UK ETA Fees 2026: Complete Cost Guide, Price History & Payment Options

How Much Does the UK ETA Cost in 2026?

The official UK government fee for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is £16 (approximately $21 USD / €19 EUR). This is a one-time payment that covers 2 full years of travel to the United Kingdom, making it one of the most affordable electronic travel authorisation systems in the world. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about UK ETA costs, what the fee covers, hidden charges to watch for, and how the pricing compares to similar systems worldwide.

UK ETA Fee Breakdown

Fee Component	Amount	Notes
Official government ETA fee	£16	Mandatory for all applicants
Bank transaction fee	£0-2	Varies by payment method and bank
Currency conversion	Varies	Applies if paying from non-GBP account
Advisory service fee (optional)	£40-80	If using a third-party service like VisaETA.uk

UK ETA Price History: From £16 to £16

When the UK ETA launched in 2023 for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the fee was originally set at £16. On 9 April 2025, the government increased the price by 60% to the current £16. This increase coincided with the expansion of the ETA requirement to EU nationals.

Will the UK ETA Fee Increase Again?

The UK government has not announced any further price increases. However, given the 60% jump in 2025, future increases are possible. Applying sooner rather than later ensures you lock in the current £16 rate for 2 years.

What Does the £16 ETA Fee Cover?

• 2 years of validity — or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner
• Unlimited entries — travel to the UK as many times as you want
• Up to 6 months per visit — for tourism, business, family visits, or transit
• Digital processing — no embassy appointment or physical documents needed

UK ETA Fees vs Other Travel Authorisations

System	Country	Cost	Validity	Cost per Year
UK ETA	United Kingdom	£16 ($21)	2 years	$10.50/year
US ESTA	United States	$21	2 years	$10.50/year
Canada eTA	Canada	CAD $7 ($5)	5 years	$1/year
Australia ETA	Australia	AUD $20 ($13)	1 year	$13/year
EU ETIAS	Schengen Area	€7 ($7.50)	3 years	$2.50/year
New Zealand NZeTA	New Zealand	NZD $17-23 ($10-14)	2 years	$5-7/year

The UK ETA sits at a similar price point to the US ESTA and is more expensive annually than Canada’s eTA or the planned EU ETIAS, but offers generous 6-month stay allowances.

Is the UK ETA Fee Refundable?

No. The official government ETA fee of £16 is non-refundable, regardless of whether your application is approved or denied. This applies even if:

• Your ETA application is rejected
• You cancel your travel plans
• You do not end up using the ETA
• Your passport expires before the 2-year validity ends

UK ETA Fees: Beware of Scams and Overcharging

Several third-party websites charge significantly more than the official £16 fee. Some important warnings:

• The only official fee is £16 — if a site charges much more without clearly disclosing it is a third-party service, it may be a scam
• Check the URL — official UK government applications end in .gov.uk
• Legitimate advisory services like VisaETA.uk clearly disclose they are not the government and charge a transparent service fee for professional guidance
• Google Ads can be misleading — third-party sites sometimes appear above official government results

How to Pay UK ETA Fees Online

The UK ETA accepts multiple payment methods:

• Credit card (Visa, Mastercard)
• Debit card
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay

Payment is processed securely through the UK government’s payment platform. Your bank may charge a small foreign transaction fee if you are paying from a non-UK account.

UK ETA Fees for Families and Groups

Each traveller needs their own ETA, including children. There are no family discounts or group rates. A family of four will pay £64 total (4 x £16). Children under 18 still require their own passport and individual ETA application.

Official Sources & References

This guide is based on official UK government sources. All information is current as of 2026.

Key fact: The UK ETA costs £16 per application, is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires, and allows unlimited visits of up to 6 months each. Citizens from 48 eligible countries must obtain an ETA before travelling (Source: GOV.UK).

1. UK Government — Apply for an ETA
2. UK Government — ETA Guidance
3. UK Government — Check If You Need a UK Visa
4. UK Government — Standard Visitor
5. VisitBritain — Getting to Britain

Frequently Asked Questions About UK ETA Costs

Do children pay the same ETA fee?

Yes. Every traveller, regardless of age, pays the same £16 fee.

Can I get a refund if my trip is cancelled?

No. The ETA fee is non-refundable. However, your ETA remains valid for 2 years, so you can use it for future trips.

Is the ETA fee per trip or per year?

Neither — it is a one-time fee for 2 years of unlimited travel. You pay £16 once and can visit the UK as many times as you want during that period.

Pay Your UK ETA Fees and Apply Today

At just £16 for 2 years of travel, the UK ETA offers excellent value. Apply through VisaETA.uk for professional guidance or use the official UK ETA app directly.

