It's not official yet Your next weekend in London or road-trip to Scotland is going to cost you a bit more before you've even taken off. While the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system has only been fully operational for a short time, the Home Office has announced a new price increase.
Beware: some websites indicate that the proposed increase is certain: it still has to be approved by the British Parliament., Even if it looks more like a formality. It's impossible to know when it will be applied.
After jumping from £10 to £16 in April 2025, the price is now heading towards £20 (23 €).
What could change
The British government is hardening its stance on two fronts: the wallet and controls.
Price rises to £20
The new fee structure aims to bring the costs of UK digital immigration into line with international standards, while funding border security. Visit Home Office expects £103m in additional revenues.
- Old price (launch) : 10 £
- Intermediate price (2025): £16
- New rate announced: £20
| For a solo traveler, an extra £4 is the equivalent of a coffee in London. But for a family of 5, the bill starts to get steep (£100 in total, or nearly 116 € just for the entry fee), especially compared to the €7 European ETIAS that will arrive later. # |
The February 25, 2026 deadline
This is the date to remember.
The slogan of the Home Office is clear:
«No ETA, No Travel».
As of this date, zero tolerance applies. Airlines have been formally instructed to deny boarding to any passenger (including Europeans) who does not present a valid ETA or visa.
ETA vs. the rest of the world: Where do we stand?
With nearly 20 million ETAs granted since 2023, the UK has caught up with the digital age. But is it really more expensive than elsewhere?
| Destination | Document | Price (approx) | Validity |
| United Kingdom 🇬🇧 | ETA | Probably 20 £ (23 €) | 2 years |
| United States 🇺🇸 | ESTA | 21 $ (18 €) | 2 years |
| Europe (Schengen) 🇪🇺 | ETIAS | 7 € (7,00 €) | 3 years |
| Canada 🇨🇦 | AVE | 7 CA$ (3 €) | 5 years |
The UK would become one of the most expensive e-licenses on the market for short stays, surpassing even the USA.
Pitfalls to avoid when applying for a UK ETA
THE transit Don't think you can avoid it if you're just passing through Heathrow. With very specific exceptions, transit now requires an ETA. If you change planes in the UK, you have to pay.
Passport expired = ETA lost Your ETA is digitally linked to your passport. If you reissue your passport tomorrow, you will have to pay again and reapply for an ETA. It is not transferable.
L'Ireland If you land in Dublin (Ireland) and cross the land border into Northern Ireland (UK), you technically need an ETA, even if there is no physical check at the border.
| Board Don't wait until the last minute. With the February 25, 2026 deadline looming, servers are likely to be saturated by the influx of last-minute requests. Above all, ETAs requested now at the non-increased price of £16 remain valid for 2 years. |
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