Thousands of Aussies to be caught out by new UK travel rules
The ‘electronic travel authorisation’ will be required by all travellers who currently enjoy visa-free status.
By Staff Writers, December 18 2024
Thousands of Australians headed to the UK in January are expected to be denied boarding their flight once the country’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) digital visa-waiver comes info force.
Travellers from most countries outside Europe – including Australia and New Zealand – will need an approved ETA to visit the UK from 8 January 2025.
Australians can already register for the ETA through the UK Government website or the UK ETA app, with a £10 (A$20) fee payable via a credit or debit card at the time of your application.
So what’s the catch?
Unlike the equivalent ESTA for travel to the USA, which is issued almost immediately, the UK ETA won’t have such a quick turnaround.
“Most applicants will receive a response within three working days”, the UK government advises, “with many receiving a result sooner.”
Airline staff will be checking that passengers on flights to the UK have an approved ETA – and anybody who turns up at the airport without an ETA can’t expect to apply on your smartphone to get on-the-spot approval.
Result: missed flights, expensive rebookings and not at all the best way to begin a holiday or business trip.
So if you’re headed for the UK any time from January 8 onwards, applying for an ETA is not something you should leave until the very last minute.
How to apply for a UK ETA
Once issued, the ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires, and allows multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time.
Applying for the ETA involves:
- providing contact and passport details
- uploading a valid digital photo
- answering a set of questions
- and paying a £10 fee with your credit or debit card
Applying for an ETA using the UK ETA app...
Click here for more information on the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) visa waiver scheme.
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Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
Too easy.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
21 Jul 2019
Total posts 189
Really pity those folks who have to travel for urgent compassionate reasons (i.e. family emergencies, sickness, impending death) once this new money-grabbing impost kicks in. Currently you can drop everything at once and be on your way in a matter of hours, if you really needed to. Now, you might be kicking your heels for days on end waiting for a grey bureaucrat..........how is this supposedly 'seamless' travel? One bureaucratic hurdle gets eliminated - another one takes its place. Nothing really changes, fundamentally.
03 Nov 2023
Total posts 8
I just checked and Australia has a similar requirement for UK citizens visiting here. It costs $20 so similar price, however the approval is normally received immediately. Hopefully the UK ETA is similar rather than 3 days, which is a long time if you need to travel in an emergency.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Aug 2015
Total posts 56
The USA ETSA is pretty much instant yes or it can take a few hours if they draw you out of the hat...
18 Sep 2018
Total posts 4
It's completely free for a UK passport holder to get an Aussie eVisitor (class 651). It usually comes through instantly and and it's valid for a year.
29 Apr 2020
Total posts 14
But it only allows stays of 3 months max! Unless you apply for a 600 VISA which costs from $495!!
22 Jan 2019
Total posts 15
Most countries with a ETA system (as opposed to a Visa) like USA,Australia will nearly always issue an ETA or notify of unsuccessful application within a few hours of applying. Admittedly Australia and the US don't require a photo, so that may delay approval of a GBR one depending on what needs to happen with the image.
03 May 2017
Total posts 22
well it does say "within 3 days" not 3 days. So thats just a way of saying dont whine to us if you dont get it straight away which clogs up customer service queues.
In any case, anyone with such pending circumstances would usually know somewhat in advance, and can have the ETSA paid up and ready up to 2 years ahead of time.
Wont be long before most country has a similar requirement, so will be SOP for the the savvy traveller.
01 Dec 2011
Total posts 34
People don't always know in advance--several years ago, I had a phone call that my mother in UK had fallen and broken her femur. At 86, the chances of recovery weren't good. I was able to go into the travel agent and book a flight leaving the next day, didn't have to worry about a visa etc. The hardest part was booking a flight to get home when I needed to stay longer.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Jul 2017
Total posts 10
That must have been quite stressful. In the future, anyone with a close connection to someone in the UK would be wise to keep a valid ETA at all times, renewing it every 2 years. People with a close enough connection to potentially need to travel at no notice are probably likely to visit the UK every 2 years anyway. Renewing it every 2 years, like a driver's licence or passport, is one more thing to do but a simple calendar reminder on your phone would help.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
21 Jul 2019
Total posts 189
Blake, in the real world we sadly can't predict strokes, seizures, sudden heart attacks, people falling and breaking femurs, house fires, car accidents, murders etc. etc. involving our loved ones. These are not '...pending circumstances' and we would NOT "....usually know somewhat in advance". That is the very nature of accidents and sudden illness(!) But if you have a crystal ball, please avail us whiners with your specialist services, for a fee.
