ETA Application Cost 2026: What You’ll Actually Pay and Why It Confuses So Many Travellers
The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation costs £10. Simple, right? And yet thousands of travellers every month end up paying significantly more than that — sometimes without realising it until the money has already left their account.
If you’ve landed here after staring at a checkout screen showing £30, £50, or even more for what you thought was a straightforward ETA application, you’re in good company. The confusion is genuine, and it stems from a few very specific things that are worth understanding before you hand over a single penny. Let’s get into it.
The Official UK ETA Fee in 2026 — And Why Many Travellers Pay More
The £10 government fee: what it covers
The official UK ETA fee, set by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), is £10 per person as of 2026. That’s it. One flat fee, regardless of your nationality (provided your country is included in the ETA scheme), the length of your stay, or how many times you plan to visit the UK during the ETA’s validity period.
That £10 covers the cost of processing your application, conducting the necessary security and background checks, and issuing the electronic authorisation that gets linked directly to your passport. There’s no separate “issuance fee”, no surcharge for faster processing, and no tier system. Everyone pays the same amount through the official channel — always verify the current fee at GOV.UK before applying, as fees are subject to change.
Why the final amount on your screen is often higher than £10
Here’s the thing: the internet is saturated with third-party websites that offer ETA application services. Some are legitimate visa assistance companies. Others are, frankly, misleading — designed to look like official government portals when they absolutely are not.
These services typically charge a service fee on top of the £10 government fee. That service fee might be anywhere from £15 to £60 depending on the provider. Some of these sites present their total fee upfront; others bury the government fee inside a lump sum figure that makes it hard to see what you’re actually paying for. And some — this is the part that catches people out — charge card processing fees on top of everything else.
So you go looking for “UK ETA application”, click what looks like an official link, and by the time you’re at the payment screen you’re looking at £49.99 for something that should have cost a tenner. The service wasn’t necessarily illegal or even incompetent. But you’ve paid five times more than you needed to, and the ETA you receive is identical to the one you’d have got directly through UKVI.
Worth knowing: Third-party ETA application services are not endorsed, affiliated with, or overseen by the UK Home Office. The only official channel for applying is the UK ETA app, available on iOS and Android, or via GOV.UK. If a website claims to be the “official” portal but doesn’t end in .gov.uk, it isn’t.
Confusing the UK ETA With the US ESTA? You’re Not Alone
ESTA vs ETA: two different travel authorisations for two different countries
This is probably the single most common source of confusion I’ve come across when researching this topic. The UK ETA and the US ESTA sound almost identical, use similar acronyms, and serve a broadly similar purpose — but they are completely separate systems operated by completely separate governments.
The US ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) is operated by US Customs and Border Protection. It costs $21 USD (approximately £17 as of 2026, though exchange rates vary) and is required for travellers visiting the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. The UK ETA is operated by the UK Home Office and costs £10. Different country. Different system. Different application entirely.
The mix-up happens because both schemes target similar nationalities, both are electronic, both are linked to your passport, and — if you’re searching online — the search results for one often surface right alongside results for the other. Honestly, if you’ve never applied for either before, it’s an easy mistake to make.
What happens if you apply for the wrong one — and how to get a refund
If you’ve accidentally applied for a US ESTA when you needed a UK ETA (or vice versa), the first thing to know is that the authorisation you received is simply not valid for the country you’re travelling to. It won’t help you board a flight to the UK if it’s a US ESTA. Full stop.
Getting a refund depends on which system you used and when you applied. The US ESTA charges $21 regardless of approval outcome — it does not offer refunds. For the UK ETA, the Home Office’s refund position is covered in the next section. But if you applied through a third-party service by mistake, your refund options will depend entirely on that company’s terms and conditions. Some offer partial refunds if you contact them quickly; others don’t. For complex billing disputes, your card provider’s chargeback process may be your best route.
Before applying for anything, double-check which authorisation you actually need. If you’re visiting the UK, you need a UK ETA (or a Standard Visitor Visa, depending on your nationality). If you’re visiting the United States, you need a US ESTA. They do not overlap. Not even slightly.
