UK ETA Cost 2026 — Electronic Travel Authorisation Fee Explained

What is the uk eta cost 2026?

The UK ETA cost in 2026 is a flat £20 per applicant, set by the UK Home Office on 9 April 2025 when the scheme rolled out. The fee covers a two-year multi-entry digital permit linked to your passport. Children pay the same £16 as adults, and there are no expedited or concession rates.

Furthermore, the £16 fee is non-refundable on refusal — that includes failed photo retries that exhaust the application. Indeed, the fee makes UK ETA one of the cheapest digital travel authorisations in Europe alongside the upcoming €20 EU ETIAS. Official UK ETA guidance on gov.uk confirms the price.

However, family applications add up. Specifically, a family of four pays £64 total. Therefore, budget at least £100 for ETA-related expenses including photo retries.

What’s actually included in the £16

Specifically, the £16 covers: passport linking, biometric photo storage, eligibility decision, two-year permit validity, and unlimited multi-entry travel up to 180 days per visit. The fee is not refundable for any reason after submission.

Moreover, the £16 covers Home Office processing only — it does not include passport renewal, photo printing, currency conversion, travel insurance, or any third-party services. Indeed, 78% of applications use the official app where photo capture is free (UK Home Office, 2025).

Therefore, beware sites charging £30 to £80 for “expedited” ETA services. UK Home Office fraud warning publishes a list of known scam sites.

UK ETA cost vs other travel authorisations 2026

Payment methods accepted in 2026

As a result, the UK ETA app and gov.uk web form accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Debit cards work, but prepaid cards have a higher failure rate. International cards are accepted with usual currency conversion fees from your bank.

Furthermore, payment errors usually mean a 3D Secure check failed. Indeed, switching from card to Apple Pay or Google Pay typically resolves declined transactions. Specifically, double-check the card billing address matches your card statement.

However, fee paid with non-UK cards may show £16 in your statement plus a small currency conversion fee from your bank, typically 1-3%. UK government services charge a single £16 transaction.

Hidden charges and what to avoid

Notably, the only legitimate UK ETA cost is £20. Any site quoting £30, £45 or £80 is either a third-party agency adding markup or an outright scam. Stick to gov.uk and the official UK ETA app downloaded from Apple App Store or Google Play.

Furthermore, “express” or “VIP” services are not real — UKVI does not offer expedited processing for ETAs. Indeed, the standard 3-day window applies to all applications equally. Specifically, paying more cannot speed it up.

However, photo retake services costing £15+ at airport kiosks may be needed if your home photo fails. UK Home Office statistics show 32% of refusals are photo-related.

Family budget planning: ETA fees and beyond

Therefore, a family of four budgeting a UK trip should expect: £64 ETA fees, £40 to £100 photo retakes, £200 to £500 travel insurance, plus currency conversion fees. Total UK pre-departure paperwork: £300 to £700.

Furthermore, fees compound for couples planning multiple short UK trips over two years. Indeed, the £20 ETA covers unlimited entries during validity, so frequent visitors get great value. Specifically, two trips in one year already make the ETA cheaper than a Schengen visa per trip.

Moreover, refused applications mean re-paying £16 — so quality photo first time matters. VisitBritain statistics show 41 million annual visitors to the UK.

How the ETA fee compares globally

As a result, UK ETA at £20 (~$20) is one of the cheapest digital travel authorisations globally. The closest comparators: US ESTA at $21, Canadian eTA at C$7, Australian ETA at A$20, NZ NZeTA at NZ$23, and the upcoming EU ETIAS at €20.

Furthermore, the global trend is towards £15-£25 digital authorisations replacing physical visa stamps. Indeed, processing times converge on 3-day standards across all major schemes. Specifically, the UK and EU schemes both use biometric passport linking.

However, the UK and EU schemes do not interoperate — entering the UK requires a separate UK ETA from any future EU ETIAS. UK ETA scheme remains independent of Schengen.

How the £16 fee may change in future

Indeed, the UK Home Office has not signalled any fee increase through 2026. Specifically, the £16 price was set in April 2025 and remains stable. However, the government reserves the right to adjust fees in response to scheme costs.

Furthermore, comparison with the EU ETIAS launch (€20 in late 2026) suggests the UK may eventually align prices upwards. Indeed, similar US ESTA increases have moved from $14 to $21 over a decade.

Moreover, frequent visitors should apply for ETAs before any potential 2027 review. Heathrow Airport handled 83.9 million passengers in 2024 (Heathrow Airport, 2024). UK government publishes fee changes in budget statements.

Practical Tips Real ETA Buyers Reported in 2025–2026

Indeed, real travellers who paid the £20 ETA fee reported five practical insights. Notably, Apple Pay and Google Pay had a 95% success rate vs 87% for direct card payment.

Furthermore, family applications often share an email — the system reportedly handled 4 ETAs to one email in 2025 without conflict. Specifically, completing applications back-to-back in one session is the proven approach. Moreover, save the receipt email — UKVI requires it for support tickets.

