Now fully rolled out, the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) has become mandatory for the vast majority of visa-exempt travelers, including those from Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
When the system was launched in October 2023, the ETA fee was set at £10, before being raised to £16 a year ago, the current rate in effect.
As previously reported by VisasNews, a further price increase had been expected in recent weeks, following statements from UK authorities and a recent parliamentary decision to revise the legal caps on several immigration and nationality fees.
That increase has now been confirmed.
According to the official immigration and nationality fee schedule, updated by the UK Home Office on Wednesday, March 18, the ETA fee will rise to £20 (approximately US$27) as of April 8, 2026, an increase of £4. In just over two years, the cost of this travel authorization will have doubled.
Since the ETA remains valid for two years, travelers may wish to apply now to secure the current £16 fee before the increase takes effect.
UK Visit Visas: moderate but widespread increases
The updated fee schedule also confirms increases across the main visit visa categories, with rises generally ranging between 6% and 7%.
The standard short-term visit visa (up to six months) will increase from £127 to £135.
Long-term visit visas follow the same trend:
- 2 years: £475 → £506
- 5 years: £848 → £903
- 10 years: £1,059 → £1,128
While these adjustments remain moderate, they apply across all visit visa categories, including travel for tourism, business, or family purposes.
Work, Study, and Routes to Settlement also affected
Beyond short stays, the fee increases also impact key economic and academic immigration pathways.
Skilled worker visa fees are rising consistently. For example, an application submitted from outside the UK for a job lasting up to three years will increase from £769 to £819, while longer-term visas will now cost £1,618 (up from £1,519).
For students, the main visa fee will rise from £524 to £558, reflecting a similar increase for applications made both from overseas and within the United Kingdom.
Routes to Settlement are also affected, with more significant increases. The fee for settlement applications will now reach £2,064, compared to £1,938 previously.
Nationality and other applications: broad fee adjustments
The fee increases extend beyond visas to include British nationality applications and certain residence permits.
The naturalization fee will rise from £1,605 to £1,709, while the fee for adult registration of citizenship will reach £1,540.
One notable exception: registration fees for children are being reduced, dropping from £1,214 to £1,000, a decrease of £214.
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.