03 Jun 2019
Total posts 29
Plus airlines can apply Australian ETA for the passengers at check-in counter and the response is almost instant (a service fee is charged by most airline as I understand in addition to the ETA fee). Not sure if the UK Gov would have something similar in return.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Sep 2012
Total posts 231
Any idea when the ETAs will roll out? I'm planning a trip to the UK in April, I hope this doesn't become mandatory a day before we fly out and throw a spanner in the works...
25 Nov 2022
Total posts 2
Does anyone know how this will work for dual UK/AU citizens?
I tend to book my travel using my AU passport since it's much easier when returning to breeze through customs with my AU passport and I don't think you can put 2 passport entries on one booking (afaik). Would I be able to just carry my UK passport along for the journey and use that at customs to avoid paying this fee, or will they be looking for this linked to the passport number on the travel booking and potentially block boarding if not provided in advance?
What a stupid thing to roll out. I don't know why anyone would want to pay $20 to visit that dreary place.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jan 2018
Total posts 48
You leave and re-enter Australia on your Australian passport and enter and leave the UK on your UK passport. Airline check-in in Australia may take an extra 5 minutes because it will be "confusing".
I experience this when going to the US and check-in in Australia. I have US Global Entry associated with my UK passport but my ESTA with my Australian passport (when it expires, I'll only use the UK passport because of Global Entry).
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Nov 2018
Total posts 118
I do the same thing. I have global with my UK passport, but I also have my USA ESTA on my British passport as well. Unfortunately I was silly and I put my Canada ESTA on my New Zealand passport… This makes it very confusing for check in agents. .
29 Aug 2014
Total posts 22
Transit pax also need these. BA hates this but can't do anything about it.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Nov 2018
Total posts 118
Yes you can, it’s just difficult and you will need to show your other passport to the check-in agent. When you leave Australia, check in with your British passport. Go to the smart you gates with your Australian passport. Into the UK on your British passport. When leaving the UK show, both your Australian passport and your British passport to the check-in agent. Leave the UK with your British passport, and come back to the gates in Australia with your Australian passport. Every once in awhile, you may have a problem with the electronic gates, but this is rare. Australian and UK immigration offices are used to us having more than one passport.
Air Canada - Aeroplan
28 Feb 2015
Total posts 122
The smartgates at SYD can be very picky and very misleading. When I leave Australia heading for Canada (where I live), the smartgates NEVER accept my Australian passport (even though I obviously entered Australia with the Australian one, and both passports are linked), and gives the misleading response that it can't read the document. It will only accept my Canadian one - every time. Those who have two passports should just switch to the other one if the Australian one fails to scan (don't keep trying because you'll only get a message to see an Immigration officer).
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 526
@outthere1000, that's impossible unless you've used your Canadian passport to enter Australia in the past. Legally, you're supposed to enter and exit Australia only on your Australian passport regardless of how many citizenships you may have. I hold 3 passports and my children hold 4. Never ever have I encountered issues entering or leaving Australia, either using the Smart Gates or where possible, using an agent and getting manually processed. Of course I only ever present myself as Australian. Only time I present a non-Australian passport is to a check-in agent, alongside my Australian passport, depending on where I'm flying to.
26 Mar 2020
Total posts 73
I thought that was the case until my Australian also failed the other day just like @outthere1000 and the border force agent told "just use your kiwi one" the gate worked and opened and away i went.
