Electronic Travel Authorisation update January 2026

Subject to parliamentary approval, UK Government has announced that they intend to raise the cost of a two-year visitor visa from £475 to £506, and an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from £16 to £20.

From 25th February, eligible visitors without an ETA will not be able to board their transport and cannot legally travel to the UK. It has also been confirmed that dual citizens with British or Irish citizenship are exempt from needing an ETA; however, they must travel to the UK using either a valid British or Irish passport, or a Certificate of Entitlement. From the same date, dual British citizens who cannot present one of these documents will face additional identity checks and will not be able to proceed through UK passport control until their British nationality is verified. Please update the terms and conditions for your customers to ensure they are travelling on the correct documentation.