UK ETA Fee Jumps from £16 to £20 on April 8 — Just 6 Days Away: Apply NOW to Lock In the Lower Rate — Complete Guide for Canadian, Australian and American Travellers

Breaking: The UK Home Office has officially confirmed that the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee will increase from £16 to £20 on April 8, 2026 — six days from today. That is a 25% price rise. Anyone from Canada, Australia, the USA or any of the 50+ eligible countries who has not yet applied for their UK ETA and plans to travel to Britain any time in the next two years should apply today at the current £16 rate. Once April 8 arrives, the lower price is gone permanently. Here is everything you need to know.

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Published: April 2, 2026
Fee Increase Date: April 8, 2026 — 6 days away
Current Fee: £16 per person (~CAD $28 / AUD $32 / USD $21)
New Fee from April 8: £20 per person (~CAD $35 / AUD $40 / USD $27)
Price Rise: 25% increase — fee has doubled since ETA launched in 2023
Who Must Apply: All non-visa nationals — USA, Canada, Australia, all EU countries, 50+ nations
ETA Validity: 2 years or until passport expires — whichever is sooner
Apply At: GOV.UK/eta (official — free to apply direct)
Processing Time: Usually minutes — allow up to 3 working days
Exemptions: British citizens, Irish citizens, existing UK visa holders

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Why This Matters Right Now

From 8 April 2026, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee will increase from £16 to £20, with the official start date now confirmed. The Home Office has published an updated official fee table showing increases in the ETA fee and many permissions.

When the ETA scheme first launched in late 2023, travellers paid a modest £10. By 2024, that figure climbed to £16. From April 8, 2026, the Home Office has confirmed a further jump to £20. While a £4 increase might seem marginal to the individual traveller, it represents a 100% price increase in just over two years.

This matters for two groups of people:

Group 1 — You do not have a UK ETA yet and plan to visit Britain any time in 2026 or 2027. Apply today at £16 and your ETA is valid for two years from approval. You save £4 per person — and more importantly, you are set for every UK trip over the next two years without paying the higher rate.

Group 2 — You travel to the UK regularly and your existing ETA is about to expire. If your ETA expires before April 8 and you need to renew, do it today. You lock in the current rate for another two years.

For a family of four — two adults and two children — the difference between applying before April 8 versus after is £16 saved. For tour groups, corporate travellers making multiple trips, and anyone budgeting trips to the UK this summer, the savings compound quickly.

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What Is the UK ETA — and Who Needs One

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation is a mandatory pre-travel digital permission for all visitors from countries that do not require a traditional UK visa. It is not a visa — it is an electronic pre-screening linked to your passport that authorises you to travel to the UK for short stays.

An ETA is a digital permission to travel. It is not a visa or a tax and does not permit entry into the UK — it authorises a person to travel to the UK. British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA, including dual citizens.

Visitors without an ETA will not be able to board their transport and cannot travel to the UK, unless exempt. Eligible visitors who take connecting flights transiting and go through UK passport control need an ETA. Those transiting through Heathrow and Manchester airports who do not go through UK passport control do not currently need an ETA.

Who needs a UK ETA:

✅ Citizens of Canada
✅ Citizens of Australia
✅ Citizens of the United States of America
✅ Citizens of all EU member states (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, etc.)
✅ Citizens of Japan, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico
✅ Citizens of most other countries that were previously visa-free for the UK
✅ Every person individually — including babies and children

Who does NOT need a UK ETA:

❌ British citizens (including dual nationals holding a valid British passport)
❌ Irish citizens
❌ People with an existing UK visa, residence permit or settled status
❌ Diplomats and certain government officials
❌ Airside transit passengers who do not pass through UK passport control

If you are unsure whether you need an ETA, check the official tool at GOV.UK/eta.

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The Fee History — Why the Price Has Doubled in Two Years

When the ETA was first introduced in November 2023, it carried a relatively modest fee of just £10. It rose to £16 in April 2024, and the latest increase brings it to £20.

