The UK has canceled visa-free airport transit for Russians and Georgians. From 6 October 2023, citizens of Russia and Georgia will need a UK visa to transit through UK airports. Until this date, it will be possible to make a transfer without a visa only with tickets purchased before September 8. Transit can be used at London Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as in Manchester.
This effectively means that in order to board any flight to the UK, citizens of the two countries must now have a UK visa to enter or transit through the country. The new rule applies even if the passenger has a single ticket through the UK, he does not leave the airport transit area and does not change terminal.
The restrictions will not affect those who have visas or residency status in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, EU states or Switzerland. In addition, a category D visa from one of the EU countries or an Irish visa is suitable for transit. However, in this case, the airline will look at the route when boarding the flight.
Previously, passengers from Russia and Georgia could transit through UK airports without a visa, as long as they did not have to leave the terminal or go through passport control again. In most cases this only involved connecting flights to British Airways flights.