The UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation Now Costs £20, and Indian Visitors Still Need a Visa on Top

The United Kingdom's Electronic Travel Authorisation fee rose from £16 to £20, a 25 percent increase, with effect from 8 April 2026, according to UK government guidance and Indian travel-press reporting at the time. The change applies based on when an application is submitted rather than the date of travel, so anyone who applied before 8 April kept the older, lower fee even for a trip taking place months later.

Why this matters for Indian travellers specifically

The ETA itself is designed for nationals of visa-exempt countries, and India is not on that list. That leaves Indian travellers with a dual requirement: a UK Standard Visitor Visa, which itself costs £135, plus the ETA fee on top for anyone whose journey passes through UK border control, including some transit routings. The ETA does not replace the visa requirement for Indian passport holders; it sits alongside it as an additional step and additional cost.

What the ETA actually covers

Once issued, a UK ETA is valid for two years, or until the holder's passport expires, whichever comes first, and permits multiple entries. It authorises travel but is not itself a visa, which is why visa-required nationals like Indians still need to complete a separate visa application through the standard process.

What to check before booking

Passengers transiting through certain UK airports without passing through passport control are currently exempt from needing an ETA, though this depends on the specific routing and terminal used. Given how often fee levels and exemption details have shifted since the ETA scheme launched, it is worth confirming the current fee, application process and visa requirement directly on the UK government's official website before applying, rather than relying on a previous trip's costs.

Traveller tips

• Apply for both the visit visa and the ETA well ahead of travel; visa processing in particular can take longer than the ETA's typically fast turnaround.
• Budget for both costs together, £135 for the visa plus £20 for the ETA, rather than assuming the ETA is a cheaper substitute for the visa.
• The fee applies from the date of application, not travel, so applying early locks in the rate current at that time.
• Always verify current fees and requirements on the UK government's official immigration website, since this article reflects the position as of the April 2026 fee change.