Transit visa requirements for Multi-Leg flights through Heathrow
I am planning a holiday trip to EU before heading home for my vacation in India.
I am an Indian Citizen and am currently on an F1 visa. I am using my tax money to travel to Germany to meet my friend during August-September.
I have booked British Airways, where I fly from San Diego to London with 2.40-hour halt in Heathrow and London to Munich, Germany. I will be in Germany little less than 2 weeks before I head to India. My flight back is, Munich, Germany to London with 4 hours connecting in Heathrow and London to Chennai, India. My last leg of the flight is from Chennai, India to San Diego, USA via Heathrow (3-hour halt).
Leg 1: SAN-LHR-MUC: Won't need a visa as I am traveling from the USA.
Leg 2: MUC-LHR-MAA: Do I need to DATV for my transit in London. I will not be leaving the airside.
Leg 3: MAA-LHR-SAN: I don't need a transit visa as I am traveling to UK to the USA with a valid visa.
I have my Schengen visa for the trip Do I need to get DATV for Leg 2 of my flight? I called up British Airways and they said, I don't have more than 24 hours of transit, so I don't need a visa but the UK visa and immigration page says something different.
Any help would be appreciated… I don't want to miss my connection or pay more money if I can get a hassle-free vacation with just additional $68 for the DATV.
P.S The whole trip is done in a single booking.
UPDATE: BRITISH AIRWAYS, as usual, wasn't very helpful nor was the email from the British embassy. I applied for the DAT visa and awaiting the decision, Will update the post when I get the visa. I shall also update this post with the DAT visa process.
UPDATE: 29th July: DAT VISA approved and got a multileg entry for 6 months.
Best Answer
I think your interpretation is correct. At least the MUC-LHR-MAA journey, if booked separately, does not seem to fall under any of the exemptions listed on the official website.
If in doubt, the government website is obviously more authoritative than the airline but on the other hand the airline has to check people's documentation before letting them board a flight and would have experience with the fine points of the rules. In any case, if the time and money involved are no objections, applying for a visa cannot hurt.
EDIT: The document you found offers an example that does suggest you could do the whole trip without transit visa, provided it's all part of the same booking:
The passengers are usually returning to their place of residence from a visit to one of the four countries listed above. They do not need to be travelling in direct transit to their final destination and side visits may be made (for example: Los Angeles – London Heathrow –Madrid – London Heathrow –Mumbai provided the passenger is assured of entry to the country being visited on the side trip - in this example Spain). Entry must be assured - a Category “C” Schengen visit visa would be sufficient. The entire journey must be part of a single journey to the passenger?s final destination. Breaks are however allowed in the journey provided all the travel is part of the same booking.
Your US visa must also still be valid.
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Is transit visa required for connecting flight in Heathrow?
You're going through UK border controlApply for a Visitor in Transit visa if you'll be going through UK border control but leaving the UK within 48 hours. You'll need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa if: you need to stay longer in the UK. you can prove you need to frequently pass through the UK over a longer ...Do you need a transit visa for connecting flights?
A connecting flight follows a route from point A to point B with a stop in point C (in this case, you will need a transit visa).Do I have to go through immigration for a connecting flight in London?
Can I meet someone who's transferring flights? Unfortunately it's not possible for you to go through customs and passport control to meet the person transferring flights unless you're also checked-in for a flight leaving that airport terminal that day.Do transit passengers need visa?
A transit visa allows you to pass through the border controls of the country you plan to transit in to board your outbound flight or boat. You cannot stay in the country, however. For example, you may be required to get a transit visa if: You are changing transport in a country to travel to another destination.UK Transit Visitor Visa 2022 and UK Airside Transit Visa 2022 Requirements and Eligibility
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