UNITED KINGDOM: Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for Australians starts today, 8 January 2025
With an estimated million-plus Australians heading to the UK this year, don’t pack your Samsonite without knowing about a new ETA travel hoop to jump through. I have written before about the introduction of the ETA for the United Kingdom, but here is a reminder.
Content of this Post:
A £10 UK welcome fee!
Starting Wednesday, January 8, travellers bound for the United Kingdom, which includes England, Scotland, Wales,and Northern Ireland, will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). This privilege comes with a £10 (around AU$20) fee.
Think of it as the digital visa waiver you’ll need to secure before boarding your flight. Without your ETA, your UK adventure could be jeopardised.
How to get your golden ETA ticket
Australians can apply for the ETA on the official UK Government website or use the UK ETA app for Apple or Google. Make sure you use the official site, not one of the sneaky third-party websites charging extra for the same service.
Apply early! Although the UK Government says most applications are processed within three working days, don’t take the gamble by making a last-minute application.
Airline staff will check your ETA status at the airport. If you don’t have one, you could be denied boarding, which is embarrassing and costly, given the cost of rebookings. It’s also a terrible way to kick off your holiday.
ETA process, what information you will need to apply
Your ETA will be valid for two years or until your passport expires (whichever is first). You are also allowed multiple visits of up to six months each visit.
After checking that you are eligible, make sure you have the following at hand:
- Contact and passport details
- Digital photo (read the requirements first)
- Answer a few questions
- Pay the £10 fee using a credit or debit card
You can apply online, but the Home Office encourages you to download the App and apply through that. Links below.
Bob’s your Auntie, right?
2PAXfly Takeout
Damn, another app to clog my phone for most of the year when I will only use it once every two years!
ETAs seem to be the way of the world, with most countries where Australians had either visa-free or arrival arrangements moving to this new digital form.
I shouldn’t complain. It sure beats sending your passport away for weeks, which used to be required for some countries—India and Vietnam, in my memory.
The increasing number of ETAs required in various countries is a sad and pesky development. Even if bureaucrats see a need for ETAs, there should be a fee exemption for like-minded countries.