UK ETA Fee and Costs – Complete Guide

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) costs GBP 20 per person, is non-refundable, and applies to every traveler including infants and children. You must pay the fee before traveling to the UK, and you should apply only through the official GOV.UK website or the UK ETA mobile app to avoid overpaying. This guide covers everything you need to know about the UK ETA fee, including payment methods, family costs, refund rules, and how the fee compares to a standard UK visa.

How Much Does the UK ETA Cost?

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation costs a flat fee of GBP 20 per person, regardless of nationality, age, or purpose of visit. This fee applies whether you are traveling for tourism, visiting family, a business trip, or short-term study of up to 6 months. The GBP 20 charge is a one-time payment that covers the entire validity period of your ETA.

Your UK ETA remains valid for 2 years from the date of approval, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. During this validity period, you can make an unlimited number of trips to the UK, with each stay lasting up to 6 months. There is no additional fee for subsequent trips within the validity window.

Fee in Different Currencies

While the official fee is always denominated in British pounds (GBP 20), travelers paying from other countries will see the equivalent in their local currency on their bank statement. The approximate equivalents are:

Exchange rates fluctuate daily, so check the current rate on the day you apply. Your bank or card issuer may also apply a small foreign transaction fee, typically 1-3% of the purchase amount. Using a card with no foreign transaction fees can save you money on the UK ETA application.

Who Needs to Pay the UK ETA Fee?

Nearly all visitors to the UK need an ETA and must pay the GBP 20 fee. The requirement applies to nationals of countries that previously did not need a visa for short UK visits, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and all European Union member states. Since January 8, 2025, the ETA scheme has been mandatory for US citizens, and it expanded to cover European nationals on April 2, 2025.

Each person traveling needs their own UK ETA, regardless of age. This means the GBP 20 fee applies to adults, children, and even infants. One adult can submit applications on behalf of other travelers, including children, but each application requires its own separate payment.

Children and Infants

There is no reduced fee for children or infants. Every traveler, from newborn babies to elderly adults, pays the same GBP 20 fee. A family of four (2 adults and 2 children) pays a total of GBP 80 for their UK ETA applications. When applying for a child who is not physically present with you, use the online application rather than the mobile app, and have a photo of the child’s passport and face ready.

Exemptions from the Fee

You do not need a UK ETA, and therefore do not need to pay the fee, if you hold a British or Irish passport, or if you already have permission to live, work, or study in the UK. If you are a dual national with British or Irish citizenship, you can enter the UK with your British or Irish passport and skip the ETA entirely. You can check whether your specific nationality and travel circumstances require an ETA using the GOV.UK visa checker tool.

How to Pay for Your UK ETA

Pay GBP 20 through the official GOV.UK website or the UK ETA mobile app. The application process takes most travelers only a few minutes to complete. You will need your passport, an email address, and a payment method ready before you begin.

Accepted Payment Methods

The official UK ETA application accepts the following payment methods:

• Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
• Debit card (Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit)
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay

All payments are processed in GBP. If your card is denominated in another currency, your bank will convert the amount at the prevailing exchange rate. Some banks charge a foreign transaction fee for payments made in a currency other than your card’s default currency, so check with your bank beforehand if you want to avoid unexpected charges.

Official vs Third-Party Websites

The UK government explicitly warns travelers to avoid websites that imitate official government services. These third-party websites often charge significantly more than the official GBP 20 fee, sometimes adding service charges of GBP 50-100 or more. To ensure you are paying the official fee:

1. Always start at gov.uk/eta – the official government page.
2. Look for the “.gov.uk” domain in the URL bar.
3. Download the UK ETA app only from the official App Store or Google Play.
4. Be cautious of sponsored ads in search results that may lead to unofficial sites.
5. The official fee is always GBP 20 – if a site charges more, it is not the official service.

Paying more through a third-party site does not result in a faster decision or a better chance of approval. All applications, regardless of where they are submitted, are processed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) using the same criteria.

UK ETA Fee vs UK Visa Costs

At GBP 20, the UK ETA costs roughly one-ninth of a Standard Visitor Visa, making it the most affordable option for eligible short-term travelers. The comparison is straightforward:

When You Need a Visa Instead

The UK ETA is designed exclusively for short visits. If your plans involve any of the following, you need a visa rather than an ETA:

• Working for a UK employer (requires a Skilled Worker visa or other work visa)
• Studying for longer than 6 months (requires a Student visa)
• Moving to the UK to live (requires a residence-based visa route)
• Marrying or registering a civil partnership in the UK

If you have a criminal record or have previously been refused entry to the UK, a Standard Visitor Visa may be the safer route even for short visits, as you can provide additional supporting documents with a visa application.

UK ETA Fee for Families and Groups

A family of four pays GBP 80 in total, as each person including children needs their own GBP 20 UK ETA. There is no group discount or family package available – the fee is per person, per application. Here is a quick reference for common group sizes:

For families traveling together, one adult can submit applications for all family members through the online portal. The mobile app is best suited for individual applications. Each application requires the traveler’s passport details and a facial photograph.

UK ETA Fee History and Changes

The UK ETA fee doubled from GBP 10 to GBP 20 in April 2025, roughly three months after the scheme launched for non-European nationals. When the ETA first became available to US citizens and other non-European travelers on November 27, 2024, the fee was set at GBP 10. The UK government increased the fee to GBP 20 as part of broader adjustments to immigration and border control fees.

The fee increase was applied to all new applications from the date of the change, meaning travelers who had already applied and paid GBP 10 were not affected. The current GBP 20 fee has remained stable since April 2025 and applies uniformly to all nationalities and all types of short visits covered by the ETA scheme.

Refund Policy for the UK ETA Fee

The GBP 20 UK ETA fee is non-refundable once paid, even if your application is denied or you decide to cancel your trip. This policy applies in all circumstances:

• If your ETA application is refused, you do not get your GBP 20 back.
• If you cancel your trip after applying, the fee is not returned.
• If your passport expires before the ETA’s 2-year validity period ends, the remaining validity is lost with no partial refund.
• If you accidentally submit duplicate applications, each GBP 20 payment is processed separately and none are refunded.

Because the fee is non-refundable, it is important to ensure your passport is valid for the duration of your planned travel before applying. You should also wait until your travel plans are confirmed before paying the GBP 20 fee. If you have questions about a specific refund scenario, you can contact UKVI through their webchat service.

UK ETA Fee for Transit Passengers

Transit passengers passing through UK border control (known as “landside” transit) must also pay the GBP 20 ETA fee, with no reduced transit rate available. This applies if you are connecting through a UK airport and need to pass through passport control before catching your onward flight, for example to collect and re-check luggage.

If you are transiting “airside” – meaning you stay in the airport’s international transit area and do not pass through UK border control – you may not need an ETA. Check with your airline before traveling to confirm whether your specific transit route requires an ETA. The key distinction is whether you pass through UK immigration: if you do, you need an ETA and must pay the GBP 20 fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: July 2026

Sources: GOV.UK – Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), GOV.UK – Apply for an ETA, UK Visas and Immigration, Home Office Visa Fees