Australians planning to visit the UK from January 2025 will need to apply for the country’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in advance of their trip.
The ETA is a digital visa-waiver system, similar to the USA’s ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), designed primarily for tourism and business travel and does not replace a standard visa. Starting 8 January 2025, travellers from most non-European countries will need an ETA to enter the UK unless they hold an eVisa. This includes citizens from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea. Meanwhile, citizens of most European nations will require an ETA from 2 April 2025.
Australians can apply for the ETA now via the UK Government website or the UK ETA app, available for Apple and Android devices.
The ETA application costs £10 (approximately A$20) and can be completed online by:
- Providing passport and contact details
- Uploading a valid digital photo
- Answering a short set of questions
- Paying the £10 fee with a credit or debit card
More info on the UK Gov website