UK ETA fee doubles in 3 years to £20, £115 less than a visitor visa

In three years, the fee for the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation has doubled.

The UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) cost £10 when it launched in 2023. As of 27 October 2026, the UK government website GOV.UK lists the fee as £20. The GOV.UK eligibility page includes the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region among those who can apply now, and GOV.UK guidance states that every traveller needs an ETA, including babies and children.

From £10 to £20: two rises in three years

According to the UK business travel outlet Travelling for Business, on 27 January 2026, the ETA started at £10 in 2023 and rose by 60% to £16 in April 2025; in January 2026 the UK government proposed a further 25% rise to £20.

The Seychelles outlet Nation reported on 11 February 2026 that the fee was rising from £16 to £20, or £4 more per person for each application.

We could not verify the exact effective date of the increase from an official source. What is certain is that, as of October 2026, GOV.UK shows a fee of £20. Any future change is governed by what GOV.UK publishes.

No authorisation, and you may not be allowed to board

According to Nation, the ETA has been fully enforced since 25 February 2026, with carriers applying a "no ETA, no travel" policy (Nation's wording), so travellers without one can be refused boarding. This date does not appear on the GOV.UK pages we consulted and rests on the media report.

GOV.UK guidance is direct: every traveller needs an ETA, including babies and children, and people who are only in transit but pass through UK border control also need to apply.

Having an ETA does not mean entry is certain. GOV.UK states that an ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

One application, multiple trips within two years

According to the GOV.UK application page, an ETA lasts two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, and allows multiple trips while valid. GOV.UK also states that an ETA lets the holder travel to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for up to six months.

In other words, if your passport has less than two years left, the authorisation expires with it, so check the passport expiry date before you travel.

ETA versus Standard Visitor visa: the cost difference

All figures below come from GOV.UK, as of October 2026:

• Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): £20 per person; the result usually arrives by email within a day but can take up to 3 working days; stays of up to six months each time.
• Standard Visitor visa: £135 per person; a decision usually within 3 weeks; stays of up to six months.

For travellers eligible for an ETA, that saves £115 per person, and the wait falls from about 3 weeks to usually within a day. Because babies and children must also apply separately, the total ETA cost for a family of four is £80.

How to apply

1. Use the official channel: GOV.UK warns that other websites may charge more, and applying through them will not speed up the decision.
2. Prepare your details: passport, email address, payment method, a photo of the passport, and a face photo that meets UK digital photo rules.
3. Choose how to apply: you can use the UK ETA app (available on the App Store and Google Play), which scans the passport and face; if you are applying for someone who is not present, you must use the website.
4. Pay: pay by bank card, Apple Pay or Google Pay when applying; the fee is non-refundable.
5. Wait for the confirmation email: the result usually arrives by email within a day but can take up to 3 working days; the email includes a 16-digit ETA reference number. Do not travel before receiving the confirmation email.

What you really need to allow for is time

Beyond the fee, watch the timing: a decision can take up to 3 working days, and travellers without an ETA can reportedly be refused boarding. It is advisable to apply as soon as your trip is confirmed, and to rely on the latest fee and rules on GOV.UK.

Prices and details correct as of October 2026

Compiled by the F50 Editorial Team from public sources, for general reference only and not professional advice. Details are correct as of the publication date and may change.