So maybe on paper you must use your Australian one - but in reality it appears the border force agent herding the queue was trying to get people through fast as possible and seemed quite unfazed about it all
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Mar 2014
Total posts 13
Friend who had both was told in the UK that she should enter using her UK passport, but her partner only had Australian. I have in the past done it both ways, Australian all the way and Australian out and back UK in and out. did not make much difference but it will now :)
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 526
Very easy. Obviously, if you're a UK or Irish citizen you won't need one, regardless if you're a dual citizen of any other country.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 416
In case I missed it somewhere, how long is each ETA valid for or do you have to do it every trip? The ESTA is a couple of years (from memory) and I think the European one will be similar when that comes in at the end of the year.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Aug 2015
Total posts 56
So you still need a proper visa an now one of these ETS's ? Or would a proper visa trump it ? Its just a cash grab by the UK government...
12 Dec 2016
Total posts 9
If you have a visa, you don't need an ETA as well.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Nov 2018
Total posts 118
I think you do. It is supposed to act as a pre-authorisation to travel. A Visa gives you permission to enter and stay for a particular time with particular restrictions.
29 Jan 2016
Total posts 26
I take it, Australians with duel passports Australian/British, do not need to apply?
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 526
Of course not. If you hold either a British or Irish passport, no need to apply.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 May 2012
Total posts 178
if you are transiting through heathrow straight to another country in the EU do you still need to get this?
12 Dec 2016
Total posts 9
Yes - according to the UK.gov website.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Jan 2016
Total posts 6
Will UK born Australian Citizens travelling on Australian passports need to apply for the UK ETA?
As indicated in the article it appears to be a tourist tax rather than an actual visa. A bit excessive when Heathrow airport taxes are so expensive.
12 Dec 2016
Total posts 9
From the UK.gov website:
You do not need an ETA if you have either:
18 Jan 2017
Total posts 51
If you have a UK passport you would enter using the UK passport.
If you only have an Australian passport you will need to apply.
12 Jan 2024
Total posts 1
One would have expected that being part of the Commonwealth would avoid this process.
22 Jan 2019
Total posts 15
Why? UK citizens have required an ETA for Australia (and NZ since they introduced them)since their introduction and a visa prior to then.
16 Jul 2021
Total posts 4
Take great care that you're on the official site when applying for any of these online entry visas. Using my phone I clicked on a scam site for a Singaporean entry visa which incurred a charge, when it should be free. It didn't complete, which made me realise my mistake, but the site had collected all my identity details, so I cancelled the debit card and also decided to apply for a new passport.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
17 Mar 2016
Total posts 42
I wonder what would happen if you enter the UK without one? Feasibly you could arrive in Dublin, then cross into Northern Ireland without any checks although technically in the UK. Followed by travelling across to Britain, again without formal immigration checks?
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 526
Nothing. That's a legitimate method of entering the UK without using an ETA. Most people won't bother, because it's more convoluted than entering directly using an ETA but if there is travel that combines Ireland and the UK, it would be possible to bypass the ETA system UNLESS you fly between Ireland and the UK and there's a check made to get on the plane. However, travel by boat from Ireland probably wouldn't require one and definitely not if traveling between Belfast and the UK by any means.
29 Aug 2014
Total posts 22
ETAs are a PITA. From my experience as with the Canadian and Australian ETAs:
1. One more thing to tick off before departure. Especially when in a hurry.
1a. Hopefully UK system will be near-instant like AU and CA systems. As opposed to, Chilean and Brazilian systems which are punitive
1b. Hope they don't insist on smarty-pants features like NFC reading and population of data by scanning data page - HKSAR passports cannot be NFC read by iPhones and Androids (need immigration desks), and the data page isn't optimised for OCR (<-- my missus's 2023 Australian ETA had to be applied twice)
2. Screws over dual nationals:
2a. e.g. Canada: if you had their passport and have not renounced, you need to travel on their passport. Even if it's not current. Meaning - you have renew your Canadian passport to return to Canada. Before ETA requirement, you may get by with returning on foreign passport. But now you can't get an ETA issued on it.
