UNITED KINGDOM: Registration for Electronic Travel Authorisation for Australians opens today

If you are an Australian planning a trip to the UK starting in January 2025, you can now apply for the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). This digital visa-waiver program facilitates tourism and business travel, similar to the USA’s ESTA and upcoming equivalents in Europe, Thailand, and Japan.

Who Needs the ETA?

From 8 January 2025, travellers from countries outside Europe, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea, will need an ETA unless they’re travelling on an eVisa. European citizens will need the ETA starting 2 April 2025.

Application now open for Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

Australians can register for their Electronic Travel Authority (ETA )today via the UK Government website or the UK ETA app (Android or Apple).

You will need the information listed below to complete the application process:

• Contact details
• Passport details/scan – look for the black and white symbol with a circle and a horizontal line
• Digital photo/scan – the app has the ability to scan your face using your phones camera
• Additional questions: job, criminal history, additional nationalities
• Paying a £10 (A$20) fee with a credit or debit card

Validity and conditions

Once approved, the ETA remains valid for two years or until your passport expires, permitting multiple journeys to the UK with each stay lasting up to six months. Ensure your ETA is approved before your flight, as last-minute applications may not be processed in time.

Expect a quick turnaround time

As with most of these digital ETA style applications, your will probably get an almost instant response, unless your application flags something. The it could take longer, but expect to receive a response within three working days. Don’t leave your application until you reach the airport either. This isn’t America! It’s unlikely you will receive an instant response if you apply at the airport.

2PAXfly Takeout

I love this new way of receiving travel documents. It sure beats queuing up a couple of times at an Embassy. I am old and curmudgeonly enough to remember the application for a USA visa that involved several visits to the USA embassy and a personal interview!

What I don’t like about it is that it is another thing you can easily forget to do in your travel preparations. What I tend to do these days is maintain a travel folder that has printed versions of all my current ETAs for various countries around the world. That way, they are with me when I travel.