UK ETA fee hike takes effect April 8 2026

The UK Home Office has published its revised immigration and nationality fee schedule, taking effect on 8 April 2026. International travellers—on short trips, students or relocating for work—face broad-based fee increases when planning visits to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Electronic Travel Authorisation Fees

Visitors who currently benefit from an ETA—including travellers from the EU, US, Canada and Australia—will see the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) uplift to £20 (from £16) from 8 April 2026.

(Official list of revised ETA fee changes)

Standard Visitor Visa Category Increases

Nationals from countries that require a visitor visa—many in Africa, Asia and the Maghreb—will also face higher consular charges, adjusted across all validity bands:

• Short-stay visas (up to 6 months): from £127 to £135.

• Long-stay visas (up to 2 years): from £475 to £506.

• Long-stay visas (up to 5 years): from £803 to £903.

• Transit visas: from £39 to £41.50.

Student, Skilled-Worker and Settlement Costs

Applicants pursuing longer-term relocation, education or work are most affected. Overseas student applications (and dependants) rise by £34 to a new charge of £558. Skilled-worker visas climb to:

• £819 (three-year contracts or shorter, a £50 increase)

• £1,618 (contracts longer than three years, a £99 rise)

The most significant rise is for settlement routes. Securing indefinite leave to remain now costs £2,064, up £126 from 2025.

With UK entry rules tightening, agencies like ours advise travellers to act fast. If you qualify for an ETA and plan to visit the UK in spring or summer 2026, submit your application before 8 April 2026 to lock in the lower rate. Find full details on ETA eligibility, processing times and required documents in our latest ETA guide.