The Home Office has confirmed that the fee for the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will rise from £16 to £20 “in the coming weeks”, as the digital permit moves from soft-launch to full enforcement on 25 February 2026. The announcement, first reported on 30 January by business-travel portal TravellingForBusiness, comes as airlines, ferry operators and rail carriers begin final systems testing for ‘no-permission-no-travel’ checks.
1. What is changing – Introduced in beta form in 2023, the ETA is mandatory for visa-exempt nationals from 85 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and all EU/EEA states. From 25 February, carriers must verify every passenger’s ETA or eVisa status before boarding or face civil penalties. The £4 price rise—an inflation-adjusted 25 % increase—applies to new applications only; existing two-year ETAs remain valid until expiry.
2. Why it matters – The fee hike, though modest, will push the cost of a short business trip (two ETAs within four years) to £40. For companies with high-frequency visitors, annual mobility budgets will need revising. Corporate travel managers must also ensure traveller education: a missed ETA will now strand passengers at the gate rather than merely delaying entry processing on arrival.
![UK to Hike Electronic Travel Authorisation Fee to £20 Ahead of 25 Feb Enforcement]()
For organisations seeking a streamlined way to handle these new formalities, VisaHQ’s corporate portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) allows travel managers to submit and track ETA requests in bulk, receive real-time status alerts and access compliance dashboards, reducing administrative overhead and minimising the risk of last-minute travel disruptions.
3. Operational readiness – Airlines are updating departure-control software to poll the Home Office’s ‘Status Check’ API in real time. HR and global mobility teams should: a) capture ETA numbers in pre-trip approval tools, b) build three-day lead-time guidance into travel policies (the Home Office still advises applicants to allow up to 72 hours), and c) issue emergency escalation contacts for last-minute denials.
4. Broader trend – The UK’s shift mirrors Canada’s eTA and the upcoming EU-wide ETIAS, signalling a global pivot toward pre-travel risk-screening. The government argues the higher fee reflects expanded security vetting and system maintenance costs; critics say it is a stealth tax on visitors that could deter conference and leisure demand.
Failure to comply will carry commercial consequences: carriers face fines and loss of ‘Approved Carrier’ status, while travellers risk holiday disruption and missed client meetings. Companies should audit travel-data flows now to avoid costly day-one failures.
1. What is changing – Introduced in beta form in 2023, the ETA is mandatory for visa-exempt nationals from 85 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and all EU/EEA states. From 25 February, carriers must verify every passenger’s ETA or eVisa status before boarding or face civil penalties. The £4 price rise—an inflation-adjusted 25 % increase—applies to new applications only; existing two-year ETAs remain valid until expiry.
2. Why it matters – The fee hike, though modest, will push the cost of a short business trip (two ETAs within four years) to £40. For companies with high-frequency visitors, annual mobility budgets will need revising. Corporate travel managers must also ensure traveller education: a missed ETA will now strand passengers at the gate rather than merely delaying entry processing on arrival.
For organisations seeking a streamlined way to handle these new formalities, VisaHQ’s corporate portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) allows travel managers to submit and track ETA requests in bulk, receive real-time status alerts and access compliance dashboards, reducing administrative overhead and minimising the risk of last-minute travel disruptions.
3. Operational readiness – Airlines are updating departure-control software to poll the Home Office’s ‘Status Check’ API in real time. HR and global mobility teams should: a) capture ETA numbers in pre-trip approval tools, b) build three-day lead-time guidance into travel policies (the Home Office still advises applicants to allow up to 72 hours), and c) issue emergency escalation contacts for last-minute denials.
4. Broader trend – The UK’s shift mirrors Canada’s eTA and the upcoming EU-wide ETIAS, signalling a global pivot toward pre-travel risk-screening. The government argues the higher fee reflects expanded security vetting and system maintenance costs; critics say it is a stealth tax on visitors that could deter conference and leisure demand.
Failure to comply will carry commercial consequences: carriers face fines and loss of ‘Approved Carrier’ status, while travellers risk holiday disruption and missed client meetings. Companies should audit travel-data flows now to avoid costly day-one failures.
