Skip to content The UK government has announced an increase in the cost of the UK ETA, the electronic authorisation required of many visa-exempt nationals wishing to travel to the UK for short stays.
Currently, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) costs £16 and allows for multiple trips with stays of up to 6 months per entry, for a total duration of 2 years or until the expiry of the passport used for the application. From 8 April 2026, the cost of the ETA will increase to £20.
The ETA is a pre-travel authorization and forms part of the UK’s pre-entry screening system. It is required of many travellers who do not need a visia to visit the UK for tourism, family visits, permitted business travel or other permitted activities for short stays.
It is important to remember that the ETA is not the same as a visa and does not automatically guarantee entry into the UK. Even with a valid ETA, travellers remain subject to checks by the border authorities upon arrival.
From a practical point of view, the increase in the cost of the UK ETA is a change to bear in mind when planning travel to the country. Although the increase is modest, the new fee will apply to all applications submitted from 8 April 2026.
In light of this change, travellers heading to the UK should carefully check, before departure, whether they are required to apply for an ETA and submit their application well in advance. Furthermore, for a broader overview of the rules applicable to travel to the UK, please also see our previous news article on the subject.