Where Every Penny Goes: A Full Cost Breakdown
The UKVI official fee and what it includes
The £10 fee paid through the official UK ETA app goes directly to UK Visas and Immigration. It covers the administrative cost of processing your application — the identity checks, the security screening against Home Office and international watchlists, the link between your ETA record and your passport, and the electronic notification sent to carriers before you board.
There are no hidden extras when you apply directly. No “priority fee”. No delivery charge. No annual renewal subscription. You pay £10, you get a decision, and if approved your ETA is valid for two years or until your passport expires — whichever comes first.
Third-party service fees and when they are (and aren’t) worth it
Third-party ETA services exist on a spectrum. At one end, you have established immigration assistance firms staffed by regulated advisers who genuinely help applicants with complicated situations — prior refusals, complex travel histories, dual nationality questions. At the other end, you have form-filling services that do nothing more than submit the same application you could have submitted yourself, and charge a significant premium for doing so.
For a standard ETA application with no complications, a third-party service is almost never worth the extra cost. The official app is genuinely straightforward. It takes around 10 to 15 minutes to complete if you have your passport and a payment card ready. Most people overthink this part. But if you have a complex immigration history, a previous visa refusal, or questions about whether you even qualify for an ETA rather than a visa, then paying for proper regulated immigration advice before you apply can absolutely be money well spent.
Card processing charges and foreign transaction fees to watch for
Even when applying directly through the official channel, there’s one cost that occasionally catches people out: foreign transaction fees charged by their own bank or card provider. The official payment is processed in GBP (British pounds sterling). If your card is issued in another currency, your bank may apply a foreign transaction fee — typically between 1% and 3%. On a £10 charge, that’s pennies. But it’s worth knowing it can happen.
Third-party services sometimes also add their own card processing surcharges — sometimes as a percentage of the total, sometimes as a flat fee. Always read the payment breakdown before confirming any transaction.
How to Apply Through the Official Channel and Pay Only £10
Using the UK ETA app: step-by-step from download to payment
The official route is the UK ETA app, available free of charge on the Apple App Store and Google Play. You can also apply via GOV.UK. Here’s how the process works in 2026:
- Download the UK ETA app from the official app store (search “UK ETA” — the official app is published by the Home Office)
- Scan the biometric chip in your passport using your phone’s NFC reader, or enter your passport details manually
- Take or upload a selfie for identity verification
- Answer questions about your travel history, criminal record, and immigration background
- Pay the £10 fee using a credit or debit card
- Receive a confirmation email and, once processed, a decision notification
That’s genuinely the whole process. There’s no interview, no document upload (beyond the passport scan), and no appointment needed.
Accepted payment methods in 2026
The official app accepts most major credit and debit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. As of 2026, the payment interface also supports some digital wallet options on mobile devices, though this can vary depending on your device and app version. Always verify accepted payment methods during the application, as these can be updated — check GOV.UK for the latest information.
What to do if your payment fails or you’re charged twice
Payment failures do happen occasionally, usually due to card verification issues or bank fraud prevention triggers. If your payment fails, don’t immediately retry with the same card — check with your bank first to see whether a pending charge has been placed. Some banks temporarily hold a charge even when the transaction wasn’t completed, which can make it look like you’ve been charged when the payment actually failed.
If you believe you’ve been charged twice — which can happen if you started one application and then began a fresh one — contact the UKVI helpline or raise a formal query through the GOV.UK contact system. Keep records of both transaction references. For genuine duplicate charges, a refund can typically be requested, though processing times vary.
Does the ETA Cost Change Based on Your Nationality?
No — the £10 fee is the same for every nationality currently covered under the ETA scheme. There’s no tiered pricing based on where you’re from. An Indian passport holder pays the same as a Qatari passport holder or a Bahraini national.
Countries currently covered under the ETA scheme in 2026
As of 2026, the UK ETA scheme has expanded significantly from its original rollout. It now covers a wide range of nationalities who previously could visit the UK without any prior authorisation, including nationals from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, many European nationals who aren’t EU citizens, and nationals from several other countries across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East.
