Australians will now need a permit to enter the UK

Planning your next UK getaway? You’ll now need to add one more step to your travel checklist.

As of Wednesday 8 January, Australians planning to visit the United Kingdom must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they jet off. The new system brings the UK in line with countries like the United States and Canada, which already have similar pre-screening processes. If the UK is on your bucket list, here’s what you need to know to stay ahead of the curve.

What is the UK ETA?

The UK ETA is a digital pre-authorisation system now required for travellers from visa-exempt countries – including Australia, New Zealand and Canada – entering the UK for stays up to six months. Designed to enhance border security, the system allows the UK government to pre-screen visitors before they arrive.

Think of it as a mini-visa: you apply online, pay a fee and receive approval to travel to the UK. While this might feel like an extra hoop to jump through, it’s part of the UK’s broader strategy to modernise its immigration controls post-Brexit.

Who needs an ETA?

All Australian travellers will need an ETA to visit the UK, including babies and children, unless they:

Already have an approved visa

Have permission to live, work or study in the UK

Are UK or Irish citizens

Are EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status under the UK’s EU Settlement Scheme

EU citizens will have to apply for ETAs from April 2025. If you’re transiting through the UK on your way to Europe or beyond, you’ll need an ETA, too – so don’t assume you can skip the application process.

How do you apply for an ETA?

The application process is quick and straightforward using the UK ETA app, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. Alternatively, you can apply online.

The application requires travellers to scan their passport and face (travellers aged nine and under will not be required to scan their face) and fill out their details, including passport information, travel plans and basic personal data.

The application fee is currently set at £10 ($20) and decisions are typically made within three working days, but occasionally might take longer. For last-minute travellers, ETAs may be approved faster, but it’s always better to plan ahead. Once approved, your ETA is linked electronically to your passport, and you’re all set to go.

How long is it valid for?

The UK ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. During this time, you can use it for multiple entries into the UK, whether you’re planning a quick city break in London or a countryside adventure in Scotland.

Why has the UK introduced the ETA?

The new ETA scheme is part of the UK’s post-Brexit border strategy, aiming to streamline travel while boosting security. By pre-screening visitors, the UK hopes to manage its borders more effectively and ensure that potential security risks are identified early.

It’s also designed to improve the visitor experience. With the UK seeing over 40 million visitors annually, the ETA is expected to reduce delays at border control and help maintain a smooth entry process for legitimate travellers.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

What does this mean for Australian travellers?

For Australians, the introduction of the ETA marks a significant change. Previously, Aussie travellers could hop on a flight to the UK with just a passport in hand. Now, you’ll need to factor in the ETA application process when planning your trip.

On the bright side, it’s a relatively minor adjustment compared to applying for a visa – and at just £10, it’s an affordable extra step.

Top tips for a smooth ETA application

Apply early: Don’t leave it to the last minute. Aim to apply at least a week before your planned departure to allow time for approval.

Double-check your details: Ensure your passport number and personal information are entered correctly to avoid delays.

Keep a copy: While your ETA is linked to your passport, it’s a good idea to keep a digital or printed confirmation handy, just in case.

Will this impact tourism?

The ETA’s introduction is unlikely to deter Aussie travellers. With the UK continuing to charm visitors, most travellers will see the ETA as a small price to pay for its rich experiences.

However, it does mean a shift in how Australians approach their travel plans and spontaneous trips might require a bit more foresight.

Have you applied for your UK ETA yet? Don’t wait – get ahead of the curve and start your application today.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Australians will now need a permit to enter the UK – what does that mean for you?