Yes. Australian passport holders now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) — £20, online — before flying to Britain. If a UK stopover is the start of a big Europe trip, there's a bit more to plan, so let's get it right.
Australians are used to travel authorizations — an ETA or eVisitor gets visitors into Australia. Now Britain asks the same: from 2026, Australian travelers need a UK ETA before boarding a flight to the UK. And because Aussies so often do the long UK-plus-Europe grand tour, the ETA is only half the planning — the Schengen 90/180 limit is the other half.
| Detail | For Australian passport holders |
|---|---|
| Do I need it? | Yes — required before you travel to the UK |
| Cost | £20 per person (about A$40), including children & infants |
| Validity | 2 years, or until your Australian passport expires |
| Stays allowed | Multiple visits, up to 6 months each |
| Is it a working-holiday visa? | No — that's a separate visa; the ETA is for visits only |
| How to apply | Official UK ETA app or GOV.UK — approval often within minutes, up to 3 days |
Yes. Australian passport holders need a UK ETA before traveling to the UK, including short visits and most airport layovers. It costs £20, is valid two years, and is applied for online through the official UK ETA app or GOV.UK.
No. The ETA is for visits only — tourism, family, business meetings. The UK Youth Mobility (working holiday) scheme is a separate visa you apply for differently; don't rely on an ETA if you plan to work.
UK time (up to six months on the ETA) is separate from Schengen time (90 days in any 180). Many Australians use UK, Irish or non-Schengen stops to break up a long trip so their Schengen days stay under the limit. A calculator helps you sequence it.
Apply at least a few days before flying. Approvals are often near-instant, but allow up to three working days rather than risk it at the airport.