Heathrow Airport ? - Belgium forum

Do I need a transit visa at UK - Heathrow Airport ?

GuestUser567Guest07 February 2019 11:39:34

Hello All,

Do I need a transit visa at UK - Heathrow Airport while traveling from Belgium to India for a short period?

I am an Indian citizen but working in Antwerp, Belgium on B type work permit. I have a Belgium resident permit ( not visa ) and I am planning a short trip to India for 2 weeks.

Unfortunately, there is no direct flight to Mumbai from Brussels in April. I am planning to book the connecting return flight via London which is more convenient for me but I am not sure about the transit visa.

Pls share the experience if anyone has already traveled via Heathrow Airport to India.

Thanks in advance.

AlexFromBelgium Animateur Belgique EN/FR

Member since 28 January 2018

AlexFromBelgiumAnimateur Belgique EN/FR07 February 2019 13:22:46

1739

Well, if you need to pick up your luggages to register on another fly at Heathrow and/or leave the international zone, yes, you'll need a visa...

You should call the embassy of UK in Brussels. They'll give you the right information you need.

aneesh Belgium Expert

Member since 11 April 2010

aneeshBelgium Expert07 February 2019 14:04:00

2002

Indeed, and worth checking with your airline to be doublesure. Based on what I know if you have an electronic residence permit card issued by an European Economic Area (EEA) member nation, you dont need a transit visa to "change planes" in Heathrow.

Currylover Serial expat

Member since 06 August 2016

CurryloverSerial expat07 February 2019 19:27:02

272

Well done Aneeshks.
Just make sure you really are doing Air in and air out of the limited number of airports where you can do this in the UK.
It's known as TWOVing - transit without visa.
The guidance that Border Force staff use at the UK Border are fully open. You can read the TWOV guidance here page 20.
If you are going through Heathrow and in and out the same terminal and baggage is checked though, heck you're not going to even get a chance to get a TWOV stamp.

GuestUser567 Guest

GuestUser567Guest11 February 2019 07:31:53

Thanks, guys for the answers.

I think I don't need a transit visa as I have a connecting flight from the same airport and I have a common format residence permit issued by a European Economic Area (EEA) country ( as per the Exemptions guidelines available on the ) .

Below is the flight details -

听听BRU 07:05听听听听听听听听听听 --->听听1h 15mLHR 07:20听听听听听听听
听听13 Apr' 19, Sat听听听听听听听听听听听 13 Apr' 19, Sat
听听Brussels, Belgium听听听听听听听听听London - Heathrow Apt, United Kingdom

听

听听 LHR 10:05听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 ---->听 9h 20mBOM 23:55
听听13 Apr' 19, Sat听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听13 Apr' 19, Sat
听听London - Heathrow Apt, United Kingdom听听听听听听 Mumbai, India