diff --git a/nodejs/src/ingestion/cookieless/cookieless-manager.test.ts b/nodejs/src/ingestion/cookieless/cookieless-manager.test.ts
index 6827f7e6866f..7042cf878c44 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/ingestion/cookieless/cookieless-manager.test.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/ingestion/cookieless/cookieless-manager.test.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { createTestEventHeaders } from '~/tests/helpers/event-headers'
 import { createOrganization, createTeam, getTeam } from '~/tests/helpers/sql'
 
 import { cookielessRedisErrorCounter } from '../../common/metrics'
-import { CookielessServerHashMode, Hub, PipelineEvent, Team } from '../../types'
+import { CookielessServerHashMode, EventHeaders, Hub, PipelineEvent, Team } from '../../types'
 import { RedisOperationError } from '../../utils/db/error'
 import { closeHub, createHub } from '../../utils/db/hub'
 import { PostgresUse } from '../../utils/db/postgres'
@@ -334,13 +334,7 @@ describe('CookielessManager', () => {
 
         async function processEvent(
             event: PipelineEvent,
-            headers: {
-                token?: string
-                distinct_id?: string
-                timestamp?: string
-                force_disable_person_processing: boolean
-                historical_migration: boolean
-            } = createTestEventHeaders()
+            headers: EventHeaders = createTestEventHeaders()
         ): Promise<PipelineEvent | undefined> {
             const response = await hub.cookielessManager.doBatch([{ event, team, message, headers }])
             expect(response.length).toBe(1)
@@ -350,22 +344,10 @@ describe('CookielessManager', () => {
 
         async function processEventWithHeaders(
             event: PipelineEvent,
-            headers: {
-                token?: string
-                distinct_id?: string
-                timestamp?: string
-                force_disable_person_processing: boolean
-                historical_migration: boolean
-            }
+            headers: EventHeaders
         ): Promise<{
             event: PipelineEvent | undefined
-            headers: {
-                token?: string
-                distinct_id?: string
-                timestamp?: string
-                force_disable_person_processing: boolean
-                historical_migration: boolean
-            }
+            headers: EventHeaders
         }> {
             const response = await hub.cookielessManager.doBatch([{ event, team, message, headers }])
             expect(response.length).toBe(1)
@@ -518,13 +500,11 @@ describe('CookielessManager', () => {
             })
 
             it('should preserve headers through cookieless processing', async () => {
-                const testHeaders = {
+                const testHeaders = createTestEventHeaders({
                     token: 'test-token',
                     distinct_id: 'test-distinct-id',
                     timestamp: '1234567890',
-                    force_disable_person_processing: false,
-                    historical_migration: false,
-                }
+                })
 
                 const result = await processEventWithHeaders(event, testHeaders)
 
@@ -533,13 +513,11 @@ describe('CookielessManager', () => {
             })
 
             it('should preserve headers for non-cookieless events', async () => {
-                const testHeaders = {
+                const testHeaders = createTestEventHeaders({
                     token: 'test-token',
                     distinct_id: 'test-distinct-id',
                     timestamp: '1234567890',
-                    force_disable_person_processing: false,
-                    historical_migration: false,
-                }
+                })
 
                 const result = await processEventWithHeaders(nonCookielessEvent, testHeaders)
 
@@ -548,13 +526,11 @@ describe('CookielessManager', () => {
             })
 
             it('should not return dropped events but should not throw', async () => {
-                const testHeaders = {
+                const testHeaders = createTestEventHeaders({
                     token: 'test-token',
                     distinct_id: 'test-distinct-id',
                     timestamp: '1234567890',
-                    force_disable_person_processing: false,
-                    historical_migration: false,
-                }
+                })
 
                 // Test with alias event which should be dropped
                 const result = await processEventWithHeaders(aliasEvent, testHeaders)
@@ -902,13 +878,11 @@ describe('CookielessManager', () => {
                 expect(actual1).toBe(nonCookielessEvent)
             })
             it('should not return dropped cookieless events but should not throw', async () => {
-                const testHeaders = {
+                const testHeaders = createTestEventHeaders({
                     token: 'test-token',
                     distinct_id: 'test-distinct-id',
                     timestamp: '1234567890',
-                    force_disable_person_processing: false,
-                    historical_migration: false,
-                }
+                })
 
                 const result = await processEventWithHeaders(event, testHeaders)
 
@@ -917,13 +891,11 @@ describe('CookielessManager', () => {
                 expect(result.headers).toEqual(createTestEventHeaders())
             })
             it('should preserve headers when passing through non-cookieless events', async () => {
-                const testHeaders = {
+                const testHeaders = createTestEventHeaders({
                     token: 'test-token',
                     distinct_id: 'test-distinct-id',
                     timestamp: '1234567890',
-                    force_disable_person_processing: false,
-                    historical_migration: false,
-                }
+                })
 
                 const result = await processEventWithHeaders(nonCookielessEvent, testHeaders)
 
diff --git a/nodejs/src/ingestion/error-tracking/prepare-event-step.test.ts b/nodejs/src/ingestion/error-tracking/prepare-event-step.test.ts
index cf2cd392438e..03d0d4752331 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/ingestion/error-tracking/prepare-event-step.test.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/ingestion/error-tracking/prepare-event-step.test.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 import { DateTime } from 'luxon'
 
+import { createTestEventHeaders } from '~/tests/helpers/event-headers'
 import { createTestPluginEvent } from '~/tests/helpers/plugin-event'
 import { createTestTeam } from '~/tests/helpers/team'
-import { EventHeaders, Person } from '~/types'
+import { Person } from '~/types'
 
 import { PipelineResultType, isOkResult } from '../pipelines/results'
 import { createErrorTrackingPrepareEventStep } from './prepare-event-step'
@@ -12,12 +13,6 @@ describe('createErrorTrackingPrepareEventStep', () => {
 
     const team = createTestTeam({ id: 123, project_id: 456 as any })
 
-    const createTestHeaders = (overrides: Partial<EventHeaders> = {}): EventHeaders => ({
-        force_disable_person_processing: false,
-        historical_migration: false,
-        ...overrides,
-    })
-
     const createTestPerson = (overrides: Partial<Person> = {}): Person => ({
         team_id: 123,
         uuid: 'person-uuid-123',
@@ -40,7 +35,7 @@ describe('createErrorTrackingPrepareEventStep', () => {
         })
         const person = createTestPerson()
 
-        const result = await step({ event, team, person, headers: createTestHeaders() })
+        const result = await step({ event, team, person, headers: createTestEventHeaders() })
 
         expect(result.type).toBe(PipelineResultType.OK)
         if (isOkResult(result)) {
@@ -60,7 +55,7 @@ describe('createErrorTrackingPrepareEventStep', () => {
         const event = createTestPluginEvent({ event: '$exception' })
         const person = createTestPerson({ uuid: 'existing-person-uuid' })
 
-        const result = await step({ event, team, person, headers: createTestHeaders() })
+        const result = await step({ event, team, person, headers: createTestEventHeaders() })
 
         expect(result.type).toBe(PipelineResultType.OK)
         if (isOkResult(result)) {
@@ -73,7 +68,7 @@ describe('createErrorTrackingPrepareEventStep', () => {
     it('returns undefined person when person is null', async () => {
         const event = createTestPluginEvent({ event: '$exception' })
 
-        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestHeaders() })
+        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestEventHeaders() })
 
         expect(result.type).toBe(PipelineResultType.OK)
         if (isOkResult(result)) {
@@ -85,11 +80,16 @@ describe('createErrorTrackingPrepareEventStep', () => {
         const event = createTestPluginEvent({ event: '$exception' })
 
         // With person
-        const resultWithPerson = await step({ event, team, person: createTestPerson(), headers: createTestHeaders() })
+        const resultWithPerson = await step({
+            event,
+            team,
+            person: createTestPerson(),
+            headers: createTestEventHeaders(),
+        })
         expect(isOkResult(resultWithPerson) && resultWithPerson.value.processPerson).toBe(true)
 
