{
  "id": "visa/uk-eta-transit-exemption",
  "signature": "AI tells a visa-exempt traveler they do not need a UK ETA if they are only transiting through the UK (e.g., Heathrow) to a third country",
  "signature_zh": "AI 告诉免签旅客，如果只是通过英国（如希思罗机场）转机前往第三国，则无需英国ETA",
  "regex": "(?i)(?:transit|transfer|layover)\\s*(?:through|via|in)\\s*(?:UK|United Kingdom|Heathrow|Gatwick|London)\\s*(?:without|no|not need|exempt)\\s*(?:ETA|Electronic Travel Authorization)",
  "domain": "visa",
  "category": "pre_travel_authorization",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "The UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) requirement, effective for non-European nationals from November 2023 and expanded to European nationals in April 2025, applies to ALL visa-exempt travelers transiting through the UK, including airside transit at Heathrow or Gatwick; there is no transit exemption for ETA holders, unlike the old UK Transit Visa (DV) which allowed some nationals to transit without a visa.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "英国电子旅行授权（ETA）要求自2023年11月起对非欧洲国籍旅客生效，并于2025年4月扩展至欧洲国籍旅客，适用于所有免签旅客在英国转机（包括希思罗机场或盖特威克机场的机场内中转），没有ETA中转豁免，这与旧版英国转机签证（DV）允许部分国籍旅客无需签证转机不同。",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "uk_eta_policy",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "uk_transit_visa_old",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "",
      "why_fails": "The UK ETA policy explicitly removes the transit exemption for all visa-exempt nationals; travelers without an ETA will be denied boarding by airlines or refused entry at UK border.",
      "fail_rate": 0.95,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "",
      "why_fails": "The UK Transit Visa is only for non-visa-exempt nationals; visa-exempt travelers must use ETA, and applying for a Transit Visa will be rejected or cause delays.",
      "fail_rate": 0.85,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "",
      "why_fails": "Leaving the airport requires entry clearance; even airside transit requires ETA for visa-exempt travelers; border force will deny entry and may impose fines or bans.",
      "fail_rate": 0.9,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Apply for a UK ETA online via the official UK government website (gov.uk/eta) at least 72 hours before departure; cost is £10 (as of 2025) and approval is typically instant or within 24 hours.",
      "success_rate": 0.98,
      "how": "Apply for a UK ETA online via the official UK government website (gov.uk/eta) at least 72 hours before departure; cost is £10 (as of 2025) and approval is typically instant or within 24 hours.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "If the traveler is a national of a country that is not visa-exempt for the UK (e.g., India, China), they must apply for a UK Transit Visa (cost £70) and ensure they meet the requirements (e.g., onward ticket, no intention to work).",
      "success_rate": 0.85,
      "how": "If the traveler is a national of a country that is not visa-exempt for the UK (e.g., India, China), they must apply for a UK Transit Visa (cost £70) and ensure they meet the requirements (e.g., onward ticket, no intention to work).",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "For travelers with a US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, or Singapore passport who are only transiting airside and have a connecting flight within 24 hours, check if they qualify for the UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) waiver for specific nationalities (e.g., US citizens can use ESTA-like system, but ETA is mandatory as of 2025).",
      "success_rate": 0.95,
      "how": "For travelers with a US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, or Singapore passport who are only transiting airside and have a connecting flight within 24 hours, check if they qualify for the UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) waiver for specific nationalities (e.g., US citizens can use ESTA-like system, but ETA is mandatory as of 2025).",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [
    "Apply for a UK ETA online via the official UK government website (gov.uk/eta) at least 72 hours before departure; cost is £10 (as of 2025) and approval is typically instant or within 24 hours.",
    "If the traveler is a national of a country that is not visa-exempt for the UK (e.g., India, China), they must apply for a UK Transit Visa (cost £70) and ensure they meet the requirements (e.g., onward ticket, no intention to work).",
    "For travelers with a US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, or Singapore passport who are only transiting airside and have a connecting flight within 24 hours, check if they qualify for the UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) waiver for specific nationalities (e.g., US citizens can use ESTA-like system, but ETA is mandatory as of 2025)."
  ],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": "https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electronic-travel-authorisation-eta",
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": "ETA-TRANSIT-EXEMPT-ERR",
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.88,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.82,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2024-01-15",
  "last_confirmed": "2024-06-01",
  "last_updated": "2024-06-01",
  "evidence_count": 1,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": []
}