UK drops entry fee for transit passengers — but could hike price by 60% for everyone else
17.01.2025 - 20:05
/ thepointsguy.com
The United Kingdom government has made a significant change to its new Electronic Travel Authorisation program just weeks after rolling it out to U.S. passengers Jan. 8.
Upon its launch, the U.K.'s ETA scheme — similar to the United States' Electronic System for Travel Authorization program and the European Union's planned European Travel Information and Authorisation System — meant that nonvisa travelers were required to apply for authorization to enter the country and pay a fee of 10 British pounds (around $12).
Unlike similar schemes in other nations, that fee also applied to passengers simply transiting in the U.K. without intending to pass through passport control.
Following backlash from the U.K. aviation and airport industry, the British government has reversed this ruling: Transit passengers will be exempt from the ETA requirements. However, the government has also proposed an increased ETA fee for other nonvisa travelers.
Here's what you need to know.
The U.K. initially launched its ETA scheme in 2024 for visitors from the Gulf Cooperation Council states. It expanded the program to include travelers from the U.S., Canada, Australia and others Jan. 8. It will roll out to the rest of the EU in April.
The ETA program mandates that most nonvisa travelers apply for permission before entering the country. The application process involves submitting personal information online and paying a fee, initially set at 10 pounds.
After a successful application, the ETA is valid for two years but is tied to your passport; therefore, renewing your passport would require reapplying for a new ETA.
Travelers must apply for an ETA online before they travel. It can take up to three business days to obtain clearance. You can apply on the U.K. government website or the U.K. government app, which is available on iOS and Android.
The U.K. government's initial plan required all passengers, even those merely connecting at U.K. airports, to apply for an ETA. This ruling largely affected passengers traveling through London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Manchester Airport (MAN).
This decision proved controversial and received backlash from airlines like British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, as well as airport operators. They argued the rule was uncompetitive compared to other global hubs in Europe.
Heathrow, in particular, warned that the policy could drive away up to 4 million passengers annually as travelers opt for hassle-free alternatives in continental Europe.
In response to industry pressure, the government has now announced a reversal: Airside transit passengers will no longer need an ETA.
This move aligns the U.K. with the practices of other major international hubs.
"The removal of airside transit passengers from