Australian ETA for UK Travel: Key Dates, Costs, and Practical Tips

(UNITED KINGDOM) From 8 January 2025, Australian citizens who fly, take a ferry, or ride a train to the United Kingdom for a short visit of up to six months without a visa must have an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they board. The UK says the ETA is digital permission to travel, linked to the traveller’s passport. It is not a visa and it does not guarantee entry: a Border Force officer still decides at the border. Carriers must check ETA status before departure, so travellers without approval can be turned away at check-in.

The travel “journey” in plain terms

For most Australians, the main change is timing. The old habit—book a flight and sort it out on arrival—no longer works for visa-free travel.

The ETA adds a simple but fixed step before travel, much like checking your passport’s expiry date. As of late 2025, the UK scheme is fully up and running, with a broader global rollout than first set out and a higher fee than the early £10 figure many travellers remember.

The current official fee is £16 per person, including children and infants, and most people get a decision quickly.

Check first: do you actually need an ETA?

You generally need an ETA if you are travelling on an Australian passport and plan to enter the UK for up to six months for any of the following:

• Tourism, including holidays and visiting friends and family
• Business visits, such as meetings and conferences
• Short-term study, where the visitor rules allow it (up to six months)
• Transit that involves passing through UK passport control

You generally do not need an ETA if:

• You hold a British or Irish passport
• You already have UK permission to live, work, or study (for example, a visa or settled status)
• You will use a different passport that comes with a different UK status

Note: If you already need a visa for the UK, the ETA route is not a substitute.

Plan your timing: when to apply and how long it lasts

• Australians have been able to apply since 27 November 2024.
• The rule applies to travel on or after 8 January 2025.
• The UK advises travellers to apply at least 3 working days before travel.

Many applications are decided in minutes, but some require manual checks and can take longer.

Once approved, an ETA is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. It allows multiple trips, but each stay as a visitor is still limited to up to 6 months at a time.

If you replace your passport, you must apply again because the ETA cannot be transferred to a new document.

Step-by-step: applying for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

The UK offers two official routes: the “UK ETA” smartphone app and the online service on GOV.UK. The core steps are the same, and the system links the result to your passport electronically.

The safest way to avoid extra charges is to use the UK government’s own service, not a third-party website. The UK’s official instructions are on the GOV.UK page for applying for an ETA: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta.

Numbered application steps:

1. Get your passport ready
   Use the passport you will travel on. If it expires soon, renew first so you don’t pay twice.

2. Take or upload a digital photo
   The photo must meet the UK’s digital standards. A rushed photo is a common cause of delays.

3. Fill in your details
   Provide contact details and basic personal information. Ensure names, dates, and passport numbers match exactly.

4. Answer security and criminality questions
   Short questions help the UK screen travellers before they leave home.

5. Pay the fee
   The current fee is £16 per applicant. Each child needs their own approval, even babies travelling on their own passport.

6. Wait for the decision and save proof
   Even though carriers can see approval digitally, keep the confirmation message or email in case a check-in desk has trouble pulling it up.

Important practical tip: according to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the biggest mistake is leaving the application until the day of travel and then discovering a manual check is needed.

What the UK checks, and what happens after approval

The Home Office says the ETA system uses:

• Biographic details
• Biometric-style identity checks through the photo
• Contact data
• Security and criminality questions

These checks help spot people who may pose a threat before they travel.

A Home Office factsheet updated in November 2025 reports that 19.6 million ETAs were granted from the scheme’s launch in October 2023 up to the end of September 2025.

Approval means you can travel to the UK as a visitor without applying for a visa first, but it does not change the border interview. On arrival, Border Force can still ask:

• Why you are coming
• Where you will stay
• How long you plan to remain
• How you will support yourself

If an officer thinks you plan to work or stay longer than allowed, you can still be refused entry.

Key point: An ETA grants permission to travel to the UK as a visitor, but final entry is decided by Border Force on arrival.

Transit trips: the most common trap

Australians often use London as a hub, and transit rules can be confusing. The key question: will you pass through UK passport control?

• If you must clear UK immigration—for example, an overnight stop where you leave the airport, a connection to a domestic UK flight, or some terminal changes—you need an ETA.
• If you stay airside and do not go through passport control, the UK says that airside transit at Heathrow or Manchester currently does not require an ETA.

Airline systems do not always explain this well when you book, especially with separate tickets or mixed carriers. If there is any chance you might need to enter the UK to make your connection, an ETA is the safer choice because a carrier can refuse boarding at the first airport if you do not have the right permission.

What you can do in the UK on an ETA (and what still needs a visa)

With an ETA you can generally come for:

• Holidays and family visits
• Certain business activities that fit the visitor rules
• Short courses or study that lasts up to 6 months

The ETA does not give you the right to:

• Work in the UK, including paid work outside visitor rules
• Live in the UK long term or settle
• Study on a course longer than six months
• Replace a long-term visa such as Skilled Worker, Student, or family routes

If your plan is to take a job, start a degree, or join a partner in the UK, you still need the appropriate visa or status. If you already hold that status, you normally do not need an ETA for travel covered by it.

At the airport: carrier responsibilities and traveller checklist

Airlines, ferry operators, and train companies must confirm that an ETA is in place for people who need one. If you arrive without approval, staff can deny boarding even if you have a return ticket and a hotel booking.

To keep things smooth:

• Apply as soon as you book, and keep the 3 working day buffer
• Travel with the same passport you used in the ETA application
• Carry a copy of your ETA confirmation and your return or onward booking
• Be ready to explain your visit in a few clear sentences at the UK border

The tightening timeline through 2026

• Rule in force for Australians since 8 January 2025.
• Wider rollout includes many visa-free nationalities (United States 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦, New Zealand, and many European countries).
• Hard enforcement point: from 25 February 2026, travellers who need an ETA but do not hold one cannot legally travel to the UK or board transport.

For many families, the change is less about cost and more about habit. A couple heading to a wedding, or a parent travelling with two children, now needs to treat the ETA as part of the packing list. Done early and carefully, it usually becomes a one-time task that covers repeated trips for two years.

Special notes and practical reminders

• Dual nationals: If you hold both Australian and British citizenship, UK officials advise travelling on your British passport. This avoids ETA checks at the gate and keeps your trip in the “right of abode” lane. If you travel on your Australian passport, you’ll need an ETA like any other visitor.
• Families: Each child needs their own approval. Example: a family of five pays £80 (5 × £16).
• Proof and preparedness: The ETA cannot fix a lack of supporting evidence. If you arrive with little proof of your plans, Border Force may still question you closely. Saving your confirmation and checking passport expiry before booking reduces stress later.