Transit visa through Gatwick
My wife is an Azeri national and we will arrive in Gatwick and have to claim baggage and change terminals. When I booked the flight turkish airlines flew to North terminal but have since changed to South. My connecting flight is with BA from North terminal.
I am a British citizen. We are due to transit Gatwick on Tuesday leaving no time for visa applications. I wasn't aware the Turkish had changed terminals until last Thursday when I flew back to Istanbul from Gatwick.
Is there any way that border control will let us through?
Our connecting flight is 3 hours after arrival at gatwick
Best Answer
The inter-terminal shuttle at Gatwick is airside, and will take you to the other terminal without clearing border control. The shuttle takes about two minutes and will add nothing significant to your transit time. So the change of terminals makes no difference.
However you say you have to collect bags. I presume from this that you bags are not checked through to your final destination. According to Gatwick this means you will have to clear border control. This means your wife cannot automatically make transit without visa - and this would have been true even if you hadn't had to change terminals (link above). There are circumstances under which she can make a transit without visa, even if she has to clear customs - see this page (Although be aware that the details of the regulations may have changed)
If you do not have to collect your bags and clear border control then you will be fine. If you have to collect bags and clear border control she may need a visa. The change of terminal makes no difference.
Follow the links at this question to find out about visa requirements.
Pictures about "Transit visa through Gatwick"
Can you transit through Gatwick Airport?
There is an international transit facility at London Gatwick including airside transfer between terminals. However you can only use it if both flights are on the same ticket. Otherwise you must cross the UK border and travel landside between the terminals.Do you need a visa when taking a connecting flight?
Re: Do I Need A Visa For A Connecting Flight Through The US? Yes. There is no transit at US airports and you will need to clear both Immigration and Customs at your first point of entry into the US regardless. You will need either an ESTA or a 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.UK Transit Visitor Visa 2022 and UK Airside Transit Visa 2022 Requirements and Eligibility
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Tim Samuel, Brian James, Sinitta Leunen, Владимир Васильев