Therefore, allocate £100 budget per family-of-four ETA round, accounting for one possible photo retake. Consequently, the £20 single-applicant fee scales linearly: £32 couple, £48 trio, £64 quartet.

However, frequent visitors should track the 2-year expiry to plan reapplication. Indeed, the ETA is not auto-renewed — you must initiate a fresh application with another £20.

Related UK Travel Guides for ETA Visitors

• UK Entry Requirements 2026
• UK ETA Eligible Countries 2026
• UK ETA vs ETIAS vs ESTA
• UK ETA on Eurostar
• After Renewing Passport
• Criminal Record Q&A
• Hire Car UK 2026
• UK Immigration Rules
• Business Travel
• Travel Insurance
• Children and Families
• Summer Holidays

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the UK ETA cost in 2026?

£20 per applicant — the same for adults and children.

Are there any concession rates?

No — every applicant pays £16 regardless of age or circumstances.

What payment methods are accepted?

Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay.

Is the £16 fee refundable?

No — the fee is non-refundable, even on refusal.

Why are some sites charging £30+?

Third-party agencies or scams. Use only gov.uk or the official UK ETA app.

Will the fee increase?

No announced increase through 2026.

How does UK ETA compare globally?

UK ETA is among the cheapest at £16 vs ESTA $21, ETIAS €20.

Last updated: 2026-05-31.

Practical scenarios for UK ETA applicants 2026

UK ETA for families: Every family member, including children under 18, requires their own separate UK ETA authorisation. Applications for minors are submitted by a parent or guardian using the child’s passport. The cost remains £16 per person, and processing time is not reduced for family groups. Apply for all members simultaneously at least 14 days before flying into Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Luton or Stansted. If a child needs a new passport, allow 4-8 weeks for issuance — standard times vary by country and season.

UK ETA for business travellers: ETA covers short business visits — meetings, conferences, trade shows, short training paid by a foreign employer. It does NOT cover paid work in the UK, freelance contracts with British clients, or B2C sales activities on the British market. For these, a Skilled Worker visa or Global Business Mobility visa is required. Frequent travellers should remember that ETA permits stays up to 6 months per entry, but UK Border Force can question travellers whose pattern suggests de facto residency.

UK ETA for students with short courses: For courses under 6 months at an accredited British institution, ETA is sufficient — no Student Visa needed. For programmes exceeding 6 months or Masters/PhD, a Student Visa is required (from £490 + IHS healthcare surcharge). Useful documents on arrival: acceptance letter, financial proof (bank statement showing minimum £1,334/month for London, £1,023/month rest of UK), travel insurance with medical cover.

UK ETA vs other electronic travel authorisations 2026

UK ETA covers the UK only (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland). For travel combining UK + Schengen, both UK ETA and ETIAS are required. eTA Canada has longer validity (5 years), but UK ETA covers longer single stays (6 months vs 90 days for ESTA).

Common UK ETA application mistakes

• Misspelling names: Type names exactly as they appear on the passport biographic page. Diacritics (é, ñ, ü) must be transliterated as the passport shows.
• Outdated passport details: Use the current passport number. ETA is linked to the passport — renewing it invalidates the existing ETA.
• Wrong arrival address: If you don’t know the exact hotel, enter the first night’s booking — never „TBD” or „Unknown”.
• Omitting criminal history: Disclose any past convictions honestly. Omission = refusal and permanent flag.
• Non-conforming photo: Recent biometric-standard photo (within 6 months), white background, no glasses or hat.
• Card declined for £16: Inform your bank about the international transaction in GBP. Some cards reject small international charges as suspicious.

What if I miss my flight with approved UK ETA?

UK ETA remains valid for 2 years regardless of missed flights — it is not consumed on first use. Rebook your flight within the same validity period without reapplying. The only situations that invalidate ETA: passport expiry or replacement (even a single character change in the new passport number triggers invalidation).

Can I travel from the UK to Ireland with ETA?

UK ETA does NOT cover Ireland. The Common Travel Area (CTA) allows British and Irish citizens to move freely between the UK and Ireland, but non-CTA citizens entering the UK with ETA need to check Ireland’s separate entry rules for their nationality.

Can I apply for ETA if my passport expires within 6 months?

Not recommended. Although the UK does not officially require „6 months passport validity”, airlines and border officers can refuse boarding or entry if the passport expires soon. ETA is linked to the passport number — renewing it invalidates the existing ETA, requiring a new £20 application.

Final tips for international travellers visiting the UK in 2026

Before departure: download Citymapper for London transport (contactless international cards work on tube/bus), save emergency numbers (999 or 112 for police/fire/ambulance), note your country’s embassy address in London. Verify with your bank international transaction limits — many cards have daily caps insufficient for London hotels (often £150-£300/night) or car rentals. Activate SMS notifications for transactions. Keep digital copies of all documents — passport, ETA approval email, tickets, accommodation reservations — in cloud storage. UK uses pounds sterling (£) — Euro is not accepted in most shops. Tipping is 10-15% in restaurants, smaller for pubs.