United Kingdom to Increase ETA Visa Fees for Arrivals While Loosening Airport Transit Regulations
UK and EU Electronic Travel Authorisations: Comparing Fees and Changes
The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and the European Union's ETIAS system are digital travel authorisations designed for security and entry purposes. Here's a breakdown of their current and proposed fees, validity, and key dates.
UK ETA
- Current Fee: £10 (~$13) per person
- Validity: 2 years or until passport expiry
- Required since: January 2025 for non-EU travelers
The UK ETA fee of £10 was introduced in late 2023, but the Home Office has proposed an increase to £16 (~$21), effective from July 2025. This change aims to cover operational costs and inflation.
EU ETIAS
- Current Fee: €7 (initial proposal) per person
- Validity: Applies to visa-exempt non-EU nationals
- Operational Status: Expected to become operational in the last quarter of 2026
The EU ETIAS fee was initially proposed at €7, but it is expected to increase to €20 to cover operational costs and inflation when ETIAS becomes operational in late 2026.
Comparison
Initially, the UK ETA fee was lower than the EU ETIAS fee, but the proposed UK ETA fee increase will bring it closer to the EU’s planned fee. By late 2026, travelers will generally pay around £16 (~€20) to visit the UK or European countries under these electronic travel authorisations, reflecting a convergence in costs for non-EU visitors.
Exemptions and Extensions
- Transit passengers are temporarily exempt from the ETA requirement. However, this exemption is subject to review by the Home Office.
- The ETA will be extended to all EU citizens from April 2025, with Irish nationals being the exception.
- The ETA applies to non-EU citizens, including those living in EU countries.
Criticism and Controversy
The travel and business sectors have criticised the proposed ETA fee increase, raising concerns about the impact on tourism and travel costs. The Home Office has also proposed scrapping the ETA for passengers transiting through the UK on a connecting flight.
[1] Gov.uk - Apply for a UK ETA [2] EU ETIAS - European Travel Information and Authorisation System [3] BBC News - UK ETA fee to rise from £10 to £16 [4] The Guardian - EU ETIAS fee to rise to €20
The proposed £16 (~$21) fee for the UK ETA represents an increase from the initial £10, reflecting a convergence in costs with the €20 expected EU ETIAS fee once both systems become operational. The travel and business sectors have expressed criticism towards the fee increases, voicing concerns about potential impacts on tourism and travel costs.