         // Without person
-        const resultWithoutPerson = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestHeaders() })
+        const resultWithoutPerson = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestEventHeaders() })
         expect(isOkResult(resultWithoutPerson) && resultWithoutPerson.value.processPerson).toBe(true)
     })
 
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ describe('createErrorTrackingPrepareEventStep', () => {
             event,
             team,
             person: null,
-            headers: createTestHeaders({ historical_migration: true }),
+            headers: createTestEventHeaders({ historical_migration: true }),
         })
 
         expect(result.type).toBe(PipelineResultType.OK)
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ describe('createErrorTrackingPrepareEventStep', () => {
     it('defaults historical_migration to false when not in headers', async () => {
         const event = createTestPluginEvent({ event: '$exception' })
 
-        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestHeaders() })
+        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestEventHeaders() })
 
         expect(result.type).toBe(PipelineResultType.OK)
         if (isOkResult(result)) {
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ describe('createErrorTrackingPrepareEventStep', () => {
             timestamp: '2024-01-20T12:00:00.000Z',
         })
 
-        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestHeaders() })
+        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestEventHeaders() })
 
         expect(result.type).toBe(PipelineResultType.OK)
         if (isOkResult(result)) {
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ describe('createErrorTrackingPrepareEventStep', () => {
             properties: null as any,
         })
 
-        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestHeaders() })
+        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestEventHeaders() })
 
         expect(result.type).toBe(PipelineResultType.OK)
         if (isOkResult(result)) {
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ describe('createErrorTrackingPrepareEventStep', () => {
             },
         })
 
-        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestHeaders() })
+        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestEventHeaders() })
 
         expect(result.type).toBe(PipelineResultType.OK)
         if (isOkResult(result)) {
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ describe('createErrorTrackingPrepareEventStep', () => {
             },
         })
 
-        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestHeaders() })
+        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestEventHeaders() })
 
         expect(result.type).toBe(PipelineResultType.OK)
         if (isOkResult(result)) {
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ describe('createErrorTrackingPrepareEventStep', () => {
             },
         })
 
-        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestHeaders() })
+        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestEventHeaders() })
 
         expect(result.type).toBe(PipelineResultType.OK)
         if (isOkResult(result)) {
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ describe('createErrorTrackingPrepareEventStep', () => {
             event,
             team,
             person: null,
-            headers: createTestHeaders(),
+            headers: createTestEventHeaders(),
             message: { topic: 'test-topic', partition: 0 } as any,
             customField: 'should-be-preserved',
         }
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ describe('createErrorTrackingPrepareEventStep', () => {
     it('removes event from output but preserves team and adds preparedEvent', async () => {
         const event = createTestPluginEvent({ event: '$exception' })
 
-        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestHeaders() })
+        const result = await step({ event, team, person: null, headers: createTestEventHeaders() })
 
         expect(result.type).toBe(PipelineResultType.OK)
         if (isOkResult(result)) {
diff --git a/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/overflow-lane-ttl-refresh-step.test.ts b/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/overflow-lane-ttl-refresh-step.test.ts
index d0be8be317a8..277697e9e329 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/overflow-lane-ttl-refresh-step.test.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/overflow-lane-ttl-refresh-step.test.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { createTestEventHeaders } from '../../../tests/helpers/event-headers'
 import { createTestPipelineEvent } from '../../../tests/helpers/pipeline-event'
 import { PipelineResultType } from '../pipelines/results'
 import { OverflowRedirectService } from '../utils/overflow-redirect/overflow-redirect-service'
@@ -5,13 +6,7 @@ import { createOverflowLaneTTLRefreshStep } from './overflow-lane-ttl-refresh-st
 import { RateLimitToOverflowStepInput } from './rate-limit-to-overflow-step'
 
 const createMockEvent = (token: string, distinctId: string, now?: Date): RateLimitToOverflowStepInput => ({
-    headers: {
-        token,
-        distinct_id: distinctId,
-        now: now ?? new Date(),
-        force_disable_person_processing: false,
-        historical_migration: false,
-    },
+    headers: createTestEventHeaders({ token, distinct_id: distinctId, now: now ?? new Date() }),
     event: createTestPipelineEvent({ distinct_id: distinctId }),
 })
 
diff --git a/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/parse-headers.test.ts b/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/parse-headers.test.ts
index 7e1be4dbd030..27299bf8490d 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/parse-headers.test.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/parse-headers.test.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     distinct_id: 'test-user',
                     force_disable_person_processing: false,
                     historical_migration: false,
+                    skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                 },
             })
         )
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     token: 'test-token',
                     force_disable_person_processing: false,
                     historical_migration: false,
+                    skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                 },
             })
         )
@@ -68,6 +70,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                 headers: {
                     force_disable_person_processing: false,
                     historical_migration: false,
+                    skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                 },
             })
         )
@@ -87,6 +90,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                 headers: {
                     force_disable_person_processing: false,
                     historical_migration: false,
+                    skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                 },
             })
         )
@@ -113,6 +117,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     distinct_id: 'second-user',
                     force_disable_person_processing: false,
                     historical_migration: false,
+                    skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                 },
             })
         )
@@ -141,6 +146,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     now: new Date('2023-01-01T12:00:00Z'),
                     force_disable_person_processing: false,
                     historical_migration: false,
+                    skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                 },
             })
         )
@@ -167,6 +173,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     timestamp: '2023-01-01T00:00:00Z',
                     force_disable_person_processing: false,
                     historical_migration: false,
+                    skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                 },
             })
         )
@@ -193,6 +200,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     timestamp: '2023-01-01T00:00:00Z',
                     force_disable_person_processing: false,
                     historical_migration: false,
+                    skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                 },
             })
         )
@@ -221,6 +229,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     distinct_id: 'test-user',
                     force_disable_person_processing: false,
                     historical_migration: false,
+                    skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                 },
             })
         )
@@ -248,6 +257,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                         session_id: 'test-session-123',
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -268,6 +278,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                         session_id: 'string-session-456',
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -288,6 +299,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                         session_id: '0192e72a-1dd2-7714-8000-8b3e4c123456',
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -308,6 +320,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                         session_id: 'Custom-Session-ID',
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -329,6 +342,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                         distinct_id: 'test-user',
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -350,6 +364,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     headers: {
                         force_disable_person_processing: true,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -369,6 +384,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     headers: {
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -388,6 +404,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     headers: {
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -408,6 +425,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                         token: 'test-token',
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -427,6 +445,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     headers: {
                         force_disable_person_processing: true,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -446,6 +465,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     headers: {
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -471,6 +491,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                         distinct_id: 'test-user',
                         force_disable_person_processing: true,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -493,6 +514,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                         now: new Date('2023-01-01T12:00:00Z'),
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -513,6 +535,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                         now: new Date('2023-01-01T12:00:00Z'),
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -539,6 +562,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                         now: new Date('2023-01-01T12:00:00Z'),
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -560,6 +584,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     headers: {
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: true,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -579,6 +604,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     headers: {
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -598,6 +624,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     headers: {
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -618,6 +645,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                         token: 'test-token',
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -637,6 +665,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                     headers: {
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: true,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -663,6 +692,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                         distinct_id: 'test-user',
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: true,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -685,6 +715,7 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                         distinct_id: 'user\uFFFD123',
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
@@ -705,6 +736,50 @@ describe('createParseHeadersStep', () => {
                         token: 'test\uFFFDtoken',
                         force_disable_person_processing: false,
                         historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
+                    },
+                })
+            )
+        })
+    })
+
+    describe('skip_heatmap_processing header', () => {
+        it('should parse skip_heatmap_processing as true when value is "true"', async () => {
+            const input = {
+                message: {
+                    headers: [{ skip_heatmap_processing: Buffer.from('true') }],
+                } as Pick<Message, 'headers'>,
+            }
+            const result = await step(input)
+
+            expect(result).toEqual(
+                ok({
+                    ...input,
+                    headers: {
+                        force_disable_person_processing: false,
+                        historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: true,
+                    },
+                })
+            )
+        })
+
+        it('should parse skip_heatmap_processing as false when missing', async () => {
+            const input = {
+                message: {
+                    headers: [{ token: Buffer.from('test-token') }],
+                } as Pick<Message, 'headers'>,
+            }
+            const result = await step(input)
+
+            expect(result).toEqual(
+                ok({
+                    ...input,
+                    headers: {
+                        token: 'test-token',
+                        force_disable_person_processing: false,
+                        historical_migration: false,
+                        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
                     },
                 })
             )
diff --git a/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/rate-limit-to-overflow-step.test.ts b/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/rate-limit-to-overflow-step.test.ts
index 02482d7bcdaa..c5d9b6cd2d23 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/rate-limit-to-overflow-step.test.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/rate-limit-to-overflow-step.test.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { createTestEventHeaders } from '../../../tests/helpers/event-headers'
 import { createTestPipelineEvent } from '../../../tests/helpers/pipeline-event'
 import { OVERFLOW_OUTPUT } from '../common/outputs'
 import { PipelineResultType } from '../pipelines/results'
@@ -5,13 +6,7 @@ import { OverflowRedirectService } from '../utils/overflow-redirect/overflow-red
 import { RateLimitToOverflowStepInput, createRateLimitToOverflowStep } from './rate-limit-to-overflow-step'
 