2b. Name issues. If your name isn't the same across all docs then that screws up OLCI - you need to spend more time unconfusing check-in desk agents (see 2(c)).
2c. I never get which document to present. I was travelling from HK to South America as HKSAR, then further travelling to Australia (spending the night in Sydney) before returning to HK. You would have thought QF would only need my Australian passport, as I have no ETA and do not need one. No, QF (own staff) check-in desk in SCL asked for my entry passport. Even though Chilean exit immigration (this was the Business desk) is right next door.
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 526
How does this system screw over dual nationals? You should be grateful to possess a Canadian passport. Moaning over having to pay to renew it rather than being able to use an Australian passport in lieu of a Canadian one (like apparently you used to be able to, prior to the ETA rollout) seems more than a little ridiculous. I hold 3 nationalities and always keep all my passports and national ID cards up to date. My children hold 4 nationalities and its the same for them. Yes, paying all this money to governments just for the right to travel internationally isn't ideal, but we've had to use passports for international travel since at least 1915. I think the more nationalities one has, the better, that way international travel becomes seamless and allows you to move between countries if or when necessary.
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
24 Aug 2018
Total posts 112
I am fortunate to have a ninety year old sister in the Netherlands and currently the quickest way to Amsterdam is Melbourne, Perth and LHR. If this system is not in place in Jan. 2024, it might be nice to know when it will be available.
06 Mar 2020
Total posts 4
I've had a look on their website and can't see what date it is going to kick in for Australians. I don't have a problem paying for visa's or ETA's but am surprised that babies have to have an ETA, as also do people in transit. That sounds like revenue raising to me. I'll be heading to the UK in July this year. I just hope they open it to Australians either before July or after July, as I fly out on the 2nd.
16 Oct 2012
Total posts 53
We share the same head of state, yet don’t share reciprocal entry arrangements. Madness perhaps, or maybe a nudge for us reconsider divesting ourselves of the old dart ;)
Air Canada - Aeroplan
28 Feb 2015
Total posts 122
I suppose people are aware that one can get one's passports linked, which seems to save a lot of hassle at airports when leaving the country on one passport and travelling to another country on their passport. The service desk of your airline at the airport can do this for you in about 10 minutes.
14 Jan 2024
Total posts 2
I've done this in the past but the process doesn't seem to be widely advertised or documented online.
22 Jan 2019
Total posts 15
ETAs are a (nother) method of getting travellers data including passport details prior to check in, although those details maybe incorrect, which is probably why the UK will require an image of the passport to be provided as well. PNR data supplied by airlines is notoriously iffy when it comes to all bio details being supplied until the check in swipe of the passport, to allow proper assesment and response for the few poeple of interest.
Just like us and many other countries if there is a Visa/ETA requirement then every passport holder requires one.
14 Jan 2024
Total posts 2
I wonder how many people know that Australia invented this system and has been requiring most foreign nationals to apply for ETAs since 1996. Europeans get a free version - the eVisitor visa but that was just a compromise so the EU considered travel to Australia to be visa free for most EU citizens.
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Jun 2018
Total posts 3
The USA must have replicated their ETA from Australia? The US ETA costs $14, it lasts for two years, and is all done online. So why should we care. Two beers, Three coffees...It is small price for the UK to catchup with the rest of the world...lucky my last visit was in Oct 23 so wil lavoid for now....
09 May 2020
Total posts 574
Almost feels like visa application paperwork and a charge (admittedly a relatively small one compared to a real visa) for a visa free travel…
18 Mar 2022
Total posts 17
Hey Mark2up.
Used to be US$ 14.00
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jul 2018
Total posts 27
Over 38 Million visitors to UK in 2023 so this new tax will raise at least $600 Million. Just a new tax as it is in Australia, Canada and USA. The lie that it is about security is just another Furphy, so just shrug your shoulders and pay it (sigh).
