UK ETA for Australians: What It Is and How to Apply (2026)

That’s exactly what the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is. It’s a piece of digital paperwork you’ll need to make short visits to the UK, whether you’re planning to visit family, do some sightseeing, or stop over on your way to Europe.

Don’t be intimidated. If you can book a flight, you can definitely handle the ETA application.

Let’s take a look at who needs it, how much it costs, how you can get one, and everything you need to know before you travel.

What Is the UK ETA?

The UK’s ETA started rolling out in late 2023, beginning with a handful of Gulf countries, with the goal of improving border security. This Electronic Travel Authorisation helps the UK keep track of who is entering the country. It collects biographic, biometric, and contact details, along with a short set of questions on criminal history.

Most travellers to the UK who don’t need a visa now need an ETA. That includes Australians.

British citizens, on the other hand, don’t need an ETA to enter the UK. However, since 25 February 2026, British citizens are required to enter the UK using a valid British passport or a certificate of entitlement. So if you’re an Aussie-British dual citizen, you’ll need to travel on your British passport instead.

For most Australians, then, the ETA is unavoidable.

It’s linked to your passport, so you don’t need to carry an extra document with you. It allows you to visit the whole of the UK for tourism or visiting family for up to six months at a time, and also lets you pass through the UK on your way to somewhere else. It even covers some limited business activities and short-term study.

The main thing to remember about the ETA is that it is not a visa. Although you need one to travel, it doesn’t guarantee you will be allowed in. UK Border Force officers still have the final say on that.

But without an ETA, you probably won’t even be allowed to board a flight to the UK.

Who Needs an ETA?

You, probably.

Since 8 January 2025, Australian citizens have needed an ETA for short visits to the UK. The requirement applies to citizens of all the countries whose passport holders can visit the UK without a visa. That’s places like Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, Japan, and the EU countries, for example.

It’s based on your citizenship, not your location, so you’ll need an ETA whether you’re flying directly from Australia or coming from another country like France or Ireland.

However, there are some cases where you won’t need an ETA. I already mentioned that British citizens don’t need one, but you do need proof of your UK citizenship, usually in the form of a passport.

The same goes for Irish citizens. Because Britain and Ireland share a Common Travel Area, Irish citizens have the right to enter, work, study, or live in the UK for as long as they like.

Just like Australia-UK dual citizens, Australia-Ireland dual citizens don’t need an ETA. If this applies to you, travel with proof of your British or Irish citizenship, ideally a passport.

You also don’t need an ETA if:

• You already have a valid UK visa
• You have permission to live, work, or study in the UK
• You are a legal resident of Ireland and are travelling to the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man

One more thing families often miss: every traveller needs their own ETA, including babies and kids. The good news is that you can apply for the whole family from one phone.

How Much Does the UK ETA Cost for Australians?

The short answer is £20 per person. Right now, that’s roughly A$39. The fee went up from £16 on 8 April 2026, so if you’ve seen older articles quoting a lower price, that’s why.

The fee is non-refundable, so even if your application is declined, you won’t get it back. Applications are handled directly through the UK government website or the official app, so don’t pay a third party to apply for you. Plenty of lookalike websites charge several times the official fee for doing exactly what you could do yourself. They won’t make your application any more likely to be approved. Save your money and do it yourself; I promise, it’s not that hard.

Preparing to Apply

As much as many Brits like to whinge about it, there’s one thing their government does really well: online services. Applying for an ETA takes around 10 minutes, and you can do it using the official government website or a handy mobile app called, unsurprisingly, UK ETA.

However you choose to apply, you’ll need a few things first:

• A valid Australian passport
• An email address
• A credit or debit card, or Apple Pay/Google Pay
• A digital photo of your face that meets the requirements

Often, getting the right photo is the hardest part of applications like this, but you don’t need to go to a photo studio. You can take a photo with your phone, as long as it’s in portrait orientation and shows your head and shoulders against a plain, light-coloured background. Check the official guidance for the full list of rules, including the minimum image size.

Oh, and you’re not allowed to smile. Save that for when the approval email lands.

The UK ETA Application

The mobile app lets you scan your passport chip and take your photo with your phone’s camera, which makes it the easiest option for most people. If you apply on a computer instead, you’ll need to have your photos saved so you can upload them.

Follow the instructions to enter your passport details, contact info, and your photo. You’ll also answer a few questions about criminal convictions and your immigration history.

Make sure you check everything, especially your passport number and your name. You don’t want to mess up the application and have to spend another £20 if you can avoid it.

Next, it’s time to pay the application fee. You can pay online using a bank card or a mobile payment provider.

That’s all there is to it, really. Most applicants get a response by email within a day. Sometimes, it comes in minutes. However, the government recommends you allow at least three working days before you need to travel.

Once you’re approved, you’ll get an email with your ETA reference number. It’s a good idea to note this down somewhere, but you don’t need to bring the confirmation email to the airport. Your ETA is linked to your passport, so airline staff and border officers will see it when your passport is scanned.

When to Get Your ETA

Your UK ETA will be valid for two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. It’s valid for multiple trips within that time, so you don’t need to apply every time you visit. If you renew your passport, you’ll need a new ETA to go with it.

For that reason, it’s a good idea to apply early. You don’t need flights booked to apply, so you can get your authorisation before you make any non-refundable plans. Since it’s fairly cheap and lasts two years, you won’t lose much by getting it early.

While you’re planning your trip, don’t overlook how you’ll stay connected when you’re abroad. With a UK travel eSIM from ZenSim, you can connect to local UK networks and skip the expensive roaming charges from your home carrier. And if you’re still deciding between options, our guide to the best eSIM for UK travel breaks it down.

Do Australians Need a UK ETA for Transit?

UK airports, particularly Heathrow, are major hubs for European and long-haul travel. So even if you never intended to visit the UK, you may end up there between flights anyway.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you need an ETA. It all depends on how your flights are scheduled.

If you’re changing flights at Heathrow or Manchester and staying airside, meaning you never pass through UK border control or leave the secure transit area, you currently don’t need an ETA. These are the only two UK airports with airside transit facilities, and the exemption was introduced as a temporary measure, so it’s worth double-checking before you fly.

However, you might want to officially enter the UK during transit. That could be because you want to enjoy a 24-hour layover in London, your connecting flight leaves from a different airport (say, landing at Heathrow and flying out of Gatwick), or you have to collect your bags and check them in again. In any of those cases, you will need an ETA.

Basically, if you’re going to pass through UK border control, you need an ETA. It’s always a good idea to keep details of your onward flight handy, and to check with your airline if you’re not sure whether you’ll go through border control or not.

Everything You Need to Know About the UK ETA

Hopefully, you now have a better idea of whether you need an ETA to enter the UK (hint: you probably do). Don’t be put off by the process; it’s not difficult, and it doesn’t take a lot of time. Get your passport ready, have a photo handy, and you’ll be ready to fly to or through the UK in no time at all.

If you’re carrying on to the continent, it’s also worth reading up on how long Australians can stay in Europe without a visa, since the Schengen rules work a little differently.

Whether the UK is your final destination or just one stop on a bigger European adventure, ZenSim has you covered. Grab a Europe travel eSIM so you can stay connected as you hop across borders.