 const createMockEvent = (token: string, distinctId: string, now?: Date): RateLimitToOverflowStepInput => ({
-    headers: {
-        token,
-        distinct_id: distinctId,
-        now: now ?? new Date(),
-        force_disable_person_processing: false,
-        historical_migration: false,
-    },
+    headers: createTestEventHeaders({ token, distinct_id: distinctId, now: now ?? new Date() }),
     event: createTestPipelineEvent({ distinct_id: distinctId }),
 })
 
diff --git a/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/validate-event-metadata.test.ts b/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/validate-event-metadata.test.ts
index 660ffd7f0257..60810639be54 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/validate-event-metadata.test.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-preprocessing/validate-event-metadata.test.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { createTestEventHeaders } from '../../../tests/helpers/event-headers'
 import { EventHeaders } from '../../types'
 import { drop, ok } from '../pipelines/results'
 import { createValidateEventMetadataStep } from './validate-event-metadata'
@@ -7,12 +8,10 @@ describe('createValidateEventMetadataStep', () => {
     let step: ReturnType<typeof createValidateEventMetadataStep>
 
     beforeEach(() => {
-        mockHeaders = {
+        mockHeaders = createTestEventHeaders({
             token: 'test-token-123',
             distinct_id: 'test-user-456',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        }
+        })
 
         step = createValidateEventMetadataStep()
         jest.clearAllMocks()
diff --git a/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-processing/emit-event-step.test.ts b/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-processing/emit-event-step.test.ts
index b8f7734ee818..9dbb74209b4a 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-processing/emit-event-step.test.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-processing/emit-event-step.test.ts
@@ -329,12 +329,6 @@ describe('emit-event-step', () => {
             ...overrides,
         })
 
-        const createHeaders = (overrides: Partial<EventHeaders> = {}): EventHeaders => ({
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-            ...overrides,
-        })
-
         beforeEach(() => {
             jest.useFakeTimers()
             jest.setSystemTime(FAKE_NOW_MS)
@@ -355,7 +349,7 @@ describe('emit-event-step', () => {
             const input: EmitEventStepInput<EventOutput> = {
                 eventsToEmit: [{ event: mockProcessedEvent, output: EVENTS_OUTPUT }],
                 teamId: 1,
-                headers: createHeaders({ now: captureTime }),
+                headers: createTestEventHeaders({ now: captureTime }),
                 message: createMessage(),
             }
 
@@ -375,7 +369,7 @@ describe('emit-event-step', () => {
             const input: EmitEventStepInput<EventOutput> = {
                 eventsToEmit: [{ event: mockProcessedEvent, output: EVENTS_OUTPUT }],
                 teamId: 1,
-                headers: createHeaders(),
+                headers: createTestEventHeaders(),
                 message: createMessage(),
             }
 
@@ -390,7 +384,7 @@ describe('emit-event-step', () => {
             const input: EmitEventStepInput<EventOutput> = {
                 eventsToEmit: [{ event: mockProcessedEvent, output: EVENTS_OUTPUT }],
                 teamId: 1,
-                headers: createHeaders({ now: new Date(FAKE_NOW_MS - 1000) }),
+                headers: createTestEventHeaders({ now: new Date(FAKE_NOW_MS - 1000) }),
                 message: createMessage({ topic: undefined as unknown as string }),
             }
 
@@ -405,7 +399,7 @@ describe('emit-event-step', () => {
             const input: EmitEventStepInput<EventOutput> = {
                 eventsToEmit: [{ event: mockProcessedEvent, output: EVENTS_OUTPUT }],
                 teamId: 1,
-                headers: createHeaders({ now: new Date(FAKE_NOW_MS - 1000) }),
+                headers: createTestEventHeaders({ now: new Date(FAKE_NOW_MS - 1000) }),
                 message: createMessage({ partition: undefined as unknown as number }),
             }
 
@@ -421,7 +415,7 @@ describe('emit-event-step', () => {
             const input: EmitEventStepInput<EventOutput> = {
                 eventsToEmit: [{ event: mockProcessedEvent, output: EVENTS_OUTPUT }],
                 teamId: 1,
-                headers: createHeaders({ now: new Date(FAKE_NOW_MS - 1000) }),
+                headers: createTestEventHeaders({ now: new Date(FAKE_NOW_MS - 1000) }),
                 message: createMessage(),
             }
 
@@ -439,7 +433,7 @@ describe('emit-event-step', () => {
             const input: EmitEventStepInput<EventOutput> = {
                 eventsToEmit: [{ event: mockProcessedEvent, output: EVENTS_OUTPUT }],
                 teamId: 1,
-                headers: createHeaders({ now: new Date(FAKE_NOW_MS - 1000) }),
+                headers: createTestEventHeaders({ now: new Date(FAKE_NOW_MS - 1000) }),
                 message: createMessage({ partition: 0 }),
             }
 
@@ -459,7 +453,7 @@ describe('emit-event-step', () => {
                 const input: EmitEventStepInput<EventOutput> = {
                     eventsToEmit: [{ event: mockProcessedEvent, output: EVENTS_OUTPUT }],
                     teamId: 1,
-                    headers: createHeaders({ now: captureTime }),
+                    headers: createTestEventHeaders({ now: captureTime }),
                     message: createMessage(),
                 }
 
@@ -479,7 +473,7 @@ describe('emit-event-step', () => {
                 const input: EmitEventStepInput<EventOutput> = {
                     eventsToEmit: [{ event: mockProcessedEvent, output: EVENTS_OUTPUT }],
                     teamId: 1,
-                    headers: createHeaders({ now: new Date(FAKE_NOW_MS - 1000) }),
+                    headers: createTestEventHeaders({ now: new Date(FAKE_NOW_MS - 1000) }),
                     message: createMessage({ partition: 3 }),
                 }
 
@@ -497,7 +491,7 @@ describe('emit-event-step', () => {
                 const input: EmitEventStepInput<EventOutput> = {
                     eventsToEmit: [{ event: mockProcessedEvent, output: EVENTS_OUTPUT }],
                     teamId: 1,
-                    headers: createHeaders(),
+                    headers: createTestEventHeaders(),
                     message: createMessage(),
                 }
 
@@ -512,7 +506,7 @@ describe('emit-event-step', () => {
                 const input: EmitEventStepInput<EventOutput> = {
                     eventsToEmit: [{ event: mockProcessedEvent, output: EVENTS_OUTPUT }],
                     teamId: 1,
-                    headers: createHeaders({ now: new Date(FAKE_NOW_MS - 1000) }),
+                    headers: createTestEventHeaders({ now: new Date(FAKE_NOW_MS - 1000) }),
                     message: createMessage({ partition: undefined as unknown as number }),
                 }
 
