Is UK ETA Free? Official Website and £20 Fee (2026)
UK ETA is not free and it is not a visa. Apply at gov.uk/eta.
Verified
Run by Home Office. Last verified July 14, 2026.
· Archived snapshot
Quick answer
UK ETA is not free. The Home Office charges £20 for each applicant.
- The fee started at £10.
- It rose to £16 on April 9, 2025.
- It rose again to £20 on April 8, 2026.
Every traveler needs a separate application, including a baby or child. A family of four pays £80. There is no family application or family discount.
What UK ETA is
ETA stands for Electronic Travel Authorisation. It lets eligible visa-free passport holders request permission to travel to the United Kingdom.
ETA is not a visa. If your nationality or trip requires a visa, an ETA cannot replace it. Approval also does not guarantee entry. Border control makes the final admission decision.
Who does not need an ETA
You do not need an ETA if you are a British citizen or Irish citizen. You also do not need one if you already have a UK visa or permission to live, work, or study in the UK.
Other travelers should check eligibility against the nationality shown on the passport they will use.
Verified
Run by UK Visas and Immigration. Last verified July 14, 2026.
Official website or official app
There are two official application routes:
- Apply in a browser through
gov.uk/eta. - Use the UK ETA app. Its developer or seller must be Home Office.
The app photographs the passport and face and may scan the passport chip. The GOV.UK online form is the official alternative if you cannot use the app.
How long a decision takes
Most applicants receive a decision by email within a day. Allow up to 3 working days before travel. Another website or app cannot provide a faster Home Office decision.
Use an email address you control. Keep the decision email and its 16-digit ETA reference number.
Validity and stay length
An ETA lasts 2 years or until the linked passport expires, whichever comes first. A new passport requires a new ETA.
The authorization permits multiple journeys during its validity. Each visit is normally limited to up to 6 months and must follow the permitted visitor activities.
Why search results show higher prices
Commercial application sites sell form-filling or review services. Prices observed on July 14, 2026 included USD $100.99 at iVisa, a stated EUR 69 service fee at eta-united-kingdom.com, and totals of EUR 69, EUR 119, or EUR 169 at application-eta.uk.
The Home Office fee remains £20. Paying a service does not create a family discount, improve the approval decision, or shorten the Home Office processing time.
Before entering passport or card details, check the address bar. The official government route is on gov.uk.
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