The UK government is set to further increase the cost of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for travellers from Europe, coinciding with the implementation of tougher entry rules.
The UK government is set to hike the cost of its new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) by a further 25 percent.
From April 8th the fee will rise from £16 to £20 (€18 to €23), a 25 percent increase. This follows a previous increase from £10 to £16 that was implemented in 2025.
“As with all our fees, the cost of an ETA is kept under review, and we intend to increase the cost of an ETA to £20 in the future. We will provide more information in due course,” a previous statement from the Home Office said.
The rise would roughly bring the ETA price in line with the EU’s ETIAS travel authorisation coming in at end of 2026, which will be €20.
READ ALSO: When will Europe roll out its ETIAS visa waiver for non-EU travellers?
The UK first introduced its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in 2023, gradually rolling it out so that by April 2025 it was compulsory for anyone entering the UK – with the exception of those travelling on a UK or Irish passport.
This implementation phase ended in February 2026, with the UK now imposing the rules more strictly.
The UK government has said foreign travellers who don’t have the ETA will be denied entry, or denied boarding if travelling by plane.
The Local has reported how the rules have led to young dual national Britons being stranded abroad because the Home Office now insists they need a valid British passport to enter the UK.
READ ALSO: Young British dual nationals barred from flights home over new passport rules
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What is ETA?
The Electronic Travel Authorisation is essentially a visa waiver.
Its introduction ends paperwork-free travel to the UK for people from countries where a visa is not required for a short stay – including Americans, Canadian, Australians and citizens of all EU/EEA countries.
Only people who are travelling on a valid UK or Irish passport are exempt from the new requirement. People who have a British long-stay visa or residency status should show that at the border instead.
There is no exemption for EU nationals who are married to a British citizen.
Travellers must apply for the ETA in advance of travel, and it can only be obtained online – find full instructions on how to get one HERE.
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An ETA must be obtained for each traveller, including children.
It is advised to apply for it at least three days in advance of travel, although the UK government says that “most applications are processed in minutes”. Once obtained, it is valid for two years – unless you get a new passport during that period.
Be careful that you are on the correct Gov.uk website or app, there are a lot of scam websites, as well as companies that will charge you far in excess of the official fee to get the ETA for you.