@@ -527,7 +521,7 @@ describe('emit-event-step', () => {
                 const input: EmitEventStepInput<EventOutput> = {
                     eventsToEmit: [{ event: mockProcessedEvent, output: EVENTS_OUTPUT }],
                     teamId: 1,
-                    headers: createHeaders({ now: new Date(FAKE_NOW_MS - 2500) }),
+                    headers: createTestEventHeaders({ now: new Date(FAKE_NOW_MS - 2500) }),
                     message: createMessage({ partition: 0 }),
                 }
 
diff --git a/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-processing/extract-heatmap-data-step.test.ts b/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-processing/extract-heatmap-data-step.test.ts
index 4ab593754b0c..a6176e12473e 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-processing/extract-heatmap-data-step.test.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-processing/extract-heatmap-data-step.test.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { createTestEventHeaders } from '../../../tests/helpers/event-headers'
 import { createMockIngestionOutputs } from '../../../tests/helpers/mock-ingestion-outputs'
 import { ISOTimestamp, PreIngestionEvent, ProjectId } from '../../types'
 import { parseJSON } from '../../utils/json-parse'
@@ -430,4 +431,52 @@ describe('createExtractHeatmapDataStep', () => {
             expect(message.scale_factor).toBe(16)
         })
     })
+
+    describe('skip_heatmap_processing header (capture redirect)', () => {
+        it('skips extraction and strips $heatmap_data when skip_heatmap_processing is true', async () => {
+            const event = createTestEvent()
+            const headers = createTestEventHeaders({ skip_heatmap_processing: true })
+
+            const result = await step({ preparedEvent: event, headers })
+
+            expect(result.type).toBe(PipelineResultType.OK)
+            if (result.type === PipelineResultType.OK) {
+                expect(result.value.preparedEvent.properties.$heatmap_data).toBeUndefined()
+                expect(result.value.preparedEvent.properties.$current_url).toBe('http://localhost:3000/')
+                expect(result.sideEffects).toEqual([])
+                expect(result.warnings).toEqual([])
+            }
+            expect(mockOutputs.queueMessages).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+        })
+
+        it('does not mutate the original event when skip_heatmap_processing is true', async () => {
+            const event = createTestEvent()
+            const originalEvent = cloneObject(event)
+            const headers = createTestEventHeaders({ skip_heatmap_processing: true })
+
+            await step({ preparedEvent: event, headers })
+
+            expect(event).toEqual(originalEvent)
+            expect(event.properties.$heatmap_data).toBeDefined()
+        })
+
+        it('extracts normally when skip_heatmap_processing is false', async () => {
+            const event = createTestEvent()
+            const headers = createTestEventHeaders({ skip_heatmap_processing: false })
+
+            const result = await step({ preparedEvent: event, headers })
+
+            expect(result.type).toBe(PipelineResultType.OK)
+            expect(mockOutputs.queueMessages).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+        })
+
+        it('extracts normally when headers are not provided', async () => {
+            const event = createTestEvent()
+
+            const result = await step({ preparedEvent: event })
+
+            expect(result.type).toBe(PipelineResultType.OK)
+            expect(mockOutputs.queueMessages).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+        })
+    })
 })
diff --git a/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-processing/extract-heatmap-data-step.ts b/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-processing/extract-heatmap-data-step.ts
index 1e16cd8ea1ea..072397cb0c20 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-processing/extract-heatmap-data-step.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/ingestion/event-processing/extract-heatmap-data-step.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { URL } from 'url'
 
-import { PreIngestionEvent, RawClickhouseHeatmapEvent, TimestampFormat } from '../../types'
+import { EventHeaders, PreIngestionEvent, RawClickhouseHeatmapEvent, TimestampFormat } from '../../types'
 import { logger } from '../../utils/logger'
 import { castTimestampOrNow } from '../../utils/utils'
 import { isDistinctIdIllegal } from '../../worker/ingestion/persons/person-merge-service'
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import { ProcessingStep } from '../pipelines/steps'
 
 export interface ExtractHeatmapDataStepInput {
     preparedEvent: PreIngestionEvent
+    headers?: EventHeaders
 }
 
 export type ExtractHeatmapDataStepResult<TInput> = TInput & {
@@ -24,8 +25,21 @@ export function createExtractHeatmapDataStep<TInput extends ExtractHeatmapDataSt
     return async function extractHeatmapDataStep(
         input: TInput
     ): Promise<PipelineResult<ExtractHeatmapDataStepResult<TInput>>> {
-        const { preparedEvent } = input
+        const { preparedEvent, headers } = input
         const { eventUuid } = preparedEvent
+
+        // When capture has already redirected heatmap data to the heatmaps topic,
+        // skip extraction here — just strip the property and pass through.
+        if (headers?.skip_heatmap_processing) {
+            const { $heatmap_data, ...propertiesWithoutHeatmapData } = preparedEvent.properties
+            return Promise.resolve(
+                ok({
+                    ...input,
+                    preparedEvent: { ...preparedEvent, properties: propertiesWithoutHeatmapData },
+                })
+            )
+        }
+
         const acks: Promise<void>[] = []
         const warnings: PipelineWarning[] = []
 
diff --git a/nodejs/src/ingestion/session_replay/team-filter-step.test.ts b/nodejs/src/ingestion/session_replay/team-filter-step.test.ts
index e4a85db3584e..5a2c4da0d6a5 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/ingestion/session_replay/team-filter-step.test.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/ingestion/session_replay/team-filter-step.test.ts
@@ -1,17 +1,11 @@
+import { createTestEventHeaders } from '../../../tests/helpers/event-headers'
 import { TeamForReplay } from '../../session-recording/teams/types'
-import { EventHeaders } from '../../types'
 import { PipelineResultType } from '../pipelines/results'
 import { TeamFilterStepInput, TeamTokenResolver, createTeamFilterStep } from './team-filter-step'
 
 describe('createTeamFilterStep', () => {
-    const createHeaders = (token?: string): EventHeaders => ({
-        token,
-        force_disable_person_processing: false,
-        historical_migration: false,
-    })
-
     const createInput = (token?: string): TeamFilterStepInput => ({
-        headers: createHeaders(token),
+        headers: createTestEventHeaders({ token }),
     })
 
     const defaultTeam: TeamForReplay = {
diff --git a/nodejs/src/kafka/consumer.test.ts b/nodejs/src/kafka/consumer.test.ts
index 0b5f8191bd4a..8163f91f08e2 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/kafka/consumer.test.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/kafka/consumer.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { CODES, Message, MessageHeader, KafkaConsumer as RdKafkaConsumer } from 'node-rdkafka'
 
 import { defaultConfig } from '~/config/config'
+import { createTestEventHeaders } from '~/tests/helpers/event-headers'
 
 import { delay } from '../utils/utils'
 import { KafkaConsumer, parseEventHeaders, parseKafkaHeaders } from './consumer'
@@ -544,42 +545,30 @@ describe('parseKafkaHeaders', () => {
 describe('parseEventHeaders', () => {
     it('should return empty object when headers is undefined', () => {
         const result = parseEventHeaders(undefined)
-        expect(result).toEqual({ force_disable_person_processing: false, historical_migration: false })
+        expect(result).toEqual(createTestEventHeaders())
     })
 
     it('should return empty object when headers is empty array', () => {
         const result = parseEventHeaders([])
-        expect(result).toEqual({ force_disable_person_processing: false, historical_migration: false })
+        expect(result).toEqual(createTestEventHeaders())
     })
 
     it('should parse token header only', () => {
         const headers: MessageHeader[] = [{ token: Buffer.from('test-token') }]
         const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-        expect(result).toEqual({
-            token: 'test-token',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        })
+        expect(result).toEqual(createTestEventHeaders({ token: 'test-token' }))
     })
 
     it('should parse distinct_id header only', () => {
         const headers: MessageHeader[] = [{ distinct_id: Buffer.from('user-123') }]
         const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-        expect(result).toEqual({
-            distinct_id: 'user-123',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        })
+        expect(result).toEqual(createTestEventHeaders({ distinct_id: 'user-123' }))
     })
 