Notably, nationals from the United States, Canada, Australia, and many other countries that previously had visa-free access to the UK are now required to hold a valid ETA before travel. The scheme was introduced under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 and associated secondary legislation, and has been progressively rolled out by nationality group. The full list of eligible nationalities is maintained on GOV.UK — always check the current list, as it’s been updated multiple times since the scheme launched.
Nationals who still need a Standard Visitor Visa instead — and what that costs
Not every nationality is eligible for the ETA. Nationals from countries including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Ghana, and many others in South Asia, Africa, and parts of Asia are not covered by the ETA scheme and must instead apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. The cost for a Standard Visitor Visa is significantly higher — £115 for a six-month visa as of 2026, though you should verify the current fee at GOV.UK before applying, as visa fees are subject to change. That visa also requires supporting documentation, biometric enrolment at a visa application centre, and significantly longer processing times.
Is the ETA Fee Refundable If You’re Refused or Cancel Your Trip?
The Home Office refund policy explained plainly
The UK Home Office’s position on ETA refunds is straightforward, and it’s not particularly good news: the £10 application fee is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome. Whether your application is approved, refused, or withdrawn, the processing fee is retained by UKVI. This is consistent with how most visa and travel authorisation fees operate worldwide — you’re paying for the assessment, not the outcome.
If you cancel your trip after receiving an approved ETA, the authorisation remains valid for its full two-year period (or until passport expiry). You don’t need to notify anyone, and there’s no cancellation fee. You simply don’t use it — or you use it for a future trip, which is one of the ETA’s genuine advantages.
What third-party services will and won’t refund
This varies enormously between providers and depends almost entirely on their own terms and conditions. Some third-party services offer a “service fee refund” if you cancel before they’ve submitted your application — but they typically retain the £10 government fee component even then. Others have a strict no-refund policy once the application has been submitted. Read the terms before you pay. And if something has gone wrong, contact the company directly in writing before escalating to your card provider.
How to dispute a charge if something went wrong
If you were charged by a third-party service under misleading circumstances — for example, if the site presented itself as official government, or charged more than it disclosed — you have options. First, contact the company directly and document everything in writing. If that fails, raise a chargeback with your card provider under the claim that the service was misrepresented. For regulated UK businesses, you can also report the issue to Trading Standards. For complex cases, consult a regulated immigration adviser or solicitor.
Costs That Catch Travellers Off Guard
Applying on behalf of children: does each person pay separately?
Yes. Every person travelling to the UK needs their own ETA, including children — even infants who don’t have their own passport yet. Wait: if a child is included on a parent’s passport (which some countries still issue), the rules differ, but for children with their own passport, each one requires a separate ETA application and a separate £10 fee. If you’re a family of four, that’s £40 in ETA fees, not £10. This surprises a lot of families who assume it’s a per-booking or per-household charge.
Reapplying after a refusal: are you charged again?
Yes, again. If your ETA application is refused and you reapply — whether immediately or at a later date — you will need to pay the £10 fee again. There’s no “second chance” allowance or reduced fee for reapplications. And if you’ve been refused an ETA, it’s strongly advisable to understand why before reapplying. Simply submitting the same application again is unlikely to change the outcome. For refusals involving complex circumstances, consult a regulated immigration adviser before attempting a second application.
Expired ETA and reapplication costs if you revisit the UK
An ETA is valid for two years from the date of issue, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. If you’re a regular visitor to the UK, this means you may need to reapply every two years, paying the £10 fee each time. If you get a new passport before your ETA expires, your existing ETA becomes invalid and you’ll need to apply again with your new passport details and pay the fee again. The ETA is linked to your passport number, not to you as a person.
ETA vs Standard Visitor Visa: Side-by-Side Cost Comparison
| Feature | UK ETA | Standard Visitor Visa (6 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £10 | £115 |
| Processing time | Typically within 3 working days (approval not guaranteed) | Typically 3 weeks; priority options available at extra cost |
| Validity | 2 years (or passport expiry) | Up to 6 months per entry; longer durations available at higher cost |
| Application method | Online/app only | Online application + biometric appointment required |
| Supporting documents required | Minimal (passport, selfie, background questions) | Extensive (financial evidence, travel history, accommodation details) |
| Nationalities eligible | Selected nationalities (check GOV.UK) | All nationalities not eligible for ETA or visa-free travel |
| Refundable? | No | No (application fee retained regardless of outcome) |
As of 2026 — fees and requirements are subject to change. Always verify with GOV.UK before applying.
