UK Proposes Hike in ETA Application Fee; Transit Passengers Temporarily Exempted from Requirement

The UK government has proposed an increase in the application fee for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

In the amendment submitted to Parliament on January 16, the application fee for the ETA will be raised from the current £10 to £16. In addition, the fee for acquiring citizenship in the UK or its overseas territories will also be increased. This is expected to generate an additional annual tax revenue of £269 million.

Following feedback from the aviation industry, a temporary exemption from the acquisition obligation will be granted to transit passengers who do not enter the country. This affects users of facilities set up for transit at London Heathrow Airport and Manchester Airport. The possibility of a full exemption continues to be considered.

Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), stated in a release, “To propose a cost increase just one week after the introduction of ETA is bewildering. If implemented, it would be a self-inflicted blow to the UK’s tourism competitiveness.” He also mentioned the upcoming increase in the air passenger tax in April and the introduction of the EU’s ETA counterpart ‘ETIAS’, which is one-third the cost and valid for one year longer, adding, “The UK government needs to look at the bigger picture now. By making the UK a more cost-competitive destination, it could reap all the benefits, including the substantial tax revenue generated by travelers. It makes no sense to keep travelers away with high costs before they even set foot in the UK.” The UK’s aviation and tourism industry supports over 1.6 million jobs and contributes $160.7 billion to the GDP.