The UK Home Office describes these increases as part of a deliberate shift toward a “user-funded” immigration system — meaning the cost of border management is passed directly to travellers rather than covered by general taxation. The ETA programme has already generated significant revenue: by February 2026, the system had issued over 24.8 million ETAs since launch.

The direction of travel is clear — prices have risen every year since 2023 and the Home Office has stated openly that the ETA fee “is kept under review,” which in practice means further increases in future years cannot be ruled out. Applying now at £16 locks in two years of coverage before any further changes.

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Step-by-Step: How to Apply for Your UK ETA Today

The application takes under 10 minutes. Here is the exact process:

Step 1 — Download the UK ETA App or go to GOV.UK

The fastest method: Download the official “UK ETA” app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Search for “UK ETA Home Office” — use the official Home Office app only.

Alternative: Apply directly on the website at GOV.UK/eta. Both the app and website produce exactly the same result and use the same secure government infrastructure.

Important: Many third-party websites imitate the UK government ETA service and charge significantly more than £16. Other websites may charge more to apply. Avoid websites that imitate government services.The only official source is GOV.UK/eta or the “UK ETA” Home Office app.

Step 2 — Scan your passport

The app uses your phone’s camera and NFC (Near Field Communication) technology to read the chip inside your biometric passport automatically. Hold your phone flat against the back of your passport and keep it still for 5–10 seconds. If NFC scanning fails, you can manually type your passport details instead.

You must apply using the passport you will travel on. Your ETA is digitally linked to that specific passport number.

Step 3 — Take your selfie photo

The app asks you to take a clear photo of your face for identity verification. Use a plain background, good lighting, no sunglasses. A neutral expression is recommended. The photo is used to verify your identity — it is not a visa photo and does not need to meet strict dimensions.

Step 4 — Answer the security questions

You will be asked a short series of standard questions about your travel history, employment, and whether you have any criminal convictions. Answer all questions accurately and honestly. Honesty is crucial — discrepancies can lead to long-term travel bans.

Step 5 — Pay the fee

The current fee is £16 per person. Payment is by credit or debit card. All major cards are accepted.

Apply before April 7 midnight to pay £16. From April 8 onward the fee becomes £20 — permanently.

Step 6 — Wait for your approval email

You will get a decision by email from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), usually within a day. Allow up to 3 working days (Monday to Friday) to get a decision, but it may arrive much sooner. The email will contain your 16-digit ETA reference number.

Most applicants receive approval within minutes. The Home Office recommends applying at least 3 working days before travel to allow for any manual review in the small number of cases that require it.

Step 7 — Travel to the UK

Your ETA is digitally linked to your passport — there is no physical document, sticker or stamp. When you check in for your flight, ferry or train, the carrier automatically verifies your ETA status against your passport number. When you arrive at UK border control, officers verify your ETA electronically as they scan your passport. You only need to show your passport when you travel to the UK.

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Families — The Cost Adds Up Fast

Every individual — including babies and children of all ages — requires their own separate ETA. Parents and guardians can apply on behalf of children through the same app.

Cost comparison — family of 4 (2 adults + 2 children):

Saving by applying before April 8: £16 per family of four.

For larger families, tour groups or corporate travellers with multiple team members planning UK trips, the saving scales proportionally. Apply as a group before the deadline.

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Full Fee Changes from April 8 — Complete Table

The ETA is not the only thing going up. The Home Office published a full revised fee schedule on March 31, 2026, with increases across nearly all immigration categories from April 8.

Visitor visas (most relevant to Tier 1 travellers):

Work and study visas:

Settlement and citizenship:

All of these new fees will take effect on April 8, 2026. Applications submitted before that date will remain subject to the current rates, while any application initiated from that point onward will fall under the new fee schedule.

