UK Imposes New Entry Fee on Travelers From 38 Countries, Including Connecting Flights

US and Canadian travelers must pay $12.50 for ETA and apply online before entering the UK.

By Thea Felicity

Jan 07 2025, 08:16 AM EST

More Changes Tomorrow For UK Travel 'Traffic Light' System — LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 07: People wait for their loved ones to exit through the International Arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport on August 7, 2021 in London, England. As of 04:00 tomorrow, the UK again shuffles its "traffic light" system dictating quarantine requirements for arriving travelers. Most significantly, France moves from "amber-plus" to "amber," meaning that fully vaccinated travelers no longer need to quarantine. Meanwhile, Mexico moves to the red list, forcing arriving travelers to quarantine at their own cost in government-designated hotels. Hollie Adams/Getty Images

Effective this week, visitors from the US and over 35 other nations, including travelers from Canada and a few other countries, will need to pay an entry fee to gain admission to the United Kingdom.

The introduction of this system aims to make border control processes easier and improve security, as more travelers will need to apply for authorization before boarding their flights.

According to CNBC, the application fee for ETA costs $12.50 (£10). Upon payment, the UK electronic travel authorization system (ETA) will be issued. But do note that the ETA is a pre-authorization for visitors from countries that do not require a visa to enter the UK. Though this authorization is mandatory before travel, visitors will still have to clear immigration when they arrive in the UK, just as they would under normal visa-free entry rules.

Applying ETA to millions of travelers could change the way people begin planning their journeys to the UK. While it concerns the security of its borders, it also entails efficiently managing an increase in international visitors. Although an addition that seemingly may not greatly affect travel, the new fee and requirement to acquire an Electronic Travel Authorization is a significant update in travel logistics, especially among those who will be unfamiliar with the new procedure.

What You Need to Know About UK's ETA Application Process

The process of applying for the ETA is pretty simple, per the UK Government itself. You can make use of the official ETA application available in both Android and iPhone versions, where you will simply fill out an online form and upload a picture of your passport.

The $12.50 (£10) fee can be paid online and will take three working days for approval. Now, the good thing is that the approved authorization remains valid for two years and is granted for a period of six months for a visit.

Note that ETA applies to all visitors traveling to the UK, from newborn to kids. An ETA is required even for young children. This could prove to be an important point for parents planning a trip with their offspring.

If you are making an intermediate stop in a UK airport on your way to another destination, then the ETA will apply as well.