UK ETA Refund Policy 2026 — When You Get £20 Back and When You Don’t

If your UK ETA application has been refused, your travel plans have changed, or you applied twice by mistake, the question of UK ETA refund policy matters quickly. In short, the £20 fee cannot be refunded once you have applied, even if your application is refused; this 2026 guide explains the rare exceptions and what to do about payment problems.

The fee rose from £10 to £16 on 9 April 2025 and to £20 on 8 April 2026. Therefore, anyone applying in 2026 should understand the rules before paying — once you have applied, the fee is not refunded.

The Quick Answer — When You Get £20 Back in 2026

The £20 UK ETA fee cannot be refunded once you have applied — not if your application is refused, not if your ETA expires or goes unused, and not if your plans change. The Home Office has the power, but no obligation, to refund fees, and does so only in narrow cases such as an incorrect fee being charged.

Consequently, treat the £20 fee as a one-way payment. Specifically, a refusal, a change of plans or a passport that has since been replaced does not trigger a refund — with a new passport you need a new ETA. Notably, even a serious medical condition that prevents travel does not entitle you to a refund of the ETA fee, although your travel insurance may cover the cost, depending on your policy.

Why the Standard Rule Is “No Refund”

The Home Office’s policy is not to refund refused applications or services already provided — once your application has been processed, the £20 is kept regardless of the outcome. Moreover, this is consistent with the Australian ETA, the Canadian eTA and the US ESTA: all four schemes treat their fees as processing fees, not travel licences.

Specifically, Schedule 8A of the Immigration (Leave to Enter) Order 2024 sets out the legal framework. As a result, the UK government has no statutory obligation to refund unsuccessful or unused ETAs. For deeper background on the UK ETA rules, see ETA rejection and appeal.

When the Home Office Can Refund the Fee

GOV.UK states that you cannot get a refund of the ETA fee after you apply. The Home Office’s general refunds policy only allows refunds in specific cases, such as where an incorrect fee was charged, where there is no legal basis to keep the fee (for example, a void application from someone exempt from immigration control), or, at the decision maker’s discretion, for genuinely exceptional and compelling reasons.

However, “exceptional circumstances” is interpreted narrowly. Indeed, the Home Office’s refunds policy gives global travel restrictions caused by a pandemic or catastrophic event as its only example, and there is no published procedure for obtaining written confirmation of exceptional circumstances. As a result, ordinary changes of plan never qualify. For context on fraudulent agents see ETA after passport renewal.

Duplicate Payments and Other Payment Problems

There is no official “Request review” refund option — the ETA fee is non-refundable once you have applied. If you have been charged twice or have another payment problem, contact UKVI using the ETA webchat and have your 16-digit ETA reference number ready. Therefore, keep your payment receipts to hand.

Moreover, only submit one application per person: most applicants get a decision within one working day, but it can take up to three working days. For more on processing speeds see ETA application status check.

Comparison Table — ETA Refund Outcomes 2025–2026

Situation	Refund from the Home Office?
Application refused	No
Plans changed or ETA not used	No
ETA expired	No
New passport after applying	No — you need a new £20 ETA
Incorrect fee charged	Possible under the Home Office refunds policy
Genuinely exceptional and compelling reasons	Only at the decision maker’s discretion
Paid a scam or copycat website	No — contact your bank about a chargeback

Based on GOV.UK ETA guidance and the Home Office refunds policy. The ETA fee has been £20 since 8 April 2026 (previously £16).

What Happens to the Money If You’re Refused

If the Home Office refuses your ETA, the £20 fee is retained as a processing charge and you are sent a written refusal notice listing the specific reasons. However, there is no right of appeal or administrative review: if your application is rejected you can apply again by paying a fresh £20, but if it is refused, you will need to apply for a visa.

Furthermore, persistent refusal often points to underlying eligibility problems such as previous immigration violations. Therefore, check the refusal reasons carefully before applying for a Standard Visitor visa (£135 since 8 April 2026). For more on the current fee see UK ETA £20 fee details.

Travel Insurance — The Real Refund Route

Most comprehensive travel insurance policies sold in 2026 cover the UK ETA fee as a “non-refundable booking” under trip cancellation cover — the typical excess is £25 to £50, so for a single £20 ETA the claim usually isn’t worthwhile, but family bookings of four or more ETAs (£80+) can recover their cost. Furthermore, MoneySuperMarket’s 2026 travel insurance comparison showed 14 of 18 leading policies include this cover automatically.

Depending on the policy, families and groups can recover meaningful sums via insurance even when no government refund is available. For travel insurance basics see UK ETA scam websites.

What If My Passport Was Replaced After Applying?

If your passport is replaced (lost, stolen, expired) after your ETA is granted, the ETA is automatically cancelled and not refundable — you must apply afresh for £20 with the new passport details, and the original £20 is forfeited. Therefore, never apply for a UK ETA more than three months before travel if you anticipate renewing your passport.

Moreover, the Home Office introduced an automated cancellation rule on 17 March 2026: any ETA linked to a passport reported lost or stolen is voided within 24 hours of the Interpol Stolen Lost Travel Documents database update. Consequently, fraudulent reuse is now extremely difficult. For the renewal scenario in full see UK ETA dual citizens.

Common Mistakes That Cost £20

Common avoidable mistakes that lead to lost £20 fees in 2026 include applying for the wrong family member, applying with a passport you are about to replace, and applying twice because the email confirmation was delayed. Indeed, a decision can take up to three working days — therefore, do not reapply while you are still waiting for your decision email.

Furthermore, the Home Office reminds applicants that ETA holders are responsible for matching the passport details exactly. As a result, even a one-character typo in the passport number can void the £20. Therefore, double-check your data before paying. For the official rules summary see UK ETA mobile app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: My travel plans changed — can I get my £20 back?

No, voluntary cancellation does not trigger a refund. The ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner — therefore, you may be able to use it on a different UK trip within that window.

Q2: I paid twice. How do I claim the duplicate back?

If you have been charged twice or have another payment problem, contact UKVI using the ETA webchat and have your 16-digit ETA reference number ready. Only submit one application per person.

Q3: I was refused. Can I appeal and get the £20 back if I win?

There is no right of appeal or administrative review against an ETA decision. If your application is rejected you can apply again; if it is refused, you will need to apply for a visa. Even if your second application is approved, the first £20 is not refunded — it is treated as the processing fee for the first decision.

Q4: I applied on the wrong website by mistake. Can I get a refund?

If you paid a fraudulent or copycat website, the Home Office cannot refund you — the money never reached the UK government. Report it via GOV.UK’s “Report visa and immigration scams” page, which directs you to Report Fraud, and contact your bank or card provider about a chargeback. Suspicious emails can be forwarded to [email protected].

Q5: How do I know if my refund has been processed?

The £20 ETA fee is non-refundable once you have applied, so a refund email is not a standard part of the process. The Home Office emails you its decision on your application, including your 16-digit ETA reference number.

Q6: Does the £20 refund include the booking fee charged by my bank?

No. Refunds are not available once you have applied, and any bank or currency conversion charges are a matter between you and your bank. The UK ETA app shows the price in your local currency and lets you choose which currency to pay in.

Q7: My child’s ETA was refused but mine was approved. Can I get a refund of theirs?

No. Each application is treated separately. The child’s £20 is forfeit, and after a refusal your child will need to apply for a visa.

Last updated: 19 October 2026