An Australian traveler has issued a warning to fellow holidaymakers after a close call with a new travel requirement for the UK.
Claudia Giblin and her boyfriend were on their way to the airport for a trip to London in February when they realized they hadn’t applied for the necessary travel permit. In January, the UK government expanded its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme to include Australians, meaning they now need a permit to enter the country.
“We saw it in an email and panicked in the car,” Claudia told Yahoo News.
The couple immediately downloaded the ETA app and rushed to submit their applications, which cost about $20 each. The UK government advises that approvals typically take about three business days. “We didn’t think we’d make our flight,” Claudia said. However, they were fortunate to receive their approvals just 10 minutes later.
“We were super lucky it came through in time for our flight,” she added, admitting the experience was stressful. “If I had known about the travel permit, I would have done it much earlier.”
As Europe’s peak travel season approaches, Claudia is urging Australians to be aware of the new requirement. “I wouldn’t want it to ruin anyone’s trip to Europe,” she warned.
