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

The days of Australian travelers simply showing their passports to enter London Heathrow Airport are coming to an end. Starting tomorrow, the UK border security system will change, requiring Australian travelers to apply for permission in advance to enter the UK.

The UK government is digitizing its 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 are not born in the UK or Ireland to apply for travel permission before arrival. Australian travelers will need to apply for an electronic permit to enter the UK from January. You can apply through the UK ETA app, available on app stores and Google Play, or online.

Applicants will need a valid biometric passport and an email address. The ETA costs $20 and allows multiple visits to the UK within two years or until the passport expires, with each stay lasting a maximum of six months. The scheme has already been rolled out to 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, Seema Malhotra, stated: “Digitisation provides a smooth experience for the millions of people who pass through our borders every year, including the visitors we warmly welcome, who are expected to contribute over £32 billion ($63 billion) to our tourism economy this year. The expansion of the ETA globally demonstrates our commitment to strengthening security through new technology and embedding a modern immigration system.”

Who needs an ETA? Anyone who does not need a visa to travel to the UK 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, the security clearance for which is done prior to travel. The scheme was first rolled out to Gulf Cooperation Council nationals in 2024, and the next step is to extend it to other non-European travelers, including the six million visitors 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 for tourism and business purposes, meaning visits of less than six months. There are other ETA categories, including short-term study and permitted paid engagement. These are all listed on the UK government website. The fee is a non-refundable £10 (about $20), and you can apply through the official app listed on the UK government website or directly online. (AP)

While some are calling it a visa, it is actually a visa waiver. Those who need a visa to enter the UK will still need to apply for a visa. (They will not, however, need to get an ETA on top of that.) Countries follow a principle of reciprocity on immigration issues. When the US introduced its ESTA visa waiver program in 2009, it was inevitable that the countries now subject to it would introduce their own similar schemes.

The fee is a non-refundable £10 (about $20), and you can apply through the official app listed on the UK government website or directly online. The iPhone and Android apps claim to be faster, with processing times of 10 minutes. Be sure to apply through official channels, rather than through third-party websites, which may charge extra 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 during the application, upload the photo, and answer various questions about your plans. The online application takes about 20 minutes, and you must complete the entire process in one go – there is no opportunity to save your progress.

A decision is usually given within three days, but the government warns that it may take longer. If you need to travel urgently, you can travel to the UK while you are waiting for a decision; however, you must have applied before traveling. Be aware that having an ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. You still have to pass through passport control, and border force officials still have the final say on whether you can enter the country. It is valid for two years, with multiple entries – so you can visit as often as you like. (AP)

It is valid for two years, with multiple entries – so you can visit as often as you like. However, be aware that it will be digitally linked to your passport – so if you get a new passport within those two years, it will no longer be valid, and you will have to 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 for short stays of up to six months. Everyone entering UK territory, even just for a quick transit, must have an ETA. (This is the same as the requirement for an ESTA for anyone transiting through the US.) Without an ETA, you will not be able to pass through passport control into the transit area. To enter Europe, you will need ETIAS – the EU travel waiver, which has been delayed multiple times but is currently scheduled to start sometime in 2025. Watch out for details as the countdown approaches.