     it('should parse timestamp header only', () => {
         const headers: MessageHeader[] = [{ timestamp: Buffer.from('1234567890') }]
         const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-        expect(result).toEqual({
-            timestamp: '1234567890',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        })
+        expect(result).toEqual(createTestEventHeaders({ timestamp: '1234567890' }))
     })
 
     it('should parse all supported headers', () => {
@@ -591,13 +580,9 @@ describe('parseEventHeaders', () => {
             },
         ]
         const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-        expect(result).toEqual({
-            token: 'test-token',
-            distinct_id: 'user-123',
-            timestamp: '1234567890',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        })
+        expect(result).toEqual(
+            createTestEventHeaders({ token: 'test-token', distinct_id: 'user-123', timestamp: '1234567890' })
+        )
     })
 
     it('should parse supported headers from multiple objects', () => {
@@ -607,13 +592,9 @@ describe('parseEventHeaders', () => {
             { timestamp: Buffer.from('1234567890') },
         ]
         const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-        expect(result).toEqual({
-            token: 'test-token',
-            distinct_id: 'user-123',
-            timestamp: '1234567890',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        })
+        expect(result).toEqual(
+            createTestEventHeaders({ token: 'test-token', distinct_id: 'user-123', timestamp: '1234567890' })
+        )
     })
 
     it('should ignore unsupported headers', () => {
@@ -626,12 +607,7 @@ describe('parseEventHeaders', () => {
             },
         ]
         const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-        expect(result).toEqual({
-            token: 'test-token',
-            distinct_id: 'user-123',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        })
+        expect(result).toEqual(createTestEventHeaders({ token: 'test-token', distinct_id: 'user-123' }))
     })
 
     it('should handle empty buffer values', () => {
@@ -643,13 +619,7 @@ describe('parseEventHeaders', () => {
             },
         ]
         const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-        expect(result).toEqual({
-            token: '',
-            distinct_id: '',
-            timestamp: '',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        })
+        expect(result).toEqual(createTestEventHeaders({ token: '', distinct_id: '', timestamp: '' }))
     })
 
     it('should handle duplicate keys by overwriting', () => {
@@ -660,12 +630,7 @@ describe('parseEventHeaders', () => {
             { distinct_id: Buffer.from('second-id') },
         ]
         const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-        expect(result).toEqual({
-            token: 'second-token',
-            distinct_id: 'second-id',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        })
+        expect(result).toEqual(createTestEventHeaders({ token: 'second-token', distinct_id: 'second-id' }))
     })
 
     it('should handle mixed supported and unsupported headers', () => {
@@ -677,12 +642,7 @@ describe('parseEventHeaders', () => {
             { unsupported3: Buffer.from('still-ignored') },
         ]
         const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-        expect(result).toEqual({
-            token: 'test-token',
-            timestamp: '1234567890',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        })
+        expect(result).toEqual(createTestEventHeaders({ token: 'test-token', timestamp: '1234567890' }))
     })
 
     it('should handle partial header sets', () => {
@@ -694,32 +654,19 @@ describe('parseEventHeaders', () => {
             },
         ]
         const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-        expect(result).toEqual({
-            token: 'test-token',
-            timestamp: '1234567890',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        })
+        expect(result).toEqual(createTestEventHeaders({ token: 'test-token', timestamp: '1234567890' }))
     })
 
     it('should parse event header', () => {
         const headers: MessageHeader[] = [{ event: Buffer.from('$pageview') }]
         const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-        expect(result).toEqual({
-            event: '$pageview',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        })
+        expect(result).toEqual(createTestEventHeaders({ event: '$pageview' }))
     })
 
     it('should parse uuid header', () => {
         const headers: MessageHeader[] = [{ uuid: Buffer.from('123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426614174000') }]
         const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-        expect(result).toEqual({
-            uuid: '123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426614174000',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        })
+        expect(result).toEqual(createTestEventHeaders({ uuid: '123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426614174000' }))
     })
 
     it('should parse all headers including new event and uuid', () => {
@@ -733,15 +680,15 @@ describe('parseEventHeaders', () => {
             },
         ]
         const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-        expect(result).toEqual({
-            token: 'test-token',
-            distinct_id: 'user-123',
-            timestamp: '1234567890',
-            event: '$pageview',
-            uuid: '123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426614174000',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        })
+        expect(result).toEqual(
+            createTestEventHeaders({
+                token: 'test-token',
+                distinct_id: 'user-123',
+                timestamp: '1234567890',
+                event: '$pageview',
+                uuid: '123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426614174000',
+            })
+        )
     })
 
     it('should ignore unsupported headers but include event and uuid', () => {
@@ -756,14 +703,14 @@ describe('parseEventHeaders', () => {
             },
         ]
         const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-        expect(result).toEqual({
-            token: 'test-token',
-            distinct_id: 'user-123',
-            event: 'custom_event',
-            uuid: 'uuid-value',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        })
+        expect(result).toEqual(
+            createTestEventHeaders({
+                token: 'test-token',
+                distinct_id: 'user-123',
+                event: 'custom_event',
+                uuid: 'uuid-value',
+            })
+        )
     })
 
     it('should handle empty event and uuid headers', () => {
@@ -775,13 +722,7 @@ describe('parseEventHeaders', () => {
             },
         ]
         const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-        expect(result).toEqual({
-            token: 'test-token',
-            event: '',
-            uuid: '',
-            force_disable_person_processing: false,
-            historical_migration: false,
-        })
+        expect(result).toEqual(createTestEventHeaders({ token: 'test-token', event: '', uuid: '' }))
     })
 
     describe('now header parsing', () => {
@@ -825,13 +766,13 @@ describe('parseEventHeaders', () => {
                 },
             ]
             const result = parseEventHeaders(headers)
-            expect(result).toEqual({
-                token: 'test-token',
-                distinct_id: 'user-123',
-                now: new Date(isoDate),
-                force_disable_person_processing: false,
-                historical_migration: false,
-            })
+            expect(result).toEqual(
+                createTestEventHeaders({
+                    token: 'test-token',
+                    distinct_id: 'user-123',
+                    now: new Date(isoDate),
+                })
+            )
         })
 
         it('should handle now header with milliseconds precision', () => {
diff --git a/nodejs/src/kafka/consumer.ts b/nodejs/src/kafka/consumer.ts
index 74615af947bd..64671c1b18b3 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/kafka/consumer.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/kafka/consumer.ts
@@ -889,6 +889,7 @@ export const parseEventHeaders = (headers?: MessageHeader[]): EventHeaders => {
     const result: EventHeaders = {
         force_disable_person_processing: false,
         historical_migration: false,
+        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
     }
 
     headers?.forEach((header) => {
@@ -915,6 +916,8 @@ export const parseEventHeaders = (headers?: MessageHeader[]): EventHeaders => {
                 }
             } else if (key === 'historical_migration') {
                 result.historical_migration = value === 'true'
+            } else if (key === 'skip_heatmap_processing') {
+                result.skip_heatmap_processing = value === 'true'
             }
         })
     })
@@ -930,6 +933,7 @@ export const parseEventHeaders = (headers?: MessageHeader[]): EventHeaders => {
         'now',
         'force_disable_person_processing',
         'historical_migration',
+        'skip_heatmap_processing',
     ] as const
     trackedHeaders.forEach((header) => {
         const status = result[header] ? 'present' : 'absent'
diff --git a/nodejs/src/session-recording/session-recording-restriction-handler.test.ts b/nodejs/src/session-recording/session-recording-restriction-handler.test.ts
index 66c87ae810f2..8bd9ebac7a25 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/session-recording/session-recording-restriction-handler.test.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/session-recording/session-recording-restriction-handler.test.ts
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ describe('SessionRecordingRestrictionHandler', () => {
                 distinct_id: 'user-1',
                 force_disable_person_processing: false,
                 historical_migration: false,
+                skip_heatmap_processing: false,
             })
             expect(SessionRecordingIngesterMetrics.observeDroppedByRestrictions).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
             expect(SessionRecordingIngesterMetrics.observeOverflowedByRestrictions).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
@@ -297,6 +298,7 @@ describe('SessionRecordingRestrictionHandler', () => {
                 session_id: 'session-123',
                 force_disable_person_processing: false,
                 historical_migration: false,
+                skip_heatmap_processing: false,
             })
         })
 
