The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has updated its travel advice for the United Kingdom after the UK government raised its terrorism threat level on Thursday.
British authorities upped the terrorism threat level on 30 April from “substantial” to “severe”, meaning “an attack is highly likely in the next six months”.
The raised alert comes after a stabbing in North London. But the UK says the change is “not solely a result of that attack”.
“The terrorist threat level in the UK has been rising for some time, driven by an increase in the broader Islamist and Extreme Right Wing terrorist threat from individuals and small groups based in the UK,” the government states on its website.
According to DFAT’s Smartraveller site, Aussie travellers should “be alert to the risks and take official warnings seriously”.
The Australian Government has not changed its overall travel alert level for the UK, advising Aussies to “exercise a high degree of caution… due to the threat of terrorism”. This is the second-lowest travel alert level.
Earlier this year, the rules for entry into the UK changed for dual Australian-British citizens.
“Australian-British or Australian-Irish dual citizens must enter the UK on their British or Irish passports, or through a certificate of entitlement in another valid passport,” Smartraveller advises.
“These dual citizens are unable to obtain an ETA or visa to enter the UK. Dual citizens may not be able to board a flight to the UK without a valid document.”
The new rule came just over a year after the UK government mandated another new law requiring Australian visitors to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the country (for short stays).
KARRYON UNPACKS: Travel warnings can shift quickly, even for familiar destinations like the UK. For travel advisors, it’s another reminder that up-to-date advice along with passport checks now matter more than ever.
