CashNews.co
Aussies heading to the UK from early next year are now able to apply for the country’s new fee system. The United Kingdom announced in September that it was expanding its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
It has previously only been required for travellers coming from several Middle Eastern countries, but it will now be needed for people flying over from Australia, the US, Canada, New Zealand, Mexico, Norway and Japan. The fee attached to the ETA is £10, which works out to be roughly AUD$19.40.
ETA applications opened on Wednesday but won’t be needed unless you’re travelling to the UK after January 8 next year.
“The worldwide expansion of the ETA demonstrates our commitment to enhance security through new technology and embedding a modern immigration system,” UK Minister for Migration and Citizenship Seema Malhotra said in a statement.
Every person coming into the UK will need an ETA, including children and babies.
You can sign up for an ETA using the UK government’s phone app or through their website here.
Australians will need to upload a picture of their passport and answer personal questions to get approved for an ETA.
This information will be checked against security databases and the whole process takes up to three days to complete.
Having an ETA will allow Aussies to stay in the UK for up to six months at a time and have multiple visits over two years or until the person’s passport expires.
The UK will expand the ETA scheme next year to include all countries in the European Union (EU) as well as Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Vatican City, Monaco and San Marino.
Ireland will be exempt from the UK’s ETA system.
Those nations will be able to apply for an ETA from March 5 for entry to the UK from April 2.
The UK’s ETA is similar to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) announced this year.
The cost of applying for the ETIAS will be about $11.50 and it will be valid for three years or until your passport expires.
Thirty EU countries will require Aussies to have an ETIAS, however, travellers under 18 and those above 70 won’t be charged.
According to SmartTraveller, the ETIAS is expected to start in mid-late 2025.