25 Feb 2022
Total posts 17
Ok, 38 million people visited the UK in 2023 (straight away 380M pounds 2025), it's a money grab post Covid recovery, very transparent AND many countries are doing this. The ESTA (U.S.) when it initially kicked off was free, that lasted about a year. Security wise, approximately 98% of people who board a plane are of zero risk, in addition there is multiple times this information is captured. However, it's a trend which will see all countries using, in very quick time. The big question is why three days, the concern is, with technology today, how can this take three days, I guess plan well ahead. Saying this I am sure there will be the introduction of a 'same day', 'within 1 hour' approval introduced, at an accelerated cost.
02 Apr 2018
Total posts 3
Just a point on the "Which passport to use to enter/leave if you're a dual/multi-national" , I had an NZ immigration guy get quite snippy with me recently because they had installed new machines to avoid all manual processing. Of course the computer was looking for my Aust passport as those details had been shared by the machine in Aust for my departure. I had presented my NZ passport on arrival in NZ as that was what DFAT had instructed me to do -- Use the passport of the country I was entering. It refused me entry on my NZ passport as it was expecting an Australian passport and the NZ official insisted I scan the Aust passport for my entry and said I should continue that practice in the future so as not to cause delays at the mechanised gates. Not sure how that affects one's status once inside the country.
Air Canada - Aeroplan
28 Feb 2015
Total posts 122
In safe countries, it probably doesn't make much difference, but in less safe places it can even be a matter of life and death. A few years ago a dual Iranian/Canadian citizen (and resident o Canada) made the mistake of using her Iranian passport to enter Iran. She was arrested, and eventually murdered in custody, and because of the passport she'd entered the country with, there was nothing Canada could do to help her.
The choice of passport may also have a bearing on being able to access an emergency evacuation in case of civil unrest.
04 Jun 2018
Total posts 23
The article emphasises plane journeys, which is how most would get to The UK. However, is it correct to assume that the requirement for an UK ETA will also apply to travellers by ferry and/or car/bus/train?
By contrast, the Canadian ETA only applies for plane journeys with land visitors from certain nationalities requiring a paper visa.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 May 2018
Total posts 73
Then you have the 200 pound airport tax .. that has been talked about on here before.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 May 2017
Total posts 37
This is another new impost on the traveller and it stinks. Every country, including Australia who have this ESTA type system for entry should just dump it. It does not do a dint as far as stopping bad people from entering a country, but it does manage to piss off many well intentioned travellers. Procedure, procedure and more procedure.... Just what we want. Honestly, it is just easier and better to stay home or go someplace that is easy, like Fiji.
19 Aug 2024
Total posts 1
I'm a British passport holder living in Aus but my 12 year old daughter is an Aussie citizen passport holder. Guessing I'll just need one for her then? Any advice would be great.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Sep 2021
Total posts 20
Yet you can turn up in Dover without a passport and get a free hotel and a living allowance.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 May 2018
Total posts 73
That's almost a copy of the Brazillian one detailed on her a few months ago. Compared to Singapore etc it's a right shambles for us older travelers with all the requirements... I won't do it... and my pounds will be cashed in next week.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 775
Maybe Albanese should 'return fire' and hit Brits with a GBP 234 charge?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Jun 2014
Total posts 19
I assume that if you are arriving in the UK before January then you do not need to apply for this.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jun 2017
Total posts 77
I applied last night and had my approval just 6 minutes after lodgement. The process is very easy and the app worked very well on my iPhone. My wife uses a Samsung and had trouble, getting alerts to try again later. We completed her application also on my phone without any problems. Her approval also came in just 6 minutes after lodgement.
As for the reason for the ETA:
Security? There are 2 very basic security questions to answer which would be picked up if they ran the applicant via a watchlist so see no real point in asking. Rejecting potential non approved people before boarding a plane certainly makes sense assuming that the incoming airlines will have access to our ETA status at checkin?
Revenue? Also possible. 10 Quid per ETA sure adds up.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jun 2017
Total posts 77
Nick Orr. Even if you apply now it is only valid from the 8th of January so arrivals prior are all ok.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer P1
23 Aug 2014
Total posts 148
My approval took 2.6 minutes
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