UK Proposes to Increase Price for New Traveler Entry Fee

It could cost you more to enter the United Kingdom.

An increase in the fee for Electronic Travel Authorization to England is being proposed, even though the program is still in its infancy.

The proposal has come from the United Kingdom government. It asks for an increase of as much as 60 percent, raising the price from from £10 to £16. The ETA, as it is known, is being rolled out in phases and currently services citizens for more than 50 countries.

Julia Lo Bue-Said, of the Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “Without a thriving inbound sector, you cannot have a thriving outbound industry. The government should be looking to encourage and harness growth, capitalizing on the desire to travel to help our economy prosper by creating jobs and boosting destinations." 

Tim Alderslade, CEO of industry body Airlines UK, said this “pragmatic step” addresses “the real risk that the UK would lose business to European hubs which don't require transit visas.
… We urge that this exemption is made permanent given the vital role that passengers transiting the UK play in making vital international routes viable, particularly to growth markets.”

Those with an ETA will not need a Visa and vice versa. But the program could mean as much as 30 million more applications per year.

The ETA is for American citizens. Originally it included those with layovers too, but the UK recently withdrew that and ended the fee for transit passengers. 

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