TL;DR
- The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee is going up from £16 to £20, a 25% increase
- Strict enforcement begins February 25, 2026, when airlines, ferries, and Eurostar must deny boarding without valid ETAs
- The permit covers multiple entries for two years or until passport expiry, whichever comes first
- 19.6 million ETAs have been issued since the system launched in October 2023
- Every family member needs one, including children, though British and Irish citizens are exempt
The Practical Bit
The UK Home Office confirmed on January 30 that the Electronic Travel Authorisation will cost £20 instead of the current £16. The exact date for the new fee hasn’t been announced, but this is the second price increase since the system launched at £10 in October 2023 and rose to £16 last April.
The bigger date to watch is February 25. That’s when carriers, including airlines, ferry operators, and Eurostar, will begin checking for valid ETAs before boarding. Without one, passengers will be turned away. No exceptions, no last-minute solutions at the gate.
The ETA works along similar lines to the U.S. ESTA or Australia’s digital screening system. Visa-exempt visitors need one for short stays up to six months, whether for holidays, visiting family, or business. It covers multiple entries over two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
For Your Client Conversations
The £4-per-person increase might sound small on its own, but it stacks up for families and groups. A family of four will pay £80 instead of £64, and that’s before anyone has packed a bag or booked a hotel. It’s the kind of detail worth raising early in the planning process so there are no surprises at the airport.
Guide clients to the official UK ETA app or GOV.UK to apply. Third-party websites charge more, sometimes double or triple the official fee, and the Home Office has flagged fake sites designed to look like the real thing. Most applications are processed within minutes through the app, though applying at least three working days before travel is sensible.
Every family member needs their own ETA, including babies and children. British and Irish citizens don’t need one, but everyone else visiting the UK does, unless they hold a UK visa or other permission.
The Bit That Often Gets Missed
One useful detail: passengers transiting through UK airports without passing through border control don’t need an ETA. That applies to some connections at Heathrow or Manchester, but most routes require clearing immigration, so it’s safer to assume clients need one unless there’s certainty they don’t.
The ETA requirement has been rolling out in stages since late 2023, and nearly 20 million have been issued so far. But February 25 is when the compliance moment moves from the immigration hall to the departure gate, and that changes things. It’s one of those quiet policy updates that suddenly matters a lot on the day of travel.
The Home Office says the increase brings the UK in line with similar global systems. Once clients have an ETA, they’re covered for two years, so it won’t be a cost they face every trip.
Agent Advantage Insight
A two-line note in booking confirmations pointing clients to GOV.UK for their UK ETA, at least three days before travel, takes seconds and can prevent a stressful situation at the boarding gate.
