UK Confirms Imminent Increase in ETA Fee to £20 as Entry Rules Tighten
British government outlines plans to raise the Electronic Travel Authorisation cost ahead of full enforcement of tougher border controls for European and other visitors
The United Kingdom has confirmed that the cost of its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will rise to £20, representing a 25 per cent increase from the current £16 fee, as part of a broader tightening of entry rules for short-stay travellers.
The Home Office said the planned fee increase is under review and is expected to take effect in the coming months, aligning the UK’s ETA price more closely with similar systems such as the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is expected to cost around €20 when it comes into force later this year.
Introduced in phases from 2023, the ETA scheme requires visitors who do not need a visa — including nationals from most European Union countries, the United States, Australia and other visa-exempt jurisdictions — to obtain pre-travel authorisation before entering the UK for short stays of up to six months.
The requirement became mandatory for European travellers on 2 April 2025, following earlier extensions to non-EU nationalities, as part of a shift away from passport-free travel for many visitors.
The fee increase is expected to coincide with the full enforcement of mandatory ETA checks from 25 February 2026, when airlines and other carriers will face penalties for boarding passengers without valid authorisation.
Under current guidance, ETAs are valid for two years or until the associated passport expires, and British and Irish citizens remain exempt from the requirement.
Transit passengers who do not pass through UK border control are also exempt, although passengers transiting via UK passport control will need an ETA.
Travel industry groups and tourism bodies have voiced concerns that successive fee increases for the ETA — which already rose from £10 to £16 in April 2025 — could deter visitors at a time when global travel costs are rising and competition for inbound tourism is strong.
Nevertheless, government officials maintain that the fee revision is necessary to sustain border security, manage migration infrastructure costs and ensure a streamlined entry process.
The eta fee adjustment is part of a broader migration and border strategy that includes improved digital processing and compliance checks during peak travel periods.
The Home Office said the planned fee increase is under review and is expected to take effect in the coming months, aligning the UK’s ETA price more closely with similar systems such as the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is expected to cost around €20 when it comes into force later this year.
Introduced in phases from 2023, the ETA scheme requires visitors who do not need a visa — including nationals from most European Union countries, the United States, Australia and other visa-exempt jurisdictions — to obtain pre-travel authorisation before entering the UK for short stays of up to six months.
The requirement became mandatory for European travellers on 2 April 2025, following earlier extensions to non-EU nationalities, as part of a shift away from passport-free travel for many visitors.
The fee increase is expected to coincide with the full enforcement of mandatory ETA checks from 25 February 2026, when airlines and other carriers will face penalties for boarding passengers without valid authorisation.
Under current guidance, ETAs are valid for two years or until the associated passport expires, and British and Irish citizens remain exempt from the requirement.
Transit passengers who do not pass through UK border control are also exempt, although passengers transiting via UK passport control will need an ETA.
Travel industry groups and tourism bodies have voiced concerns that successive fee increases for the ETA — which already rose from £10 to £16 in April 2025 — could deter visitors at a time when global travel costs are rising and competition for inbound tourism is strong.
Nevertheless, government officials maintain that the fee revision is necessary to sustain border security, manage migration infrastructure costs and ensure a streamlined entry process.
The eta fee adjustment is part of a broader migration and border strategy that includes improved digital processing and compliance checks during peak travel periods.
