UK ETA Price Increase: What It Costs in 2026
The UK ETA fee is £16 per person as of April 2025, up from the £10 launch price. Nothing else changed — same 2-year validity, same multiple-entry coverage, same application process. Here's what the increase means and how the fee compares to similar schemes worldwide.
What changed in April 2025
The UK government raised the ETA application fee from £10 to £16, citing cost recovery for the Electronic Travel Authorisation processing infrastructure. The change applies to all new applications from April 2025 onwards. ETAs issued before the increase remain valid for their full 2-year term.
How it compares to similar schemes
Context helps:
- UK ETA: £16 (≈$20 USD) — valid 2 years, multiple entry
- US ESTA: $21 USD — valid 2 years, multiple entry
- ETIAS (EU, from October 2026): €20 (≈$22 USD) — valid 3 years, multiple entry, free for under-18s and over-70s
- Australia ETA: AUD $20 (≈$13 USD) — valid 12 months
- Canada eTA: CAD $7 (≈$5 USD) — most affordable comparable scheme
What families actually pay
There is no family pricing, group discount, or exemption for children. Every passport holder pays £16, including infants. A family of four pays £64 in UK ETA fees. Compare this to ETIAS, which is free for anyone under 18 and anyone 70 or over — on a UK + Europe trip with two adults and two children, you'd pay £64 (UK ETA, all four) plus €40 (ETIAS adults only, roughly $44).
Will the price increase again?
No announcement of a further increase has been made as of mid-2026. The UK government raised the price once already; future increases are possible. The ETA is valid for 2 years from approval, so applying before any future increase would lock in the current price for two years of travel. There is no way to "buy ahead" beyond your immediate travel needs under the current system.
Common questions
How much does the UK ETA cost in 2026?
£16 per person. This has been the fee since April 2025.
Is there a discount for children's UK ETA?
No. Every passport holder pays £16, including infants. Unlike ETIAS, the UK ETA offers no age-based discount.
Why did the UK ETA price increase?
The UK government cited cost recovery for running the ETA screening system. The fee covers processing costs — there is no functional difference in the authorisation itself.
Does the price increase affect existing ETAs?
No. If your ETA was issued at £10 before April 2025, it remains valid for its full 2-year term. Only new applications are subject to the £16 fee.