Visa Requirements for Australians Visiting London in 2026
Australians visiting London in 2026 need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before departure — the UK introduced the ETA requirement for Australian passport holders in 2024, replacing the previous simple visa-free entry. The ETA costs GBP 10 per application, is valid for 2 years and multiple trips, and is applied for online via the UK Government's official system. The UK is separate from the Schengen Area and a UK visit does not affect your 90-day Schengen limit for Europe.
This article was generated by AI from the linked public sources. The Daily London is independently owned and covers London news free from advertiser or sponsor influence. Read our editorial standards →
Visa Requirements for Australians Visiting London in 2026
The United Kingdom has a separate immigration system from the European Union and the Schengen Area. Since 2024, Australian passport holders travelling to the UK (including London) are required to obtain a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before departure. Here is everything Australian travellers need to know about entry requirements for London and the UK in 2026.
UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
The UK ETA is a pre-travel authorisation that replaced the previous visa-free entry arrangement for Australian passport holders. Key details: the ETA costs GBP 10 (approximately AUD 20) per application; it is valid for 2 years from the date of approval, or until your Australian passport expires (whichever is sooner), allowing multiple trips to the UK during that period; each trip can be for a maximum of 6 months; the ETA is linked to your specific Australian passport — if you get a new passport, you need a new ETA; you apply online through the official UK Government website (gov.uk/apply-for-an-eta) or via the UK ETA mobile app; approval is typically received within a few hours or days; and your airline will check your ETA approval before allowing you to board a UK-bound flight. Apply for your ETA well before your departure date — while approvals are usually fast, the UK Home Office recommends not leaving it until the day of travel.
6-Month Permitted Stay
The UK ETA allows Australians to visit the UK for up to 6 months per trip as a Standard Visitor. The 6-month permitted stay is significantly more generous than the Schengen Area's 90-day limit. Australians can use the 6-month period for tourism, visiting friends and family, studying short courses (up to 6 months), and certain permitted business activities.
UK Is Separate From Schengen
A critical planning point for Australians doing a European trip: the UK is not part of the Schengen Area. Days spent in the UK do not count toward your 90-day Schengen limit, and conversely, days spent in Schengen countries do not affect your UK visit allowance. This means Australians can spend 90 days in Schengen Europe and then 6 months in the UK (or vice versa) without any conflict between the two systems. Many Australians on long European trips use London as a "Schengen reset" stop — though UK immigration officers can ask questions if you appear to be using the UK primarily to manage Schengen day-counting.
Passport Requirements
Your Australian passport must be valid for the duration of your intended UK stay. The UK does not have a "6 months beyond departure" requirement that many other countries impose — your passport simply needs to be valid throughout your time in the UK. However, airlines may apply their own standards — checking with your airline before travel is sensible if your passport has limited remaining validity.
Working in the UK
Australians aged 18-35 can apply for a UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa (the UK's working holiday visa), which allows a 2-year stay in the UK with the right to work. This is applied for through the UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) online system before departure and has a limit on annual places available. Apply early in the calendar year as the quota can fill quickly.
Covering lifestyle in London. This article was generated by AI from the linked sources and was not reviewed by a human editor before publishing. See our editorial standards.
