Does Heathrow Terminal 5 allow transit visa exempt flyers to stay airside overnight?
I found lots of evidence that Heathrow is not closed overnight and that passengers without a visa who are transiting through the airport can hang out overnight air side to catch their connecting flights the following morning.
Between 11:30pm and 6am Heathrow is restricted by the Government to 5,800 night-time take-offs and landings a year. There is also a night quota limit, which caps the amount of noise the airport can make at night. Around 80% of the night flights at Heathrow are between 4.30-6am with on average around 16 aircraft are scheduled to arrive each day between these hours. Heathrow also has a voluntary ban in place that prevents flights scheduled between 4:30am-6am from landing before 4:30am. We also do not schedule any departures between 11pm and 6am.
My question specifically is whether this is allowed if you're flying into and from Terminal 5 without a transit visa (being exempt from the transit visa requirement) and your connecting flight leaves the following morning?
Best Answer
I don't know what evidence you have found. Terminal 5 airside is not open overnight. It closes after the last flight of the day and reopens the next morning. You will not be able to get into the T5 airside area without a same day boarding pass.
If your connecting flight is the next day you may be entitled to pass through immigration and come back the next day, even if you would normally require a visa for this, this depends on exactly which passport you hold.
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Can you stay overnight Heathrow Terminal 5?
My answer is: no. You cannot stay airside at Heathrow Airport overnight. You can however remain in the public areas and try and sleep (I wouldn't, as I would worry about my belongings getting stolen).Can you stay airside overnight at Heathrow?
If you have an early morning flight or a connecting flight with a long layover, the London Heathrow airport offers facilities that make it possible for you to stay overnight without having to book for a hotel outside the grounds. All terminals remain open 24 hours a day and are connected to each other by buses.How long can you stay airside?
How Long Can You Stay at an Airport Lounge? In most airport lounges, you're allowed to stay for 2-3 hours before departure or after landing. Some also offer extended stays for upwards of 5 hours. That said, these time limits are rarely enforced.Can I leave Heathrow Airport during a layover without visa?
Yes, you can leave the airport during a layover, provided your passport allows you visa-free entry to the country you're in and you have enough time between flights.More answers regarding does Heathrow Terminal 5 allow transit visa exempt flyers to stay airside overnight?
Answer 2
As stated in Timatic, the database used by airlines:
Transit without a visa: Nationals of [insert country] holding confirmed onward tickets making an airside transit at London Gatwick (LGW), London Heathrow (LHR) or Manchester (MAN) on the same calendar day to a third country (excluding Ireland (Rep.)).
Meaning, yes, the transit area does close overnight and you would need to enter the UK.
However, a passport and Canadian permanent resident card will be enough to enter the UK for an overnight connection (you can stay until 23:59 the next day), regardless of nationality.
So at the end of the day, barring other complications, the person concerned will be fine.
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