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What the ETA Covers — and What It Does Not

What your UK ETA allows:

✅ Multiple trips to the UK during the 2-year validity period
✅ Stays of up to 6 months per visit
✅ Tourism, visiting family and friends, business meetings
✅ Short-term study courses (up to 6 months)
✅ Certain types of permitted work
✅ Transit through UK airports where you pass through border control

What your UK ETA does NOT cover:

❌ Working in the UK under a contract of employment (requires a work visa)
❌ Settling or living long-term in the UK
❌ Stays longer than 6 months in any single visit
❌ An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK GOV.UK — UK Border Force officers make the final decision at the point of entry

If your ETA application is rejected:

You may reapply, or apply for a Standard Visitor Visa instead. The rejection email will detail the reason. If you need to travel urgently and your ETA is rejected, contact UK Visas and Immigration via webchat on GOV.UK — they cannot help with ETA enquiries over the phone.

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The Scam Warning — Apply ONLY at GOV.UK

As ETA awareness grows, so does the number of copycat websites that imitate the official UK government service and charge significantly more than the official fee — often £30–£100 for the same application.

Signs of a scam ETA website:
❌ Fee is higher than £16 (before April 8) or £20 (from April 8)
❌ The URL is not GOV.UK
❌ The site claims to offer “faster processing” for an extra fee — there is no faster option
❌ The site asks you to create an account before showing you the fee

The only places to apply for a UK ETA at the official government rate are:
✅ GOV.UK/eta — official desktop website
✅ “UK ETA” app on Apple App Store or Google Play — search “UK ETA Home Office”

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Frequently Asked Questions

My ETA is still valid — do I need to reapply before April 8? No. If your ETA is currently valid and linked to your passport, it remains valid for its full 2-year term. The fee increase only applies to new applications. You only need to act before April 8 if you do not have an ETA yet, or if yours has expired.

I renewed my passport recently — is my old ETA still valid? No. Your ETA is linked to your specific passport number. If you have renewed your passport since your ETA was issued, your old ETA is no longer valid for the new passport. You must apply again with your new passport details. If you do this before April 8, you pay £16.

I am a Canadian citizen with dual US nationality — do I need an ETA? Yes, unless one of your nationalities is British or Irish. Dual nationals who hold a British passport should present their British passport at the UK border and do not need an ETA. Dual nationals who do not hold a British passport must obtain an ETA using the passport they travel on.

I am flying through London Heathrow to connect to another flight without going through passport control — do I need an ETA? Those transiting through Heathrow and Manchester airports who do not go through UK passport control do not currently need an ETA. If you stay airside throughout your connection, you are exempt. If you collect baggage or pass through border control for any reason during your transit, you need an ETA.

Can I apply for my whole family at once? You can apply for other family members through the app or website if they are with you. If they are not with you physically, you apply for each person separately online using their passport details and a photo of their face. Each person, including babies and children, requires their own individual ETA.

What if I arrive in the UK without an ETA? Airlines have reported a spike in “denied boarding” incidents. Because the ETA is digitally linked to your passport, the airline’s check-in system will flag its absence immediately. You will not be allowed to board your flight, ferry or Eurostar if you do not have a valid ETA. Applying at the airport on the day of travel is not a reliable option — allow at least 3 working days.

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The Bottom Line

The UK ETA fee rises by 25% in 6 days. It has doubled since 2023. The direction of travel from the Home Office is clear — this fee will only go in one direction.

If you are from Canada, Australia, the USA, the EU or any of the 50+ eligible countries and you plan to visit the UK any time in the next two years — apply today at GOV.UK/eta and pay £16. Your ETA covers unlimited trips for 2 years. From April 8, the same application costs £20.

Ten minutes. £16. Two years of UK travel covered.

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Official Resources:

• Apply for UK ETA (official): GOV.UK/eta
• UK ETA app: Search “UK ETA Home Office” on Apple App Store or Google Play
• Check if you need an ETA or visa: GOV.UK/check-uk-visa
• Full Home Office fee schedule from April 8: GOV.UK immigration fees
• UK UKVI webchat (ETA queries): Available at GOV.UK/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk

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Posted By : Vinay

As a lead contributor for Travel Tourister, Vinay is dedicated to serving our Tier 1 audience (US, UK, Canada, Australia). His mission is to deliver precise, fact-checked news and actionable, data-driven articles that empower readers to make informed decisions, minimize travel risks, and maximize their adventure without compromising safety or budget.