UK ETA fee hike looms for UK-bound travelers
Pending parliamentary approval, the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation fee is set to rise from £16 to £20, impacting solo travelers and families alike. From February 25 2026, the ETA will be mandatory with zero tolerance enforced by airlines.
It’s not yet official, but your next weekend in London or road-trip to Scotland just got more expensive before you even board the plane. While the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system only recently went fully live, the Home Office has announced a new fee increase.
Important note: some sources report the hike as a certainty, but it still requires passage through the British parliament—though this appears to be a formality. The exact implementation date is currently unknown.
Following a jump from £10 to £16 in April 2025, the price is now on track to reach £20 (€0.
Key changes on the horizon
The British government is tightening controls on two fronts: your wallet and border security.
Price hike to £20
The revised fee aims to bring the UK’s digital immigration costs in line with global standards while funding enhanced border security. The Home Office anticipates an additional £103 million in revenue.
Initial launch fee (2023): £10
Interim price (2025): £16
Proposed new fee: £20
Evidence presented to Parliament in the draft bill
For a solo traveller, an extra £4 is the price of a London coffee. For a family of five, however, the total reaches £100 (€0—a hefty sum just to secure entry, especially when compared to the €7 ETIAS fee the EU will introduce later. |
The 25 February 2026 deadline
This is the date to remember.
The Home Office slogan is crystal clear:
‘No ETA, No Travel.’
From this point, airlines will enforce a zero-tolerance policy: anyone—including Europeans—without a valid ETA or visa will be denied boarding.
How does ETA compare globally?
Since 2023 the UK has issued nearly 20 million ETAs, catching up in the digital race. But is it really more expensive than the rest?
Destination | Document | Approx. cost | Validity |
United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | ETA | ~£20 (€0 | 2 years |
United States 🇺🇸 | ESTA | $21 (~ £16) | 2 years |
Schengen Europe 🇪🇺 | ETIAS | €7 (~ £6) | 3 years |
Canada 🇨🇦 | eTA | CA$7 (~ £4) | 5 years |
The UK is on track to become one of the pricier electronic travel authorisations for short stays—surpassing even the United States once converted to sterling.
Common ETA UK application pitfalls
Transit loophole closed: Even if your final destination is elsewhere, Heathrow transit now requires an ETA unless you qualify for a documented exception. Changing planes in the UK without one will cost you.
Expired passport = lost ETA: Your authorisation is electronically tied to your passport. Issue a new one and you’ll need to reapply—and pay again; the ETA isn’t transferrable.
Ireland: Land in Dublin and cross overland into Northern Ireland (UK territory)? Technically, you still need an ETA—although there are no physical border checks.
Pro tip |
