A big change is coming tomorrow for Aussie travellers to the UK

The days when Australian travelers could enter London Heathrow Airport simply by showing their passports are coming to an end. Starting tomorrow, the UK border security system will be adjusted, and Australian travelers will need to apply for permission in advance to enter the UK.

The UK government is implementing the digitalization of border security and launched the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme last year. This scheme will eventually require all travelers who do not need a visa and were not born in the UK or Ireland to apply for travel permission before arrival. Starting in January, Australian travelers will need to apply for an electronic permit to enter the UK.

Australian travelers can apply through the UK ETA app or apps downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. Alternatively, they can apply online. Applicants need to have a valid biometric passport and an email address. The ETA fee is $20, allowing multiple visits to the UK within two years, with each stay lasting up to six months, or until the passport expires.

The scheme has already been implemented for travelers from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. By April 2025, all European travelers will also need an ETA to travel to the UK. When announcing these changes last September, UK Immigration and Citizenship Minister, Simon Malhotra, said, "Digitalization provides a smooth experience for millions of people passing through our borders each year, including the visitors we warmly welcome, who are expected to contribute over £32 billion ($63 billion) to our tourism economy this year." She also emphasized, "The expansion of ETA globally demonstrates our determination to strengthen security and build a modern immigration system through new technologies."

Who needs an ETA? Anyone who can travel to the UK without a visa will soon need an ETA, or "Electronic Travel Authorisation," which pre-approves your entry before you travel. This is equivalent to the US ESTA, a mandatory, paid travel authorization that involves prior security checks. The scheme was first launched for Gulf Cooperation Council nationals in 2024 and will next be extended to other non-European travelers, including the 6 million travelers from the US, Canada, and Australia who enter the UK each year. From January 8, travelers from these countries will need an ETA to enter the UK. The only exception is EU citizens, who will need an ETA to enter the UK from April 2, 2025. Citizens of these countries who already live in the UK do not need an ETA.

The scheme applies to "short" visits to the UK, meaning stays of less than six months for tourism and business purposes. There are also other categories of ETA, including short-term study and permitted paid activities. This information is listed on the UK government website. The fee is a non-refundable £10 (about $20), and you can apply through the official app or directly online, as listed on the UK government website.

While some call it a visa, it is actually a visa waiver. Those who need a visa to enter the UK due to their nationality still need to apply for a visa (but they do not need to apply for an additional ETA). Countries follow a principle of reciprocity on immigration matters. When the US introduced the ESTA visa waiver in 2009, it was inevitable that the countries now subject to it would introduce their own similar schemes.

How to get an ETA? The fee is a non-refundable £10 (about $20), and you can apply through the official app or directly online, as listed on the UK government website. iPhone and Android apps claim to be faster, with a processing time of 10 minutes. Be sure to apply through official channels, not through third-party websites, as they may charge extra fees and are less likely to handle your data securely. You will need to upload a photo of your passport, scan and take a photo of yourself, upload the photo, and answer various questions about your plans. Online applications take about 20 minutes, and you must complete the entire process at once, without saving progress. A decision is usually given within three days, but the government warns that it may take longer. If you need urgent access, you can travel to the UK while waiting for a decision; however, you must apply before traveling.

Please note that having an ETA does not guarantee you entry into the UK. You still need to pass through passport control, and border officials still have the final say on whether you can enter. It is valid for two years and allows multiple entries, so you can visit as you please. It is valid for two years and allows multiple entries, so you can visit as you please. However, note that it will be electronically linked to your passport, so if you get a new passport within those two years, it will no longer be valid, and you must apply for a new ETA.

Everyone entering the UK needs their own ETA, including children and even babies. However, you can apply on behalf of others. The ETA is only valid for short stays of up to six months. Even for a quick transit, everyone entering UK territory must hold an ETA. (This is the same as the situation where any traveler transiting through the US needs an ESTA.) Without an ETA, you will not be able to pass through passport control into the transit area. To enter Europe, you need ETIAS – the EU travel waiver, which has been postponed multiple times but is currently scheduled to start sometime in 2025. Please stay tuned for details as the countdown nears.