Heathrow airport - Long transit? Staying in hotels

[arhue]

No you must do your covid testing in London. 2 hours in unlikely to be enough time to do testing and I don’t believe they offer PCR testing in transit area. You’ll need to verify with BA whether there are PCR testing centres available in the transit area and how long does it take to get results. Without proof of the negative PCR test you should be denied boarding in London.

There is an exemption for landside transits. I successfully used it and didn't have to quarantine or get tested or show vaccine proof.

 

[arhue]

Does your spouse have a visa to enter the UK?

No visa needed if you're flying to Canada and transit period is <24 hours.

 

[canuck78]

There is an exemption for landside transits. I successfully used it and didn't have to quarantine or get tested or show vaccine proof.

That explains why the flights coming in from London make up a large portion of flights arriving with covid.

 

[airforce1907]

you don't need a transit visa for the uk if you have a canada visa and if you want to leave the airport

 

[ncrohith]

@arhue I got a couple of questions for you since I'm planning a similar journey soon. Please provide your comments.
I'm planning for BLR-LHR-YYZ itinerary. Indian passport with a Canadian PR.

1. When did you transit through LHR?
2. What was your travel itinerary?
3. BA site (https://www.britishairways.com/en-ca/information/incident/coronavirus/entry-requirements#requirements) says that as per the air bubble agreement with India, they allow Indians only to travel to UK if their final destination is UK unless they have a foreign spouse. Did BA employees raise this issue when you boarded from India since your final destination was Canada?
4. Canada site (https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/india) says Indians need to take a COVID test from the third country. How did you manage this restriction when you boarded the flight from LHR and went through Border security in Canada?

 

[arhue]

@ncrohith
1. 2 months back
2. Russia to Canada via Heathrow, about 17 hour layover
3. I didn't board from India. I spent 3 weeks in Russia, but I guess you could try going via there with a smaller layover. The air bubble arrangement could be an issue.
4. I did the Covid test in Russia.

 

[ncrohith]

@ncrohith
1. 2 months back
2. Russia to Canada via Heathrow, about 17 hour layover
3. I didn't board from India. I spent 3 weeks in Russia, but I guess you could try going via there with a smaller layover. The air bubble arrangement could be an issue.
4. I did the Covid test in Russia.

Thank you for your reply.

 

[ncrohith]

Good day

Has anyone had a long transit through Heathrow and rested in the nearby hotels? We will be in transit in Heathrow Airport for 12 hours.

As permanent residents of Canada, did you require a visa to get day rooms in hotel nearby (sofitel, novotel, holiday inn) which is just outside the terminals?

Thank you

@shadowtwixy Did you make this travel? Can you please share your itinerary?

 

[shadowtwixy]

@shadowtwixy Did you make this travel? Can you please share your itinerary?

I have not travelled yet.

 

[lukeortolani]

@ncrohith
1. 2 months back
2. Russia to Canada via Heathrow, about 17 hour layover
3. I didn't board from India. I spent 3 weeks in Russia, but I guess you could try going via there with a smaller layover. The air bubble arrangement could be an issue.
4. I did the Covid test in Russia.

Hi,

I'm Indian, going from Toronto to Mumbai and stopping over in Heathrow for 15 hours, flight departs the same day. Can I go out of the airport provided I have the Canadian PR card?

 

[steaky]

Hi,

I'm Indian, going from Toronto to Mumbai and stopping over in Heathrow for 15 hours, flight departs the same day. Can I go out of the airport provided I have the Canadian PR card?

Unless you have a visa, you can't exit the airport for fresh air. Apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

 

[alok4best]

Hi,

I'm Indian, going from Toronto to Mumbai and stopping over in Heathrow for 15 hours, flight departs the same day. Can I go out of the airport provided I have the Canadian PR card?

You can stay airside for those 15 hours without any problem. Since your connecting flight is from the same airport, there is no need to cross passport control unless you want to go out.
Typically you need a VISA if you need to cross passport control.
However, there have been some changes in recent years, and you might be able to cross passport control without needing a transit VISA.
To be safe, I would still suggest getting a VISA if you plan to cross passport control.
https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y/india/transit/somewhere_else/yes

 

[lukeortolani]

Unless you have a visa, you can't exit the airport for fresh air. Apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-visitor-transit-without-visa-scheme
https://www.reddit.com/r/ukvisa/comments/12sp32j
I need a visa even though I fulfill that criteria? So confused by this :/

 

[armoured]

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-visitor-transit-without-visa-scheme
https://www.reddit.com/r/ukvisa/comments/12sp32j
I need a visa even though I fulfill that criteria? So confused by this :/

My understanding is you can go landside.

 

[subodhp]

Tried this successfully at the start of this year. As others have said, with Canadian pr and departure and arrival on SAME day (not just <24 hours), you MAY be given a same day transit visa stamp without needing to apply for a specific visa before hand. But there are two caveats
1. This is purely at officers discretion. So you cannot plan for it, an officer might just refuse you and there is no way to dispute that.
2. This is meant for transit and cannot be used to say visit London attractions during a long layover.

So if you MUST exit airport, better get a visa beforehand. But if you are going to be in airport already and want to try your luck, ask an officer politely if you may exit airport for a transit hotel. And hope that officer is convinced.