Related UK ETA Guides

• How to Apply for UK ETA Online
• UK ETA App Download
• UK ETA for US Citizens
• UK ETA for Children and Families

UK ETA Fee Breakdown and Payment Guide 2026

Additionally, the UK ETA costs £16 GBP per person for applications made through the official gov.uk portal or the UK ETA app. Additionally, in 2026 the government announced a planned fee increase to £16, though the timing of implementation varies — check the official gov.uk/eta page for the current fee before applying.

Who Pays the UK ETA Fee?

Furthermore, every individual — including infants and children — must have their own ETA and pay their own fee. Furthermore, a family of four travelling together must make four separate applications and pay four separate fees. There are no group discounts or family packages.

Applicants	Total Fee (at £16/person)
1 adult	£16
2 adults	£16
Family of 4	£40
Group of 10	£100

Accepted Payment Methods

• Visa, Mastercard, and American Express credit cards
• Debit cards (Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit)
• Apple Pay and Google Pay (via the UK ETA app)

Is the UK ETA Fee Refundable?

Moreover, no. Moreover, the UK ETA application fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome. If your application is refused, you will not receive a refund of the £16. If you apply twice in error, both fees are charged and neither is refunded. Always double-check your passport details before submitting.

UK ETA Fee History

Period	Fee	Notes
2023–2024 (pilot)	£16	Introductory rate during Qatari nationals pilot
2025	£16	Main rollout for eligible nationalities
2026 (planned)	£16–£16	Increase announced; check gov.uk for current rate

Avoiding Third-Party Fee Overcharges

In addition, many unofficial websites offer UK ETA application services and charge fees significantly above the official £16 rate — some charge £30, £50, or more. These services are not affiliated with the UK Home Office and provide no added benefit. In addition, always apply through the official gov.uk/eta portal or the UK ETA app to pay only the official government fee.

UK ETA Fee vs Other Country ETAs

Country/ETA System	Fee	Validity
UK ETA	£16 (~€12)	2 years
Australia ETA (subclass 601)	AUD 20 (~€12)	12 months
Canada eTA	CAD 7 (~€5)	5 years
US ESTA	USD 21 (~€19)	2 years
EU ETIAS (planned)	€7	3 years

What Does the UK ETA Fee Actually Cover?

Therefore, the £16 UK ETA fee covers the administrative cost of processing your application, conducting security and background checks against national and international databases, and maintaining the digital infrastructure that links your ETA to your passport number for border control verification. Therefore, unlike a visa, no physical document is produced — your ETA is stored electronically and checked automatically when your passport is scanned at any UK point of entry.

Can I Get a Refund if I Cancel My Trip?

Consequently, no. As a result, the UK ETA fee is non-refundable even if you decide not to travel after your ETA is approved, your flight is cancelled, your travel plans change, or you are refused entry at the UK border despite holding a valid ETA. Since the ETA is valid for 2 years and allows multiple entries, an approved ETA can still be used for future trips to the UK within the validity period, making cancellation less costly than losing a non-refundable visa fee.

Fee Implications for Families and Large Groups

As a result, for families with children, the per-person fee adds up: a two-parent family with two children pays £40 in ETA fees alone, plus any other travel costs. For this reason, groups such as tour parties, school trips, or sports teams must account for ETA fees for every participant. There is no bulk discount. Tour operators and travel agents arranging group trips to the UK should factor ETA fees into their pricing and remind clients to apply individually using their own passports.

ETA Fee When Renewing Your Passport

For this reason, your UK ETA is linked to a specific passport number. If you renew or replace your passport, you must apply for a new UK ETA and pay the fee again — even if your old ETA is still within its 2-year validity period. This is an important consideration for frequent travellers who plan passport renewals: if your ETA is due to expire soon and your passport is also due for renewal, it may be more cost-effective to renew the passport first and then apply for a fresh ETA linked to the new passport.

ETA Fee Tips: How to Minimise Costs for Your Trip

To minimise ETA-related costs, apply early using the official gov.uk portal, which charges only the base £16 government fee. In particular, check that all passport details are correct before submitting to avoid paying the non-refundable fee twice. If travelling with children, apply for everyone in the family at the same time — even though fees are per-person, ensuring all applications are submitted together reduces the risk of forgetting a family member. Note that your ETA is valid for 2 years and multiple entries, so the one-time cost covers all UK visits within that period, making it excellent value for frequent UK travellers.

If your passport is expiring within the next year, consider renewing it before applying for an ETA — this way your 2-year ETA will remain valid longer. Specifically, a new ETA costs £16 when you renew your passport, but timing it well means fewer total payments over a multi-year period. Finally, always verify that you are on the official UK government website (gov.uk) before entering payment details — the “.gov.uk” domain is the only legitimate source for UK ETA applications.