Australians travelling to UK will soon be forced to pay fee and obtain an ETA
Australians traveling to the UK will soon have to pay entrance fees
- Aussies will soon have to pay to enter the UK
- It is part of a new visa waiver program called ETA
- Anyone who does not require a visa must pay an ETA instead
Australians will soon have to pay a fee to enter the UK under a new scheme to track holidaymakers traveling in the country.
The visa waiver program, the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), requires travelers to pay a small fee of approximately AU$18.60 to enter the UK.
The ETA is similar to the United States’ ESTA and the European Union’s ETIAS visa waiver programs, which screen travelers prior to their arrival in the country.
Australians will soon have to pay to enter the UK under a new visa waiver program called the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
The program allows the British government to keep track of how many people travel through the country.
Australians were previously allowed to enter the country for free without a visa when on holiday.
The UK government explains on its website why it has decided to introduce ETAs.
“The ETA will provide more accurate information on the number of people traveling to the UK and the countries they come from,” the website reads.
The government currently collects data on travelers through surveys conducted at ports of entry that do not “provide accurate numbers.”
As well as providing accurate data, the ETA will also make the UK an even safer destination.
‘Screening passengers before they reach the UK means that threats can be detected earlier.’
The scheme was first announced in 2021 by Priti Patel, then Conservative Party Home Secretary, as a screening process to keep ‘criminals’ out of the country.
“They (the UK public) want a new system that works for the law-abiding majority and against those who hope to take advantage of our hospitality and generosity,” Ms Patel said at the time.
“One that welcomes those most in need of refuge and shuts the door on dangerous criminals.”
Created to screen travelers and collect data on who is entering the country and where, the program costs £10 or AU$18.60 and three working days to enter the UK
Qatar is the first country affected by the changes, requiring locals to buy an ETA from November 15.
The next set of countries are Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, whose citizens will require an ETA from February 2024.
It is unclear when Australia will be officially added to the ETA list, but the country has previously stated that it will have full implementation by 2025.
After being screened for an ETA, entering the country should remain simple as the document will be linked to a passport that will be scanned and verified via a facial scan.