Travelers to the UK will soon have to pay more for their Electronic Travel Authorisation. From April 9, 2025, the price of the ETA will rise from £10 to £16.
It’s been in the works for several weeks, and now it’s official: the British government has confirmed that the ETA fee will indeed increase from £10 to £16, or approximately €20 / US$21, starting April 9, 2025.
This 60% increase aims to strengthen funding for the immigration system without relying more on public funds.
The initial announcement was made last January as part of a package of reforms affecting several immigration and nationality services. The United Kingdom is thus seeking to align the costs of administrative procedures with their actual management costs, while increasing revenues from the movement of foreigners within its territory.
Anticipate your ETA request before the price rises!
To avoid paying more, travelers planning to visit the United Kingdom in the next few months are well advised to apply for their ETA now, before the cost rises on April 9.
This recommendation applies to all travelers subject to this obligation, including European travelers, for whom this formality will become compulsory from April 2, 2025.
If you apply now, you can still benefit from the current rate of £10, or around €/$13, and obtain an authorization valid for two years. A simple precaution that saves you money (even a little) and avoids any stress before departure.
UK ETA: a rising price, but a fast process
Despite its rising cost, the process of obtaining the UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) remains relatively straightforward.
Visa-exempt travelers can apply online via the www.gov.uk portal or via the “UK ETA” mobile app (iOS | Android), and the response is usually provided within minutes to hours.
A copy of the passport and a passport photo must be uploaded before answering a few personal questions.
The introduction of the UK ETA and the increase in its fee are part of a global trend in which more and more countries are adopting electronic travel authorization systems to better control their borders and secure entry to their territory.
Like the UK, Japan is also considering speeding up the introduction of its own ETA system, along the lines of the American ESTA and the European ETIAS.
