UK to increase ETA visa costs

The UK has proposed a 60% increase in the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) fee for travellers from outside the European Union and, from April 2025, for EU citizens as well. The fee, which was £10, could rise to £74.

The announcement, made by the British Home Office last Friday (17), has drawn criticism from tourism and business sectors. The higher charge could harm the country's competitiveness in relation to the European Union's €7 (R$43) fee for the ETIAS system, which is due to come into effect soon.

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Flexibility for passengers in transit

On the other hand, the government decided to temporarily eliminate the requirement for ETA for air transit passengers who do not pass through border control, as in the case of flights connecting Berlin to the United States via Heathrow.

The Home Office said the decision was based on feedback from the aviation industry and that the rule would be “reassessed in the future”. However, experts believe that a return to the requirement is unlikely, given the estimated impact of losing 4 million passengers a year at Heathrow alone.

Impacts of ETA

A ETA It is a mandatory electronic authorization valid for two years and is required even for children and babies. From April 2025, it will be mandatory for citizens of the European Union, with the exception of the Irish.

Passengers who do not complete the online process prior to travel will be denied boarding. The ETA must be requested online (here) and it is recommended to place the order at least three working days in advance of the trip.