The United Kingdom’s revised immigration-fee schedule took effect on 8 April 2026, increasing most visa charges by 6–7 percent and hiking the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee from £16 to £20—a 25 percent jump. The Home Office says the rise, announced in March, reflects inflation and a policy shift toward “full cost recovery.” For German passport-holders, short trips remain visa-free, but anyone heading to the UK for tourism or business must apply for the ETA. A family of four now pays £80 instead of £64, and the authorisation remains valid for two years or until passport expiry. Frequent business travellers—consultants flying weekly to London, for instance—will absorb the increase quickly, making accurate tracking of ETA validity dates vital to avoid denied boarding. Corporates that sponsor German staff on secondment face steeper Skilled-Worker visa fees: applications of up to three years now cost £819 (previously £769), while longer postings rise to £1,618. Although the amounts remain lower than many US visa categories, companies budgeting for 2026 assignments must account for higher Certificate-of-Sponsorship fees (unchanged) plus the already-elevated Immigration Health Surcharge. Immigration advisers recommend submitting applications early to lock in old fees for dependants still to travel and to audit travel-policy allowances so employees are not left out of pocket. Travellers transiting airside are exempt from the ETA, but anyone passing through UK border control must hold one—even during a same-day layover. The fee hike comes as the EU prepares to launch its own ETIAS waiver for UK citizens in late 2026, illustrating a converging trend toward paid pre-travel authorisations on both sides of the Channel.
Source: Business Standard