When paying more for a visa actually makes more sense than an ETA
If your nationality requires a visa rather than an ETA, you don’t have a choice in the matter. But there are situations where travellers who are eligible for an ETA might have reasons to seek additional documentation — for example, if you have a complex travel history that you’d like assessed by a professional before travel, or if you’re visiting for a purpose (such as permitted paid engagements) that might benefit from specific visa conditions. In those cases, spending more upfront on proper immigration advice can save far more in the long run.
Frequently Asked Questions About UK ETA Costs
Can I pay in my local currency instead of GBP?
The official UK ETA fee is charged in British pounds sterling (GBP). When you pay through the official app or GOV.UK portal, the charge will appear as £10 on your statement. If your card is in a different currency, your bank will convert the amount at their prevailing exchange rate and may apply a foreign transaction fee. You cannot choose to pay in a different currency — the payment is always denominated in GBP.
Is there a cheaper price if I apply early or in advance?
No. There is no early-bird discount, no advance application pricing, and no reduced fee for any reason. The fee is flat at £10 per person, whenever you apply. That said, applying well in advance of travel is strongly recommended — not for cost reasons, but because processing times, while typically around three working days, are not guaranteed, and cutting it close can leave you without an approved ETA when you need to check in.
Do transit passengers need to pay for an ETA?
This is a genuinely important question, and the answer depends on your nationality and your transit route. As of 2026, nationals of certain countries require an ETA even if they’re only transiting through a UK airport without passing through immigration. However, nationals who require a visa rather than an ETA may need a Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) instead. The rules here are specific to nationality and route — always check the current requirements on GOV.UK well before your travel date.
Will the ETA fee increase after 2026?
Honestly, no one can say for certain. The £10 fee has remained consistent since the scheme’s broader rollout, and the Home Office hasn’t publicly signalled a planned increase at the time of writing. But government fees do change — visa fees have been revised multiple times in recent years, and the ETA fee could follow suit. The best approach is to check the current fee on GOV.UK immediately before applying, rather than relying on any figure you’ve read in an article (including this one).
Getting the Most Value From Your £10 ETA
How long your ETA stays valid and how many trips it covers
An approved ETA is valid for two years from the date it’s granted, or until your passport expires — whichever is sooner. Within that period, you can make as many trips to the UK as you like. There’s no limit on the number of visits, provided each stay complies with the conditions (generally up to six months at a time as a visitor). So for a frequent traveller, that £10 is genuinely excellent value — it’s essentially your recurring UK entry authorisation for two years, covered in a single payment.
Each stay is still subject to assessment by a Border Force officer on arrival, who has the authority to refuse entry even if you hold a valid ETA. The ETA is an authorisation to travel to the UK border, not a guarantee of entry. That distinction matters.
Keeping your ETA active: passport renewal and what changes require a new application
The most common reason a valid ETA stops working is passport renewal. The moment you get a new passport, your old ETA — however recently it was granted — is no longer valid. You’ll need to apply again and pay the £10 fee with your new passport details. This catches a surprising number of travellers off guard, particularly those who renew their passport close to a travel date.
Other changes that may require a new ETA application include: a change in your name (due to marriage, for example), any change in your immigration or criminal history, or a change in your nationality status. If in doubt, apply again rather than travelling on an ETA that may no longer accurately reflect your circumstances. A refused entry at the UK border is a far more disruptive outcome than a precautionary £10 reapplication.
And a final practical note: always carry the email confirmation of your approved ETA when you travel. The ETA is electronic and linked to your passport, but having that confirmation on hand can save considerable stress if there’s any query at check-in or the border.
This article is for informational purposes only and reflects information available as of 2026. Immigration rules, fees, and processing times change frequently. Always verify with the relevant official government authority before applying. Nothing here constitutes legal or immigration advice.