Only two years after launching the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, the UK has raised the cost of the digital permit from £16 to £20. The higher price applies to all applications submitted on or after 8 April and was confirmed in the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Order 2026. The ETA is mandatory for visa-waiver nationals—including US, Australian and Gulf travellers—who intend to visit the UK for up to six months for business or tourism. Because business visitors make up roughly a third of ETA holders, the extra £4 per traveller could add meaningful cost to high-frequency corporate travel programmes. Government officials say the uplift is needed to fund biometric upgrades and risk-analysis algorithms at the UK’s “digital border”. Nevertheless the fee remains cheaper than the US ESTA ($21/£17) and Canada’s eTA (C$7/£4), although more expensive than the forthcoming EU ETIAS (€7/£6). Travel managers should ensure that self-service booking tools and pre-trip approval workflows reflect the new cost, and remind staff that an ETA remains valid for two years, covering multiple journeys. Companies that sponsor short-term secondments under the Business Visitor route should verify that visiting staff have updated their expense caps accordingly.
Source: ETA Visa UK
