Travelers to the U.K. will soon have to pay more to enter the country after the government this week confirmed the cost of its new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will increase 60 percent to £16.
The online pre-travel check, first introduced in November 2023, is now a requirement for travelers from countries who do not need a visa to visit the U.K. and is similar to the longstanding Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) system in the United States.
The ETA was extended to more than 50 countries in January, including citizens of the U.S., Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore, and from April 2 will also be required for travelers from European countries. An ETA permits multiple journeys to the U.K. and is valid for two years or until the traveler's passport expires, whichever is sooner.
The fee hike will see the cost of an ETA application increase from £10 to £16 from April 9, a move that drew criticism from the business travel industry after it was first proposed in January.
However, following feedback from the aviation industry, the government has agreed a temporary exemption for airside transit passengers who, previously, also had to apply for an ETA prior to travel. The Home Office said this exemption "will be kept under review."
The ETA is expected to enhance U.K. border security, but now will cost significantly more than the EU's forthcoming Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is expected to cost €7.
Originally published by BTN Europe.