How long does it take to go through customs at Terminal 5 Heathrow?

Customs is just a walk through, no time at all. So the big unknown is baggage reclaim. But from plane to landside I'd estimate on average it takes about 45 minutes, give or take.



The time it takes to go through customs at Heathrow Terminal 5 can vary significantly based on several factors. There is no single fixed time, but here’s a detailed breakdown to help you plan:

Key Factors Affecting Wait Time:

  1. Your Nationality/Passport:

    • UK & EEA Passport Holders: Use the ePassport gates (if eligible) for the fastest entry, often taking 5-15 minutes.
    • Other Eligible Nationals: Travelers from countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and others can also use the ePassport gates.
    • All Other Nationals: Must join the “All Other Passports” queue for a manual check by a Border Force officer. This is almost always the slowest line.

  2. Time of Day & Season:

    • Peak Hours: Expect longer queues between 11:00 AM and 8:00 PM, especially when multiple long-haul flights arrive simultaneously.
    • Peak Seasons: Summer (June-August), Christmas, and Easter holidays are much busier.

  3. Flight Arrival Congestion: If several large aircraft land at the same time, the customs hall can get very crowded very quickly.

Estimated Time Ranges:

  • Best-Case Scenario (EEA/ePassport eligible, off-peak): As little as 10 to 20 minutes from joining the queue to exiting customs.
  • Average Wait (EEA/ePassport eligible): Typically 20 to 40 minutes.
  • ”All Other Passports” Queue

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I would say it can take anywhere from 15 min to 45 min to get thru, all depends on how many flights are arriving and going thru passport control.

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But it ws quite a long walk. I would say it can take anywhere from 15 min to 45 min to get thru, all depends on how many flights are arriving and going thru passport control.

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The peak times at London Heathrow Airport is from 10 AM to 1 PM, and 5 PM to 8 PM. Since London Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the UK, you'll find it jam-packed with passengers 24/7.

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The fastest way to pass immigration quickly is to use the electronic gates wherever possible. I recently passed through Terminal 5 in less than two minutes this way. U.S. passport holders have been able to use U.K. ePassport gates at major U.K. airports including all London Heathrow terminals since 2019.

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Allow between 30 minutes and 2 hours. Immigration queueing times have increased this week (some groups have been taking nearly two hours to reach arrivals from touchdown) but it's still very inconsistent so Peter's comment above is valid.

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It could take 15 to 30 minutes after touchdown till you deplane. You then have to clear immigration & customs which can take anywhere from 15 minutes (on a very good day) to an hour (assuming you have to claim and recheck your luggage).

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Brittraveller: As far as I'm aware Sunday is almost always the busiest day of the week at Heathrow, particularly in summer.

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