@@ -358,6 +360,7 @@ describe('SessionRecordingRestrictionHandler', () => {
                 session_id: 'session-123',
                 force_disable_person_processing: false,
                 historical_migration: false,
+                skip_heatmap_processing: false,
             })
         })
 
@@ -385,6 +388,7 @@ describe('SessionRecordingRestrictionHandler', () => {
                 uuid: 'event-uuid-456',
                 force_disable_person_processing: false,
                 historical_migration: false,
+                skip_heatmap_processing: false,
             })
         })
 
diff --git a/nodejs/src/types.ts b/nodejs/src/types.ts
index afdf9d1583d7..78922de5ed59 100644
--- a/nodejs/src/types.ts
+++ b/nodejs/src/types.ts
@@ -877,6 +877,7 @@ export interface EventHeaders {
     now?: Date
     force_disable_person_processing: boolean
     historical_migration: boolean
+    skip_heatmap_processing: boolean
 }
 
 export interface IncomingEvent {
diff --git a/nodejs/tests/helpers/event-headers.ts b/nodejs/tests/helpers/event-headers.ts
index ac79aa4d3fcc..bef533b7e727 100644
--- a/nodejs/tests/helpers/event-headers.ts
+++ b/nodejs/tests/helpers/event-headers.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export function createTestEventHeaders(overrides: Partial<EventHeaders> = {}): E
     return {
         force_disable_person_processing: false,
         historical_migration: false,
+        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
         ...overrides,
     }
 }
diff --git a/rust/capture/src/ai_endpoint.rs b/rust/capture/src/ai_endpoint.rs
index 27537c2f1d83..3b109909b198 100644
--- a/rust/capture/src/ai_endpoint.rs
+++ b/rust/capture/src/ai_endpoint.rs
@@ -542,6 +542,7 @@ fn build_kafka_event(
         skip_person_processing: restrictions.skip_person_processing(),
         redirect_to_dlq: restrictions.redirect_to_dlq(),
         redirect_to_topic: restrictions.redirect_to_topic().map(|s| s.to_string()),
+        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
     };
 
     // Create ProcessedEvent
diff --git a/rust/capture/src/events/analytics.rs b/rust/capture/src/events/analytics.rs
index 17b4d1ed758f..6b89c97d7fc2 100644
--- a/rust/capture/src/events/analytics.rs
+++ b/rust/capture/src/events/analytics.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 //! This module handles processing of regular analytics events (pageviews, custom events,
 //! exceptions, etc.) as opposed to recordings (session replay).
 
+use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use chrono::DateTime;
@@ -21,6 +22,78 @@ use crate::{
     v0_request::{DataType, ProcessedEvent, ProcessedEventMetadata, ProcessingContext},
 };
 
+/// Property keys that the heatmap extraction pipeline reads from the event.
+/// When a non-$$heatmap event carries heatmap data, we produce a second message
+/// to the heatmaps topic containing only these properties.
+const HEATMAP_PROPERTY_KEYS: &[&str] = &[
+    "$heatmap_data",
+    "$viewport_height",
+    "$viewport_width",
+    "$session_id",
+    "$prev_pageview_pathname",
+    "$prev_pageview_max_scroll",
+    "$current_url",
+];
+
+/// Returns true if this event carries data that the heatmap extraction pipeline would process.
+fn has_heatmap_data(event: &RawEvent) -> bool {
+    event.properties.contains_key("$heatmap_data")
+        || (event.properties.contains_key("$prev_pageview_pathname")
+            && event.properties.contains_key("$current_url"))
+}
+
+/// Create a stripped-down $$heatmap event from a non-$$heatmap event that contains heatmap data.
+/// The redirect carries only the properties the heatmap pipeline needs, and gets a new UUID
+/// to avoid deduplication with the original event.
+fn create_heatmap_redirect(
+    event: &RawEvent,
+    historical_cfg: router::HistoricalConfig,
+    context: &ProcessingContext,
+) -> Result<ProcessedEvent, CaptureError> {
+    let mut properties = HashMap::new();
+
+    for key in HEATMAP_PROPERTY_KEYS {
+        if let Some(value) = event.properties.get(*key) {
+            properties.insert(key.to_string(), value.clone());
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Preserve distinct_id and $cookieless_mode — needed for routing key generation
+    if let Some(value) = event.properties.get("distinct_id") {
+        properties.insert("distinct_id".to_string(), value.clone());
+    }
+    if let Some(value) = event.properties.get("$cookieless_mode") {
+        properties.insert("$cookieless_mode".to_string(), value.clone());
+    }
+
+    let heatmap_event = RawEvent {
+        token: event.token.clone(),
+        distinct_id: event.distinct_id.clone(),
+        uuid: Some(uuid_v7()),
+        event: "$$heatmap".to_string(),
+        properties,
+        timestamp: event.timestamp.clone(),
+        offset: event.offset,
+        set: None,
+        set_once: None,
+    };
+
+    process_single_event(&heatmap_event, historical_cfg, context)
+}
+
+/// Strip heatmap-only properties from a ProcessedEvent's serialized data field
+/// and mark it so the pipeline knows heatmap data was already redirected.
+fn strip_heatmap_data(event: &mut ProcessedEvent) {
+    if let Ok(mut raw_event) = serde_json::from_str::<RawEvent>(&event.event.data) {
+        if raw_event.properties.remove("$heatmap_data").is_some() {
+            if let Ok(data) = serde_json::to_string(&raw_event) {
+                event.event.data = data;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    event.metadata.skip_heatmap_processing = true;
+}
+
 /// Process a single analytics event from RawEvent to ProcessedEvent
 #[instrument(skip_all, fields(event_name, request_id))]
 pub fn process_single_event(
@@ -92,6 +165,7 @@ pub fn process_single_event(
         skip_person_processing: false,
         redirect_to_dlq: false,
         redirect_to_topic: None,
+        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
     };
 
     if historical_cfg.should_reroute(metadata.data_type, parsed_timestamp.timestamp) {
@@ -142,11 +216,41 @@ pub async fn process_events<'a>(
     Span::current().record("request_id", &context.request_id);
     Span::current().record("is_mirror_deploy", context.is_mirror_deploy);
 
+    // Identify which raw events need heatmap redirects before `events` is shadowed.
+    let needs_heatmap_redirect: Vec<bool> = events
+        .iter()
+        .map(|e| e.event != "$$heatmap" && has_heatmap_data(e))
+        .collect();
+
+    let mut heatmap_redirects: Vec<ProcessedEvent> = Vec::new();
+    for (e, needs_redirect) in events.iter().zip(needs_heatmap_redirect.iter()) {
+        if *needs_redirect {
+            match create_heatmap_redirect(e, historical_cfg.clone(), context) {
+                Ok(processed) => {
+                    metrics::counter!("capture_heatmap_redirects_created").increment(1);
+                    heatmap_redirects.push(processed);
+                }
+                Err(err) => {
+                    error!("failed to create heatmap redirect: {err:#}");
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     let mut events: Vec<ProcessedEvent> = events
         .iter()
         .map(|e| process_single_event(e, historical_cfg.clone(), context))
         .collect::<Result<Vec<ProcessedEvent>, CaptureError>>()?;
 
