Travellers from many countries now need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK. Visiting the UK is about to get more expensive, as the rollout of the nation’s new travel permit gets underway. Visitors from Europe don’t need an until April, but for other international visitors, the permit was a requirement from 8 January.
But less than a month into the scheme, the UK Home Office has announced plans to hike the price of an ETA. Under the proposed amendment, the ETA fee will rise to £16 (€18.91), from a previous fee of £10 (€11.
82). The silver lining in the announcement is that transit passengers will no longer need to pay the fee at all. Read our who needs it, how long it's valid for and how to apply.
“The decision to increase Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) costs by 60 per cent is a staggering blow to the UK’s tourism industry and businesses across the country,” says Joss Croft, Chief Executive of UKinbound. The proposed changes will see the cost of an application rising from £10 (€11.82) to £16 (€18.
91), a 60 per cent increase. The UK Home Office says these changes are to “reduce the reliance of the migration and borders system on taxpayer funding,” and estimates they will raise £269 million (€318 million) each year. The proposed price hike will be debated in the UK Parliament and will need to be approved before going ahead.
But if it’s approved, the new price will be in place quickly. The International Air T.
