Australians headed to the UK from January 2025 will find there’s a new form to fill out before they fly, along with a new fee to pay.

That form is called an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which must be completed online and your application approved before you step onto your flight to the UK.

The ETA is a digital visa-waiver program similar to the USA’s ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) and the forthcoming equivalents for European, Thailand and Japan, and doesn’t replace a conventional visa – it’s intended primarily for tourism and business purposes.

The UK ETA is already required for visitors from Gulf states including Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and is being extended globally in two stages.

Travellers from most countries outside Europe will need an ETA to visit the UK from 8 January 2025, unless they are travelling on an eVisa.

That long list includes Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and South Korea, who can all apply for an ETA as of 27 November 2024.

The ETA will cost £10 (A$20) – paid via a credit or debit card at the time of your online application – and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires.

Citizens of most European countries will need an ETA to visit the UK as of 2 April 2025.

“The worldwide expansion of the ETA demonstrates our commitment to enhance security through new technology and embedding a modern immigration system” says Seema Malhotra,  UK Minister for Migration and Citizenship, adding that “digitisation enables a smooth experience for the millions of people who pass through the border every year.”

But that £10 ETA fee will be loose change compared to the £224 (AUD$430) ‘flight tax’ which will be levied on all on premium economy, business class and first class fares from the UK as of April 2025.

How do you apply for the UK ETA?

Travellers will be able to apply for a UK ETA online through the UK Government website or the UK ETA app on their Apple or Android smartphone.

This involves

• providing contact and passport details 
• uploading a valid digital photo
• answering a set of questions
• and of course, paying that £10 fee with your credit or debit card

“Most applicants will receive a response within three working days”, the UK government advises, “with many receiving a result sooner” – so this is not something you should leave until the very last minute.

And if you turn up for your flight having forgotten to get an ETA in advance, don’t expect to be able to apply on your smartphone and get near-instant approval, as is sometimes the case with the US ESTA.

Click here for more information on the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) visa waiver scheme.