UK ETA Children Refund 2026 — Can You Get Your Money Back?

A UK ETA children refund is generally not available — the £20 fee is non-refundable in all standard circumstances, whether the ETA is approved, refused, or simply not used. However, if you mistakenly paid for an ETA your youngster never needed (for example, on a British passport that does not require one) or were charged the wrong fee, you can request a refund through the official UK Home Office process (GOV.UK, 2025).

Launched in January 2025, the UK ETA explained system has already handled millions of applications. That non-refundable policy stays consistent across every age group — adults and children face identical rules on getting their money back.

This guide explains exactly when a refund may be possible, how to request one, and what to do when a refusal lands.

Is the UK ETA Fee Refundable for Children?

No — the £20 UK ETA fee is non-refundable as a general rule. This applies to children, infants, and adults equally. Why so strict? Caseworkers process each application the moment you submit it. In limited cases — a technical duplicate payment, say, or an application for an exempt traveller — they may still issue a discretionary refund (Home Office, 2025).

Scenario	Refund Possible?	Action
ETA approved, trip cancelled	No	Keep ETA valid 2 years
ETA refused	No	Re-apply or apply for visa
Duplicate payment (technical)	Yes (discretionary)	Contact Home Office
Applied for exempt child	Yes (discretionary)	Contact Home Office with evidence
Incorrect fee charged	Yes	Contact Home Office immediately

Even where a refund is theoretically possible, processing can be slow. According to Which? Magazine, the average wait for a discretionary ETA refund ran to 6–8 weeks in 2025 (Which?, 2025).

When Can You Get a UK ETA Refund for a Child?

The clearest case for a successful claim is a technical duplicate — you accidentally submitted and paid for the same application twice. Act fast. Email the ETA refund team within 24 hours with both reference numbers. Genuine duplicates are confirmed as priority refunds (UK Home Office, 2025).

A second valid case is an accidental application for a child who never needed an ETA — say, one who holds both a US and a British passport. If the British passport was available and should have been used, explain the circumstances and you may request a refund. Our multiple-entry UK visa guide explains how existing visas interact with the ETA framework.

What Happens If a Child’s UK ETA Is Refused — Can You Get a Refund?

No — a refusal does not entitle you to a refund. The £20 fee covers the processing of the application, not the issuance of the ETA itself. If your child’s ETA is refused, the fee is retained by the Home Office. Your options are to re-apply online (paying a further £20) with corrected information, or to apply for a standard UK visitor visa if the refusal appears to be based on more serious grounds (GOV.UK, 2025).

Before re-applying, work out why the application was refused. Common triggers include a name or date-of-birth mismatch with passport records, prior immigration violations, incomplete travel history, or a passport flagged for a security check.

In most cases, a simple data fix and a fresh application clears the problem. Official figures show that over 94% of re-applications submitted after a first refusal were approved on the second attempt (Home Office statistics, 2025).

How to Request a UK ETA Refund

To claim back the £20 for a duplicate payment or an exempt applicant, get in touch through the official ETA enquiries form on GOV.UK. Supply your reference number, the child’s passport details, and any supporting evidence. Expect a reply within 30 working days (GOV.UK guidance, 2025).

1. Locate your ETA confirmation email and note the reference number.
2. Go to the GOV.UK contact form for the ETA service.
3. Select “Refund or payment query” as the subject.
4. Provide the child’s full name, date of birth, passport number, and ETA reference.
5. Explain the specific reason you believe a refund is warranted.
6. Attach any supporting documents.
7. Submit the form and retain the confirmation reference.

Refunds go back to the original payment method. Our UK visa processing times guide covers how to handle administrative delays.

What to Do After a Child’s UK ETA Is Refused

When a refusal lands, carefully review the rejection notice email, fix any errors in the application, and re-apply via the GOV.UK portal. In most cases, a corrected submission is approved quickly. Should the letter point to a more serious concern, seek professional immigration advice before trying again (Home Office guidance, 2025).

Our how to appeal a UK visa rejection guide explains the limited options for challenging immigration decisions, refusals included. If your child must travel urgently and the case cannot be resolved in time, look at an emergency visitor visa instead.

Can You Transfer a Child’s Approved ETA to a New Passport?

No. A UK ETA is permanently linked to the specific passport number used in the application. If your child renews their passport after the ETA is approved, the ETA becomes invalid and you must apply — and pay £20 — for a new ETA on the new passport. There is no transfer or extension process (UK Home Office, 2025).

This matters most for families with young children, who tend to renew passports more often. Our 2-year UK visit visa guide sets out an alternative for longer validity. Check the passport expiry date first — it lets you work out realistic coverage before you pay.

UK ETA vs Standard Visitor Visa for Children — Refund Comparison

Both the UK ETA (£20) and the standard visitor visa (from £115) are non-refundable once submitted. The key difference is that a refused ETA allows immediate re-application, whereas a refused visitor visa may require a longer wait. For children from ETA-eligible countries, the ETA remains the strongly preferred route due to its speed and lower cost (GOV.UK, 2025).

For most families, the £20 ETA fee is far better value than the £115 visitor visa fee, even when a second application follows a refusal. Our UK tourist visa application guide adds context on the wider UK visitor visa process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if my child’s UK ETA was approved but we didn’t travel?

No. Approval does not guarantee a refund. If you did not travel, the ETA remains valid for two years and can be used for a future trip. No refund is issued for unused ETAs.

Is there a time limit for requesting a UK ETA refund?

Contact the ETA refund team as soon as possible after identifying an eligible situation. While there is no published deadline, acting within 30 days gives the best chance of resolution.

What if I applied for a UK ETA for my child but the fee was taken twice from my bank?

This is a technical duplicate and should be reported immediately to the Home Office via the GOV.UK contact form. Duplicate payment refunds are processed as a priority.

My child was refused — will the refund cover the new application fee?

No. The original £20 is non-refundable, and you will need to pay an additional £20 for any re-application.

Can my child use the ETA if the travel dates changed?

Yes. UK ETAs are not tied to specific travel dates — they allow entry at any point within the two-year validity period.

What if I accidentally submitted my child’s ETA on the wrong passport?

Reach out to the Home Office with both passport details and explain the error. A discretionary refund may be possible if you can show the child is exempt.

Are UK ETA fees expected to change in 2026?

As of June 2026, the fee remains £20. Check GOV.UK for the latest confirmed fee before applying.

Last updated: June 2026