Hello friends,Iam in the process of booking the ticket for CANADA(I have got PR visa for CANADA).The cheapest flight iam getting is british airways with a return fare of 49k for MUMBAI-TORONTO(return).But the agent is telling you need transit visa for travelling through UK but when I went through the website for UK visa,it tells if you are a transit passenger and you hold a valid VISA for US or CANADA and are having a valid ticket for the same you dont need a visa if your halt in London is less than 24hrs.But there are 2 agents which have told me this.Iam still not sure whether they are telling the right thing.The travel agent is telling me if I dont want to get into hassles of getting a UK visa better go by LUFTHANSA through FRANKFURT which is costing 59k.But I would be happy to spend the least.Please help me out
... and ask them since you want to buy their ticket. They would be able to tell you the visa requirements. How long is your transit in London?
Unless the rules have changed in the last year or so, you don't need a transit visa.
Best thing to do - call up british airways directly and ask...
Location: GTA, ONTATIO, CANADA
Posted on: 07-01-09 12:05:06
No you don't.
My Father in Law just went through UK and he never had to get the visa.
I had posted a similar question earlier in the week as my inlaws were told the same by the agent while booking British airways tickets.
British airways flights are definately cheaper , may be an indication that folks are avoiding it due to this transit mess.
But if i read the UK border agency website which i had posted and can be followed from puttoo's link, it does not seem that a transit visa is required for folks travelling to canada on a valid unexpired canadian visa or travelling back to India from canada on the same valid unexpired visa within less than 6 months.
Not sure whom to follow as there are conflicting reports.
I amjust posting an abstract from the website here :
Am I exempt from the DATV requirement?
You will be exempt from the DATV requirement and may be able to transit without visa if you hold one of the following.
A valid visa for entry to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States of America and a valid airline ticket for travel through the UK as part of a journey from another country or territory to the country for which you have the entry visa.
A valid visa for entry to Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States of America and a valid airline ticket for travel through the UK as part of a journey from the country for which you have the visa to another country or territory.
A valid airline ticket for travel through the UK as part of a journey from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States of America to another country or territory, as long as you do not transit (pass through) the UK on a date more than six months after the date on which you last entered Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States of America with a valid visa for that country.
A valid USA I-551 permanent resident card issued on or after 21 April 1998.
A valid Canadian permanent resident card issued on or after 28 June 2002.
A valid common format category D visa for entry to an EEA state – see our 'EEA and Swiss nationals' leaflet for a list of EEA states.
A valid common format residence permit issued by an EEA state under Council Regulation (EC) number 1030/2002.
A diplomatic or service passport issued by the People’s Republic of China.
A diplomatic or official passport issued by India.
A diplomatic or official passport issued by Vietnam.
I travelled through UK with BA and you dont need a Transit Visa or a DATV.
Please note:
1) Since u hold a valdi visa for Canada U dont need Transit Visa and u r exempt from DATV requirement. U can check this also at the British Home office website.
2) You will not be moving out of the Terminals at Heathrow- then U dont need a transit visa- however if your connecting flight is from Gatwick then U will need a Transit visa.
3) In such a case u can go to Immigration official at Heathrow and show your Canadian visa and confirmed tickets showing ur flight is withing next 24 hrs- they will issue a Transit visa at Heathrow airport.
4) When U check in ur luugage in India- u must get it booked all the way to your final destination in Canada. Please take care in this matter.
You will normaly arrive at Terminal 3 in Heathrow and Depart to Canada by Terminal 4. So- u will just board the Inter-terminal bus and move to Terminal 4 from Terminal 3.
