Increase in ETA visa fees for UK entrants, while easing the airport transit regulation
The UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, which came into effect in late 2023, has recently announced a proposed increase in its fee. This article provides an in-depth look at the current and proposed fees, comparisons with the European Union's ETIAS system, key differences, and the reaction from various sectors.
Current and Proposed Fees
The UK ETA currently costs £10 for a two-year validity period, but the government has proposed a fee increase to £16, effective from April 9, 2025. The EU's ETIAS, on the other hand, is yet to be launched, but it is proposed to have an original fee of €7 and a new fee of €20 upon its launch, which is expected between October and December 2026.
| System | Current Fee | Proposed/New Fee | Validity | Applicable To | |--------|-------------|------------------|---------------|-------------------------------------| | UK ETA | £10 | £16 (from Apr 9, 2025) | 2 years | Visa-exempt countries (incl. EU) | | EU ETIAS | (not yet launched) | €7 (original), €20 (proposed) | 3 years | Visa-exempt countries (incl. UK) |
Fee Comparison
The UK ETA fee is rising by 60%, while the EU ETIAS fee is nearly tripling from the original €7 to €20. The EU ETIAS is valid for three years, compared to the UK ETA's two-year validity.
Key Differences and Context
The magnitude of the increase, validity period, launch timing, and sector reaction differ between the two systems. The UK's reasons for its ETA fee increase are not detailed in the available sources, while the EU cites inflation and higher operational costs for ETIAS, and seeks to align with fees charged by similar systems (ESTA, ETA). The EU’s proposed fee hike has drawn criticism from travel and tourism sectors for lack of transparency and justification, especially in light of economic pressures on the industry.
Conversion and Cost Over Time
While direct currency conversion varies by exchange rate, £16 is approximately €18.40, meaning the UK ETA (even after its increase) will be slightly cheaper than the proposed EU ETIAS fee of €20. However, the UK ETA must be renewed every two years, whereas the EU ETIAS is valid for three years.
Summary
The UK ETA is increasing from £10 to £16, remains slightly cheaper than the proposed EU ETIAS, and is valid for a shorter period. The EU ETIAS is proposed to nearly triple from €7 to €20, with a longer validity, but the system is not yet launched and may face further delays. Both systems are aimed at visa-exempt travelers, with the EU seeking to match the pricing and structure of similar international travel authorisations. The ETA system currently applies to visitors from over 50 countries and will extend to European travellers on April 2nd, 2025. The ETA is a visa waiver that must be applied for online in advance of travel to the UK. Heathrow Airport, a major hub for transit flights, estimated that the change would cost it 4 million passengers a year. The rest of the requirements for ETA remain in place - the visa waiver must be applied for online in advance, and passengers who have not completed one will be denied boarding to their plane/train/ferry. The ETA visa waiver applies to non-EU citizens, including those living in EU countries.
The proposed increase in the UK ETA fee from £10 to £16 signifies a change in travel-related lifestyle expenses for visa-exempt countries, including EU citizens, traveling to the UK. On the other hand, the EU ETIAS, with a proposed fee of €20 upon its launch, might significantly impact the travel costs for visa-exempt countries visiting the European Union, raises questions about affordability, and garners criticism from the travel and tourism sectors.
