ETA required
Australians need a UK ETA
ETA required for travel from 8 January 2025
Australian passport holders are on the UK ETA national list. Qantas, British Airways and Emirates codeshares out of Sydney and Melbourne will check for an ETA at check-in. The UK product is not Australia’s own ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) for people going the other way. Pay £20 on GOV.UK. The authorisation lasts two years or until that Australian passport expires. Working-holiday (Youth Mobility) is a different visa — if you already hold that visa, you do not apply for an ETA to use it. Australians with British citizenship should fly on the British passport.
Australian travel facts
| Passport | Australia |
|---|---|
| Roll-out | ETA required for travel from 8 January 2025 |
| What you need | UK ETA (£20) |
| Stay | Usually up to 6 months as a visitor |
| Work | Not allowed on visit permission |
| Landside transit | ETA required if you pass UK border control |
Mistakes australians make
- Buying a ‘UK ETA’ from a .au reseller that marks up the £20 fee.
- Using an ETA when you actually hold a UK Youth Mobility visa — you already have permission; travel on that visa.
- Applying with a passport that will expire inside a few months if you plan repeat trips; the ETA cannot outlive the passport.
London notes for Australian arrivals
Overnight SYD/MEL arrivals dump you at Heathrow around the morning peak. Elizabeth line to Tottenham Court Road is the simplest Zone 1 drop. Left-hand traffic starts the moment you leave the terminal; if you hire a car, ULEZ cameras cover almost the whole city, not just central London.
FAQs
- Is the UK ETA the same as Australia’s ETA?
- No. Australia’s ETA/eVisitor is for travel to Australia. The UK ETA is only for travel to the UK.
- I am on a UK Youth Mobility visa. Do I still need an ETA?
- No. People with entry clearance or permission to stay do not use ETA for that travel.
- Can my toddler skip it?
- No. Every traveller, including babies, needs their own ETA linked to their own passport.
Other passports
Bodhixt is not affiliated with UKVI. Confirm on GOV.UK before you book. Apply via https://www.gov.uk/eta only.