Indian holiday-makers and business travellers heading to the United Kingdom will pay more from 8 April: the fee for a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) rises from £16 to £20—about ₹2,463 at today’s rates—only seven weeks after the digital permit became mandatory for travellers from 85 visa-exempt nations. Although Indian citizens still need a separate visit visa, they now face a two-step entry process: first securing the standard six-month visit visa (currently £135) and then applying for an ETA if transiting through a British port en route to another destination or if their carrier requires the permit at check-in.
![UK Electronic Travel Authorisation Fee Jumps 25 % From Today, Adding Cost for Indian Visitors]()
For those who’d rather not juggle multiple government portals, VisaHQ can manage the paperwork end-to-end. Through its India page (https://www.visahq.com/india/), the service lets travellers upload documents once, tracks ETA and visa applications simultaneously, and alerts you the moment a decision is made—helping to avoid last-minute airport surprises.
Airlines have warned that passengers lacking an approved ETA risk being denied boarding. The Home Office says the increase reflects "operational costs" of scaling the ETA system nationwide. Frequent travellers, including senior executives who transit London hubs, should expect higher annual mobility budgets. Immigration advisers recommend building at least 96 hours into travel schedules for ETA processing until approval rates stabilise. Travel managers should also flag that the ETA fee hike comes on top of a 6 %–7 % rise in most UK visa categories and an 8 % jump in British passport fees, all effective the same day.
For those who’d rather not juggle multiple government portals, VisaHQ can manage the paperwork end-to-end. Through its India page (https://www.visahq.com/india/), the service lets travellers upload documents once, tracks ETA and visa applications simultaneously, and alerts you the moment a decision is made—helping to avoid last-minute airport surprises.
Airlines have warned that passengers lacking an approved ETA risk being denied boarding. The Home Office says the increase reflects "operational costs" of scaling the ETA system nationwide. Frequent travellers, including senior executives who transit London hubs, should expect higher annual mobility budgets. Immigration advisers recommend building at least 96 hours into travel schedules for ETA processing until approval rates stabilise. Travel managers should also flag that the ETA fee hike comes on top of a 6 %–7 % rise in most UK visa categories and an 8 % jump in British passport fees, all effective the same day.