+    // Strip heatmap data from originals that got redirects
+    for (event, needs_redirect) in events.iter_mut().zip(needs_heatmap_redirect.iter()) {
+        if *needs_redirect {
+            strip_heatmap_data(event);
+        }
+    }
+
+    events.extend(heatmap_redirects);
+
     debug_or_info!(chatty_debug_enabled, context=?context, event_count=?events.len(), "created ProcessedEvents batch");
 
     events.retain(|e| {
@@ -835,4 +939,218 @@ mod tests {
             Some("custom_events_topic".to_string())
         );
     }
+
+    fn create_event_with_heatmap_data() -> RawEvent {
+        let mut properties = HashMap::new();
+        properties.insert("distinct_id".to_string(), json!("test_user"));
+        properties.insert(
+            "$heatmap_data".to_string(),
+            json!({"https://example.com": [{"x": 100, "y": 200, "target_fixed": false, "type": "click"}]}),
+        );
+        properties.insert("$viewport_height".to_string(), json!(900));
+        properties.insert("$viewport_width".to_string(), json!(1440));
+        properties.insert("$session_id".to_string(), json!("session-abc"));
+        properties.insert("$current_url".to_string(), json!("https://example.com"));
+        properties.insert(
+            "other_prop".to_string(),
+            json!("should_not_appear_in_redirect"),
+        );
+
+        RawEvent {
+            uuid: Some(uuid_v7()),
+            distinct_id: None,
+            event: "$pageview".to_string(),
+            properties,
+            timestamp: Some("2023-01-01T11:00:00Z".to_string()),
+            offset: None,
+            set: None,
+            set_once: None,
+            token: Some("test_token".to_string()),
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_has_heatmap_data_with_heatmap_data_property() {
+        let event = create_event_with_heatmap_data();
+        assert!(has_heatmap_data(&event));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_has_heatmap_data_with_scroll_depth_properties() {
+        let mut properties = HashMap::new();
+        properties.insert("distinct_id".to_string(), json!("test_user"));
+        properties.insert("$prev_pageview_pathname".to_string(), json!("/old"));
+        properties.insert("$current_url".to_string(), json!("https://example.com/new"));
+
+        let event = RawEvent {
+            uuid: Some(uuid_v7()),
+            distinct_id: None,
+            event: "$pageview".to_string(),
+            properties,
+            timestamp: None,
+            offset: None,
+            set: None,
+            set_once: None,
+            token: Some("test_token".to_string()),
+        };
+        assert!(has_heatmap_data(&event));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_has_heatmap_data_without_heatmap_properties() {
+        let event = create_test_event(None, None, None);
+        assert!(!has_heatmap_data(&event));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_create_heatmap_redirect_properties_and_metadata() {
+        let now = Utc::now();
+        let context = create_test_context(now, None);
+        let event = create_event_with_heatmap_data();
+        let historical_cfg = router::HistoricalConfig::new(false, 1);
+
+        let redirect = create_heatmap_redirect(&event, historical_cfg, &context).unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(redirect.metadata.data_type, DataType::HeatmapMain);
+        assert_eq!(redirect.metadata.event_name, "$$heatmap");
+        assert!(!redirect.metadata.skip_heatmap_processing);
+        assert_eq!(redirect.event.event, "$$heatmap");
+        assert_ne!(redirect.event.uuid, event.uuid.unwrap());
+
+        let data: RawEvent = serde_json::from_str(&redirect.event.data).unwrap();
+        assert!(data.properties.contains_key("$heatmap_data"));
+        assert!(data.properties.contains_key("$viewport_height"));
+        assert!(data.properties.contains_key("$viewport_width"));
+        assert!(data.properties.contains_key("$session_id"));
+        assert!(data.properties.contains_key("$current_url"));
+        assert!(data.properties.contains_key("distinct_id"));
+        assert!(
+            !data.properties.contains_key("other_prop"),
+            "redirect should only contain heatmap properties"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_strip_heatmap_data_removes_property_and_sets_flag() {
+        let now = Utc::now();
+        let context = create_test_context(now, None);
+        let event = create_event_with_heatmap_data();
+        let historical_cfg = router::HistoricalConfig::new(false, 1);
+
+        let mut processed = process_single_event(&event, historical_cfg, &context).unwrap();
+        assert!(!processed.metadata.skip_heatmap_processing);
+
+        strip_heatmap_data(&mut processed);
+
+        assert!(processed.metadata.skip_heatmap_processing);
+        let data: RawEvent = serde_json::from_str(&processed.event.data).unwrap();
+        assert!(!data.properties.contains_key("$heatmap_data"));
+        assert!(
+            data.properties.contains_key("$viewport_height"),
+            "non-$heatmap_data properties should be preserved"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_process_events_creates_heatmap_redirect() {
+        let now = Utc::now();
+        let context = create_test_context(now, None);
+        let events = vec![create_event_with_heatmap_data()];
+
+        let sink = Arc::new(MockSink::new());
+        let dropper = Arc::new(limiters::token_dropper::TokenDropper::default());
+        let historical_cfg = router::HistoricalConfig::new(false, 1);
+
+        let result = process_events(
+            sink.clone(),
+            dropper,
+            None,
+            historical_cfg,
+            &events,
+            &context,
+        )
+        .await;
+
+        assert!(result.is_ok());
+        let captured = sink.get_events();
+        assert_eq!(captured.len(), 2, "should produce original + redirect");
+
+        let original = &captured[0];
+        assert_eq!(original.event.event, "$pageview");
+        assert!(original.metadata.skip_heatmap_processing);
+        let orig_data: RawEvent = serde_json::from_str(&original.event.data).unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            !orig_data.properties.contains_key("$heatmap_data"),
+            "$heatmap_data should be stripped from original"
+        );
+
+        let redirect = &captured[1];
+        assert_eq!(redirect.event.event, "$$heatmap");
+        assert_eq!(redirect.metadata.data_type, DataType::HeatmapMain);
+        assert!(!redirect.metadata.skip_heatmap_processing);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_process_events_no_redirect_for_heatmap_event() {
+        let now = Utc::now();
+        let context = create_test_context(now, None);
+
+        let mut event = create_event_with_heatmap_data();
+        event.event = "$$heatmap".to_string();
+        let events = vec![event];
+
+        let sink = Arc::new(MockSink::new());
+        let dropper = Arc::new(limiters::token_dropper::TokenDropper::default());
+        let historical_cfg = router::HistoricalConfig::new(false, 1);
+
+        let result = process_events(
+            sink.clone(),
+            dropper,
+            None,
+            historical_cfg,
+            &events,
+            &context,
+        )
+        .await;
+
+        assert!(result.is_ok());
+        let captured = sink.get_events();
+        assert_eq!(
+            captured.len(),
+            1,
+            "$$heatmap events should not produce a redirect"
+        );
+        assert_eq!(captured[0].metadata.data_type, DataType::HeatmapMain);
+        assert!(!captured[0].metadata.skip_heatmap_processing);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_process_events_no_redirect_without_heatmap_data() {
+        let now = Utc::now();
+        let context = create_test_context(now, None);
+        let events = vec![create_test_event(
+            Some("2023-01-01T11:00:00Z".to_string()),
+            None,
+            None,
+        )];
+
+        let sink = Arc::new(MockSink::new());
+        let dropper = Arc::new(limiters::token_dropper::TokenDropper::default());
+        let historical_cfg = router::HistoricalConfig::new(false, 1);
+
+        let result = process_events(
+            sink.clone(),
+            dropper,
+            None,
+            historical_cfg,
+            &events,
+            &context,
+        )
+        .await;
+
+        assert!(result.is_ok());
+        let captured = sink.get_events();
+        assert_eq!(captured.len(), 1);
+        assert!(!captured[0].metadata.skip_heatmap_processing);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/rust/capture/src/events/recordings.rs b/rust/capture/src/events/recordings.rs
index 05a43b5eb15e..45c3906f751a 100644
--- a/rust/capture/src/events/recordings.rs
+++ b/rust/capture/src/events/recordings.rs
@@ -311,6 +311,7 @@ pub async fn process_replay_events(
         skip_person_processing: applied.skip_person_processing(),
         redirect_to_dlq: applied.redirect_to_dlq(),
         redirect_to_topic: applied.redirect_to_topic().map(|s| s.to_string()),
+        skip_heatmap_processing: false,
     };
 
