UK ETA Price 2026 — What You Pay and How to Apply

The UK ETA price in 2026 is £10 per person — a single, non-refundable charge payable directly to the UK government when you apply online. This guide explains exactly what you get for that price, whether any discounts apply, and how to make sure you never pay more than you should.

Quick Facts: UK ETA Price

What the UK ETA Price Covers

When you pay the £10 UK ETA price, you receive a digital authorisation linked to your passport. This single payment entitles you to: multiple entries to the UK during the validity period; stays of up to six months on each visit; entry by any route — air, sea, or land; and access to England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The price remains the same regardless of how many times you visit the UK within the two-year validity period — effectively an unlimited pass at a fixed cost of £10.

For full details on the application process, see our comprehensive UK ETA application guide.

Is the UK ETA Price Different for Different Nationalities?

No. The UK ETA price of £10 applies equally to all eligible nationalities — Canadian, Australian, Japanese, or any other ETA-eligible passport. The only distinction is between travellers required to have an ETA (and must pay the fee) and those exempt from the requirement (British nationals, Irish citizens, and people with existing UK immigration status). To check whether your nationality requires an ETA, visit our ETA nationalities guide.

Does the Price Change for Different Types of Travel?

No. The UK ETA price is the same for all travel purposes: tourism, business, visiting family, short-term study, and transit through UK airports. There is no separate ETA for any purpose — one ETA covers all of the above. For business-specific information, see our country-specific ETA guides.

How to Apply and Pay the Official UK ETA Price

1. Go to gov.uk — visit gov.uk/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta or download the official UK ETA app.
2. Enter your passport details — full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, and passport expiry date.
3. Provide a face photo — use your device camera or upload a saved image.
4. Answer the eligibility questions — confirm travel purpose, criminal history (if any), and health declaration.
5. Pay the £10 fee — enter your card details on the secure government payment page.
6. Receive your ETA — most applicants receive a decision within minutes by email.

Risks of Paying More Than the Official Price

Many travellers accidentally pay more than £10 because they find unofficial third-party services first. These charge £30–£100+ for a £10 application, may cause delays, carry data security risks, and may introduce application errors. Always apply at gov.uk — no middleman needed.

When Does the UK ETA Price Apply Again?

You will need to pay the UK ETA price a second time when: your two-year ETA expires; you renew your passport (ETA is tied to your old passport number); your application was unsuccessful and you are reapplying; or you submitted an application with incorrect details. For passport validity management, see our passport validity guide.

Tips and Best Practices

• Apply directly on gov.uk — takes fewer than ten minutes; price is exactly £10.
• Apply before renewing your passport — or immediately after getting a new passport.
• Keep your confirmation email — your proof of ETA approval.
• Check your passport expiry date — your ETA is only valid until your passport expires.
• Apply at least a week before travel — the Home Office can take up to three working days.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using a third-party website — many charge between £25 and £80 for what is a £10 process.
• Entering incorrect passport details — cannot be amended once submitted; requires reapplication and another £10.
• Forgetting to reapply after a passport renewal — the ETA from your old passport is invalid on your new passport.
• Applying for an ETA when you actually need a visa — check the gov.uk visa checker before applying.

Planning Your UK Visit

With your ETA in hand at the £10 price, the UK is ready to explore. The VisitBritain website offers extensive free travel planning resources. For entry requirements, see our country-specific guides, our family travel guide, and our UK customs guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the UK ETA price changed since launch?
The ETA was launched in January 2024 at £10. Always check gov.uk before applying for the most current fee.

Is there a reduced price for students?
No. Students pay the standard £10 fee.

Is the price different if I apply last minute?
No. The fee is fixed at £10 regardless of when you apply.

What currency is the UK ETA price charged in?
British pounds (GBP). Your bank handles any necessary currency conversion.

Is there a price for checking my application status?
No. Checking your ETA application status is free.

What the Price Actually Buys You

The ETA fee covers the processing of your authorisation and its full validity period — typically two years of unlimited short visits, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Seen over its lifetime, the cost per trip drops sharply for anyone who visits the UK more than once: a traveller who makes four city breaks within the validity window is effectively paying a fraction of the fee per visit. That makes the ETA one of the cheaper travel authorisations among comparable schemes worldwide.

It is worth comparing this with what a Standard Visitor visa costs for travellers who are not ETA-eligible: the visa is many times more expensive, requires biometrics appointments and takes weeks rather than days. If you qualify for the ETA, you are in the cheapest and fastest lane the UK offers.

How to Pay Less Overall — Practical Tips

• Apply directly through the official channel. Unofficial intermediary websites add service charges that can multiply the real price several times over.
• Apply once, correctly. A refused application costs you the full fee again when you re-apply, so check passport numbers and personal details carefully.
• Apply before booking non-refundable travel. In the rare case of a refusal you will not lose money on flights you cannot use.
• Watch the payment currency. Pay in pounds sterling and let your bank convert — dynamic currency conversion offered at checkout usually carries a worse exchange rate.

Timing Your Application to Protect Your Money

Most applications are decided quickly, but official guidance says to allow up to three working days. Applying at least a week before departure costs nothing extra and removes the risk of paying premium prices for rebooked flights if a decision takes longer than expected. The authorisation activates as soon as it is approved, and its validity is not shortened by applying early — so there is no financial advantage in waiting until the last minute, only risk.

If your passport is close to expiry, renew it first. The ETA is electronically linked to the passport you apply with, and a new passport means a new application and a new fee. Renewing first means the authorisation lives for its full term.

Does every member of a group pay the same?

Yes. The fee is flat for every applicant regardless of age, including babies and children. There are no discounts, no group rates and no fee waivers for short stays.

Are there extra charges at the border?

No. Once approved, the ETA involves no further payment when you arrive in the UK. Any website or message asking you to “activate” or “confirm” your ETA for an additional charge is a scam and should be ignored.

Price Checklist Before You Click “Pay”

Run through this thirty-second checklist before paying: the application is on the official channel, not a lookalike site; every passport detail matches the document exactly; your card allows international online payments; and your travel dates leave at least three working days of buffer for the decision. Ticking these four boxes protects the fee far better than any refund policy could, because in this system prevention is the only refund. Frequent visitors should also note the decision date in their calendar — knowing exactly when the two-year validity ends prevents paying for an emergency re-application at the airport later.