The United Kingdom announced new, stricter travel authorization requirements for Canadians and Americans in November 2025, with the full enforcement rollout of the mandatory Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). The ETA acts as a digital permission slip authorizing eligible stays in the UK of up to six months. However, as final implementation deadlines loom, a price hike has appeared on the horizon as well.
Previously, the ETA rule was lax on Americans and Canadians; however, starting on February 25, 2026, they must have an ETA to board their flight or risk being denied. An ETA currently costs £16 (around $22 USD or $30 CAD), but the UK government has confirmed that the price will increase to £20 (over $27 USD and nearly $37 CAD) in the future. Furthermore, the UK isn’t the only country to increase fees that will ultimately force American and Canadian travelers to pay more to visit.
When Will The UK Government Increase The ETA Price?
Though the UK government has confirmed its intention to raise the cost of an ETA, the date that the higher charge will be implemented is still pending. The government website is noticeably vague.
“As with all our fees the cost of an ETA is kept under review, and we intend to increase the cost of an ETA to £20 in the future. We will provide more information in due course,” the UK government’s website writes.
This statement comes less than a year after the last ETA price increase. On April 9, 2025, the UK hiked the cost of an ETA from £10 to £16, representing a 60% increase. This next change will increase the price by another 25%, ultimately doubling what the ETA initially cost.
Other Countries Have Also Increased Their Prices For Their Own Electronic Travel Authorizations
The price increase for the UK’s ETA mirrors similarly escalating travel costs for other countries’ own versions of the same travel authorization. For instance, the European Union raised the fee for its European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) from the initially planned €7 ($8 USD or $11 CAD) to €20 ($24 USD or $32 CAD) before the program’s scheduled launch later in 2026, meaning Americans and Canadians will have to pay triple for an ETIAS when visiting Europe.
This change makes the ETIAS more comparable to the ETA, but raises major concerns. One group of travel organizations, including the European Tourism Association, Airlines For Europe, and Hospitality Europe, decried the ETIAS price increase, saying that it came “at a time when Europe’s tourism sector continues to face the combined pressures of geopolitical instability, high inflation, and rising operational costs.”
Meanwhile, the United States increased its Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee from $21 to $40, making it among the most expensive programs for international travelers. The ESTA price increase is estimated to generate around $3.8 billion over a 10-year period (2025-2034) for the U.S. government.
Who Needs An ETA To Visit The United Kingdom
Nearly all American and Canadian travelers headed to the UK need an ETA. This digital documentation is designed to increase border security and provide the UK with more information about those who are crossing its borders. The few exceptions are people with:
- A British or Irish passport
- A UK visa
- Permission to live, work, or study in the UK (such as right of abode, settled status, or pre-settled status)
Travelers transitioning through a UK airport without passing through border control may not need an ETA. However, this can get tricky, as each airline operates differently. Travelers are urged to check with their specific airline well before departure to confirm whether they can travel without an ETA.
How To Save On An ETA
Since the UK government hasn’t specified the date for the price increase, it’s best to act fast. An ETA is valid for two years, so getting it now will ensure cheaper travel access that’s good long into the future.
Avoid third-party sites when applying for an ETA. Travelers will not get faster approval through a third-party vendor, making this a costly error with no real benefits.
Applying for an ETA is fast and easy through the UK ETA app. All applicants need are:
- The passport you’re traveling with
- A valid email address
- A phone capable of taking a photo
- Applicable funds via credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay
As part of the application process, travelers will need to take a photo of both their passport and their face. Travelers applying for someone else who isn’t with them must use the website instead of the app, so that they can submit a previously taken photo of their face.
With rising travel costs across the board, it’s never too early to start planning for an international trip. Getting an ETA and other documents now may give travelers an edge ahead of this and other potential price increases.