     // Serialize snapshot data synchronously
diff --git a/rust/capture/src/otel/filtering.rs b/rust/capture/src/otel/filtering.rs
index bec3010e13bf..a4f4e7658e3a 100644
--- a/rust/capture/src/otel/filtering.rs
+++ b/rust/capture/src/otel/filtering.rs
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ pub fn build_events(
             skip_person_processing: restrictions.skip_person_processing(),
             redirect_to_dlq: restrictions.redirect_to_dlq(),
             redirect_to_topic: restrictions.redirect_to_topic().map(|s| s.to_string()),
+            skip_heatmap_processing: false,
         };
 
         processed.push(ProcessedEvent {
diff --git a/rust/capture/src/sinks/fallback.rs b/rust/capture/src/sinks/fallback.rs
index 634e48d20f33..0540d980975a 100644
--- a/rust/capture/src/sinks/fallback.rs
+++ b/rust/capture/src/sinks/fallback.rs
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ mod tests {
                 skip_person_processing: false,
                 redirect_to_dlq: false,
                 redirect_to_topic: None,
+                skip_heatmap_processing: false,
             },
         };
 
@@ -209,6 +210,7 @@ mod tests {
                 skip_person_processing: false,
                 redirect_to_dlq: false,
                 redirect_to_topic: None,
+                skip_heatmap_processing: false,
             },
         };
 
diff --git a/rust/capture/src/sinks/kafka.rs b/rust/capture/src/sinks/kafka.rs
index c5ee17487cdb..e6877f639eb5 100644
--- a/rust/capture/src/sinks/kafka.rs
+++ b/rust/capture/src/sinks/kafka.rs
@@ -317,6 +317,7 @@ impl<P: KafkaProducer> KafkaSinkBase<P> {
         let skip_person_processing = metadata.skip_person_processing;
         let redirect_to_dlq = metadata.redirect_to_dlq;
         let redirect_to_topic = metadata.redirect_to_topic;
+        let skip_heatmap_processing = metadata.skip_heatmap_processing;
 
         // Use the event's to_headers() method for consistent header serialization
         let mut headers = event.to_headers();
@@ -328,6 +329,10 @@ impl<P: KafkaProducer> KafkaSinkBase<P> {
             headers.set_force_disable_person_processing(true);
         }
 
+        if skip_heatmap_processing {
+            headers.set_skip_heatmap_processing(true);
+        }
+
         // Check for redirect_to_dlq first - takes priority over all other routing
         let (topic, partition_key): (&str, Option<&str>) = if redirect_to_dlq {
             counter!(
@@ -632,6 +637,7 @@ mod tests {
             skip_person_processing: false,
             redirect_to_dlq: false,
             redirect_to_topic: None,
+            skip_heatmap_processing: false,
         };
 
         let event = ProcessedEvent {
@@ -779,6 +785,7 @@ mod tests {
             now: Some("2023-01-01T12:00:00Z".to_string()),
             force_disable_person_processing: None,
             historical_migration: Some(true),
+            skip_heatmap_processing: None,
             dlq_reason: None,
             dlq_step: None,
             dlq_timestamp: None,
@@ -799,6 +806,7 @@ mod tests {
             now: Some("2023-01-01T12:00:00Z".to_string()),
             force_disable_person_processing: None,
             historical_migration: Some(false),
+            skip_heatmap_processing: None,
             dlq_reason: None,
             dlq_step: None,
             dlq_timestamp: None,
@@ -827,6 +835,7 @@ mod tests {
             now: Some(test_now.clone()),
             force_disable_person_processing: None,
             historical_migration: None,
+            skip_heatmap_processing: None,
             dlq_reason: None,
             dlq_step: None,
             dlq_timestamp: None,
@@ -860,6 +869,7 @@ mod tests {
             now: Some(test_now.clone()),
             force_disable_person_processing: None,
             historical_migration: None,
+            skip_heatmap_processing: None,
             dlq_reason: Some("test reason".to_string()),
             dlq_step: Some("test step".to_string()),
             dlq_timestamp: Some(dlq_timestamp.clone()),
@@ -940,6 +950,7 @@ mod tests {
                 skip_person_processing: input.skip_person_processing,
                 redirect_to_dlq: input.redirect_to_dlq,
                 redirect_to_topic: input.redirect_to_topic.clone(),
+                skip_heatmap_processing: false,
             };
 
             ProcessedEvent { event, metadata }
diff --git a/rust/capture/src/sinks/s3.rs b/rust/capture/src/sinks/s3.rs
index 6ca53567ec0f..fbe94426030e 100644
--- a/rust/capture/src/sinks/s3.rs
+++ b/rust/capture/src/sinks/s3.rs
@@ -362,6 +362,7 @@ mod tests {
                 skip_person_processing: false,
                 redirect_to_dlq: false,
                 redirect_to_topic: None,
+                skip_heatmap_processing: false,
             },
         }
     }
diff --git a/rust/capture/src/v0_request.rs b/rust/capture/src/v0_request.rs
index e1190dd7b228..8183300f1c06 100644
--- a/rust/capture/src/v0_request.rs
+++ b/rust/capture/src/v0_request.rs
@@ -189,6 +189,9 @@ pub struct ProcessedEventMetadata {
     pub redirect_to_dlq: bool,
     /// Redirect this event to a custom topic (set by event restrictions)
     pub redirect_to_topic: Option<String>,
+    /// Signal to the pipeline that heatmap data for this event was redirected
+    /// to the heatmaps topic and should not be extracted again
+    pub skip_heatmap_processing: bool,
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/rust/common/types/src/event.rs b/rust/common/types/src/event.rs
index 6ac4baa25a77..54b18e0db8d4 100644
--- a/rust/common/types/src/event.rs
+++ b/rust/common/types/src/event.rs
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ pub struct CapturedEventHeaders {
     pub now: Option<String>,
     pub force_disable_person_processing: Option<bool>,
     pub historical_migration: Option<bool>,
+    pub skip_heatmap_processing: Option<bool>,
     pub dlq_reason: Option<String>,
     pub dlq_step: Option<String>,
     pub dlq_timestamp: Option<String>,
@@ -129,6 +130,10 @@ impl CapturedEventHeaders {
         self.force_disable_person_processing = Some(value);
     }
 
+    pub fn set_skip_heatmap_processing(&mut self, value: bool) {
+        self.skip_heatmap_processing = Some(value);
+    }
+
     pub fn set_dlq_reason(&mut self, value: String) {
         self.dlq_reason = Some(value);
     }
@@ -186,7 +191,14 @@ impl From<CapturedEventHeaders> for OwnedHeaders {
                 value: historical_migration_str.as_deref(),
             });
 
-        // To prevent adding bloat to the other topic headers, only add add dlq headers when present.
+        // Only add optional headers when present, to avoid bloating every message.
+        if let Some(skip_heatmap_processing) = headers.skip_heatmap_processing {
+            let val = skip_heatmap_processing.to_string();
+            owned = owned.insert(Header {
+                key: "skip_heatmap_processing",
+                value: Some(val.as_str()),
+            });
+        }
         if let Some(ref reason) = headers.dlq_reason {
             owned = owned.insert(Header {
                 key: "dlq_reason",
@@ -235,6 +247,9 @@ impl From<OwnedHeaders> for CapturedEventHeaders {
             historical_migration: headers_map
                 .get("historical_migration")
                 .and_then(|v| v.parse::<bool>().ok()),
+            skip_heatmap_processing: headers_map
+                .get("skip_heatmap_processing")
+                .and_then(|v| v.parse::<bool>().ok()),
             dlq_reason: headers_map.get("dlq_reason").cloned(),
             dlq_step: headers_map.get("dlq_step").cloned(),
             dlq_timestamp: headers_map.get("dlq_timestamp").cloned(),
@@ -294,7 +309,7 @@ impl CapturedEvent {
             } else {
                 None
             },
-            // DLQ headers should only be explicitly set when needed
+            skip_heatmap_processing: None,
             dlq_reason: None,
             dlq_step: None,
             dlq_timestamp: None,