Australian Visitors to the UK Must now Obtain New Digital Entry Permit

January 7, 2025 TruthUSA

Effective Jan. 8, all Australian travellers, including children and babies, are required to obtain an ETA in order to visit the UK.

Regardless of age, Australians must now apply for a digital permit to travel to the UK under the new regulation.

As part of recent changes to the UK’s immigration system, citizens of 49 additional non-European countries, including Australia, must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland starting Jan. 8, 2025.

The ETA serves as a digital authorisation replacing the previous Electronic Visa Waiver scheme in the UK. This scheme was initially rolled out to travellers from the Middle East beginning in November 2023.

With the ETA, travellers can stay in the UK for up to six months for purposes such as tourism, business, short-term study, and visiting family and friends. The digital permit allows for multiple entries within a two-year period unless the passport expires.

Each ETA application costs £10 (A$20) and is non-refundable.

To apply for an ETA, travellers can use the UK ETA app on Google Play and Apple App Store, or visit the UK ETA official website.

The UK government states that typically an application is processed within three working days, but applying through the mobile app may result in a quicker response.

It is recommended for travellers to have their permits approved before their flight to the UK.

If an application is rejected, travellers can reapply for the ETA. However, in the event of rejection, they must apply for a UK visa.

Why Does The UK Require ETA for Travellers?

The introduction of the ETA by the UK government aims to enhance border security and aligns with practices in other countries such as the United States and Australia.

“ETAs provide us with comprehensive information on travellers to the UK, enabling us to prevent the travel of individuals who may pose a threat, including those transiting through UK airports,” the government said.

Initially applicable to travellers from specific Middle Eastern countries, the ETA requirement now extends to citizens from 54 non-European countries.

Starting April 2, 2025, European citizens will also need to apply for an ETA when visiting the UK.

Data from the UK government indicates that Australia was among the top 10 countries with the highest number of visitors to the UK in 2023, with a 62% increase in visits totaling 1.17 million.

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