You are an Australian citizen preparing to visit the UK temporarily, or an Australian–British or Australian–Irish dual citizen deciding which passport to use. The applicable GOV.UK and Smartraveller rules turn on your citizenship, passport and purpose.
Short answer: visa, ETA or neither
Smartraveller, the Australian Government’s travel advice service, says that Australians visiting the UK for less than six months as tourists or in transit need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). GOV.UK says an ETA allows a visit for up to six months without a visa.
GOV.UK sets out three routes according to nationality:
| Your situation | UK route |
|---|---|
| Australian visiting on an Australian passport as a tourist or in transit | Apply for an ETA |
| Nationality for which GOV.UK requires a visa before travel | Apply for a Standard Visitor visa |
| Nationality for which GOV.UK requires neither | Visit for up to six months without a visa or ETA |
| Australian–British or Australian–Irish dual citizen | Enter on a British or Irish passport, or through a certificate of entitlement in another valid passport |
Smartraveller says Australian–British and Australian–Irish dual citizens are unable to obtain an ETA or visa to enter the UK. If you hold another passport, check the GOV.UK route for that nationality rather than assuming that Australian rules apply.
GOV.UK says an ETA costs £20. A Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for permission to travel for up to six months. The earliest you can apply for that visa is three months before travel.
An ETA is not a visa. The order is straightforward:
- Choose the passport you will use.
- Check your exact purpose and intended length of stay.
- Select the ETA, visa or no-permission route.
- Check the entry conditions before travelling.
Use the site’s travel entry documents guide to prepare your documents.
The UK limit is six months, not 180 days
The GOV.UK Standard Visitor rule says you can usually stay in the UK for up to six months. It describes the permission as travel for up to six months. The official UK rule is expressed in months, not as a 180-day cap.
The familiar 180-day wording comes from Australia’s own departure-day rule, which uses 183 days. That Australian rule is separate. The shorter 180-day description is a popular shorthand and should not be presented as the UK visitor limit.
Keep the two tests separate. Use the GOV.UK six-month rule for UK visitor permission. Apply the Australian departure-day rule separately when dealing with Australian rules.
Conditions that apply to the visa-free route
The GOV.UK Standard Visitor eligibility rules require more than the absence of a visa requirement. They set out the following conditions:
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Passport or travel document. You must have a passport or travel document. GOV.UK says it should be valid for the whole of your stay.
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Leaving at the end of the visit. You must be able to show that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit.
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Support during the visit. You must be able to support yourself and any dependants. You may have funding from someone else.
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Return or onward travel. You must be able to pay for your return or onward journey. You may have funding from someone else to pay for it.
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No settled pattern of residence. You must not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits. You must not make the UK your main home.
These conditions apply even if you do not need a visa. GOV.UK says you may be asked at the UK border about your eligibility and the activities you plan to undertake. Neither an ETA nor a visa removes these conditions.
If you plan to stay longer or do more than visit
Smartraveller says that a stay of more than six months, or a reason other than tourism, will likely require a visa. The correct route depends on your actual activity. It is not decided by length alone.
GOV.UK says you might be able to apply to stay longer in certain circumstances. It gives medical treatment as an example. This wording does not mean that every longer stay can use the same visa or that an extension will be granted.
Some purposes have a specific route. GOV.UK says you must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if you plan to marry, register a civil partnership or give notice of marriage or civil partnership.
GOV.UK lists tourism, business, study courses lasting up to six months and other permitted activities under the Standard Visitor route. Its six-month study description does not cover a longer course. Check the permitted activity and visa route before travelling.
If you visit the UK regularly, GOV.UK says you can choose to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa. This is different from relying on frequent short visits where you live in the UK for extended periods or make it your main home.
The £135 Standard Visitor visa price applies to a visa for up to six months. Do not carry that price over to another visa route. Check the relevant GOV.UK page for the activity and length of stay.
If the intention is to move to Britain rather than visit, work through the site's Australian family move planning guide before treating a visitor route as a settlement plan.
Border checks after an ETA or visa
An ETA or a visa does not replace the UK entry requirements. GOV.UK says you may still be asked at the border about your eligibility and planned activities.
Smartraveller says entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Check with the nearest High Commission or Consulate of the United Kingdom before travelling. If you do not meet the UK entry rules, the Australian Government cannot help you overcome them.
Smartraveller also warns that Australian–British and Australian–Irish dual citizens may not be able to board a flight to the UK without the required valid document. It says the UK Government is enforcing these requirements.
After you have arrived, use the first 30 days in Britain guide for practical settling-in steps.
Healthcare and the surcharge for longer stays
Smartraveller says Australia and the UK have a reciprocal healthcare agreement. Some GP and hospital treatments are free during a short visit. The advice says “some”, so it does not establish that all treatment is free.
If you stay in the UK for more than six months, Smartraveller says you will pay a surcharge when applying for your visa. This applies when planning a longer stay under a visa route, rather than treating a six-month visit as the healthcare rule for a longer stay.
For the NHS registration process, see How to get an NHS number and use NHS services.
Common questions
Is an ETA the same as a Standard Visitor visa?
No. GOV.UK describes an ETA as an electronic travel authorisation. A Standard Visitor visa is a visa. Each has its own GOV.UK fee and application route.
Can I use an eGate, and do I need a landing card?
Smartraveller says you can usually use eGates free of charge if your passport has a biometric symbol on its cover and you are aged 10 or over with an Australian ePassport. People aged 10 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult. You do not need to complete a landing card.
What if I have previously been refused entry to the UK or have a criminal record?
GOV.UK says you may want to apply for a Standard Visitor visa even if you do not otherwise need one. It identifies a previous refusal of UK entry and a criminal record as reasons to consider that route.
What if my purpose is business rather than tourism?
GOV.UK lists business as a permitted Standard Visitor activity. Smartraveller uses the broader wording that reasons other than tourism will likely require a visa. Because the descriptions have different scopes, check the GOV.UK activity guidance for the specific work you plan to undertake.
What if I hold another nationality as well as Australian?
GOV.UK says the route depends on nationality. Smartraveller gives a specific entry rule for Australian–British and Australian–Irish dual citizens. If you hold another dual-nationality combination, check GOV.UK against the passport you intend to present.