Australia's new entry visa charge for visitors visiting the UK

As the UK tries to digitise its border procedures, Australian travellers entering the nation will be hit with a new entry fee.

The days of Australians entering London airports by simply arriving and presenting their Australian passport are over.

Soon, travellers from Australia will also need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before they can enter the UK.

Who requires ETAs?

People who do not require a visa to enter the UK must have the British entry permit document, which will allow them to travel across the area.

If someone plans to stay in the UK for up to six months for business, pleasure, study, or other reasons, they must have an ETA.

If they plan to work creatively for up to three months in the UK (as actors, musicians, etc.), they will also require one.

Importantly, visitors—including those who are not passing through UK border control—will also need an ETA if they are only passing through the country.

Except for Ireland, all 27 members of the European Union are covered by the ETA.

Switzerland and Monaco residents as well as citizens of other European non-EU countries will require an ETA.

It will also apply to countries like Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Japan that do not require visas.

On the ETA website, a complete list of nations is provided.

The programme will begin in Qatar on October 25 and in other Middle Eastern countries on February 22, 2024.

When the requirement will begin for Australian passengers is still unknown. A date around 2024 is anticipated because the UK government has stated that its "borders will be fully digitalised by 2025".

What does the ETA cost?

The ETA is anticipated to cost £10 ($AU18.65).

Before leaving, eligible individuals can apply online for entry into the UK. The processing time for the application is estimated to be between 48 and 72 hours, and it should just take a few minutes.

Travellers will require a current biometric passport from a qualifying nation, their travel information, a working email account, and a debit or credit card in order to apply.

Why is ETA being implemented?

According to the UK government, the ETA project was started as part of initiatives to strengthen UK border control. The government will receive more details regarding the number of travellers to the UK and their points of origin. In order to "detect threats earlier," according to the ETA website, it will also enable traveller screening before they arrive in the UK.

Travellers' "name, date of birth, and citizenship" as well as their travel plans will be recorded by the application. There are "a number of personal, security, and travel questions" on the application form, the Sydney Morning Herald said.

The ETIAS is What?

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), a new programme, will require Australians travelling to Europe to submit documentation and pay a charge.

The majority of European countries use the ETIAS, an electronic system, to keep track of travellers from countries without visa requirements.

A handful of the countries that will force passengers to reapply every three years or whenever their passport expires for renewed entrance to the continent are Italy, Greece, Spain, Sweden, and Croatia.

The application costs €7 ($AU11) and can be completed online or using a mobile app.

The European Union has stated that the majority of applications will be handled in a matter of minutes, but it has also cautioned travellers to submit their applications well before making travel or lodging arrangements.

- through NCA Newswire