Pakistani national, valid US permanent resident card/green card, transiting through Heathrow Airport, do they need Direct Airside Transit Visa?

[letmein 0]

The title is the question. I'm seeing some unclear instructions online. The passenger is a Pakistani national (Pak. Passport holder), currently residing in the US as a permanent resident (Green Card holder), traveling from the US to Heathrow airport and then on to the final destination in Lahore, Pakistan. The transit at Heathrow is merely a few hours (less than 5-6 hours), and then boarding the flight to Lahore, Pakistan. Flying via British Airways.

 

Do they need to apply for a transit visa before travelling in March 2025 through Heathrow Airport? Has anyone gone through a similar scenario, and what's been your experience? Thank you so much!

 

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong forum, as I wasn't able to find a specific forum for travelling internationally for GC holders.

[appleblossom 2,960]

1 hour ago, letmein said:

The title is the question. I'm seeing some unclear instructions online. The passenger is a Pakistani national (Pak. Passport holder), currently residing in the US as a permanent resident (Green Card holder), traveling from the US to Heathrow airport and then on to the final destination in Lahore, Pakistan. The transit at Heathrow is merely a few hours (less than 5-6 hours), and then boarding the flight to Lahore, Pakistan. Flying via British Airways.

 

Do they need to apply for a transit visa before travelling in March 2025 through Heathrow Airport? Has anyone gone through a similar scenario, and what's been your experience? Thank you so much!

 

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong forum, as I wasn't able to find a specific forum for travelling internationally for GC holders.

Sounds like it, but double check it here - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa

[OldUser 7,308]

Yes, you need transit visa. I'd pick a different connection

[Lemonslice 4,960]

Check with your airline if you’ll pass through border control, many (most?) international travelers in transit do not.  I know I have picked flights because of the transit airport configuration (it is much less of a hassle to transit without border control and having to re-check the luggage). 

 

If the airline confirms that you will not pass through border control, then you do not need a Direct Airside Transit visa if you have a valid USA permanent residence card.

 

The website listed by @appleblossom will have the answer: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa

[nastra30 2,328]

Op, if you asking because you think the new UK ETA rules for US citizens and other visa-exempt countries also brought new rules for US LPR, then I'll say you are in luck. Currently, US LPR airside transiting through UK don't need transit visas; for now that will stay the same so I suspect you won't need a transit visa with your greencard (issued 1998+) if you won't be going through border control. 

Specifically for transiting through UK, GC holders have a better deal than USC ; US citizens will need ETA but GC holder wouldn't need ETA or transit visa. I guess the UK trusts that the US has throughly vetted GC holders and will share info with them regarding bad apples.

Edited 18 hours ago by nastra30

[Gabriel5454 21]

According to this source they do not need a transit visa as long as their green card is valid.

[nastra30 2,328]

15 hours ago, nastra30 said:

Specifically for transiting through UK, GC holders have a better deal than USC ; US citizens will need ETA but GC holder wouldn't need ETA or transit visa.

Just announced today. UK govt backtracks on visa-exempt countries from requiring ETA for airside transit.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-steps-for-a-more-efficient-immigration-system

"The introduction of ETAs is in line with the approach to border security taken by many other countries, including the USA and Australia.

However, following feedback from the aviation industry, the government has agreed a temporary exemption for passengers who transit airside, and therefore do not pass through UK border control.

This move will primarily affect Heathrow and Manchester airports, as the only UK airports which currently offer transit facilities. The exemption will be kept under review."

[letmein 0]

22 hours ago, appleblossom said:

Sounds like it, but double check it here - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa

 

Thank you for your reply. Generally Pakistani nationals require visit visa to transit but there're exemptions. In this case, if the person has a valid green card from US, it looks like they don't need to apply for visa in advance if only transiting through Heathrow onto final destination, Lahore.

I'm assuming if the passenger is not changing terminals at Heathrow airport, they won't be going through Border control which is one of the condition for not needing visit visa.

 

 

UK_Visit_Visa_Pakistan_Exemption_Green_Card.pdf

[letmein 0]

21 hours ago, Lemonslice said:

Check with your airline if you’ll pass through border control, many (most?) international travelers in transit do not.  I know I have picked flights because of the transit airport configuration (it is much less of a hassle to transit without border control and having to re-check the luggage). 

 

If the airline confirms that you will not pass through border control, then you do not need a Direct Airside Transit visa if you have a valid USA permanent residence card.

 

The website listed by @appleblossom will have the answer: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa

Thank you for your reply. The luggage will be checked in for final destination at the departure airport from US. Passenger is not changing terminals at Heathrow airport so I'm assuming that passenger won't be going through border control but I may check with airlines too.

[letmein 0]

5 hours ago, Gabriel5454 said:

According to this source they do not need a transit visa as long as their green card is valid.

Thank you for your reply. That's very helpful may take a printout to show just in case. 

 

May I ask what's the website URL where this was posted? I want to see the context in which this was posted and also double check the date of posting the notice. The PDF shows Dec 2024 so quite recent but still would like to know more about the official web page where it came from.

[letmein 0]

1 hour ago, nastra30 said:

Just announced today. UK govt backtracks on visa-exempt countries from requiring ETA for airside transit.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-steps-for-a-more-efficient-immigration-system

"The introduction of ETAs is in line with the approach to border security taken by many other countries, including the USA and Australia.

However, following feedback from the aviation industry, the government has agreed a temporary exemption for passengers who transit airside, and therefore do not pass through UK border control.

This move will primarily affect Heathrow and Manchester airports, as the only UK airports which currently offer transit facilities. The exemption will be kept under review."

Thank you for your reply. Wait!! what? I already have a few family members (US citizens) pay and apply for ETA online and receive the approval. If I'm reading this right, does this mean the requirement for ETA for visa-exempt passengers (US citizens) specifically doesn't need ETA for traveling through Heathrow any longer, at least until further notice?

 

 

Can they request a refund?