UK Walks Back Transit ETA Requirement + Increases Price By 60%

UK started to roll out ETA requirements for all nationals that can enter visa-free in 2024, beginning with the Gulf Nationals and then expanding to all non-Europeans on January 8, 2025 (read more here).

The UK first required this ETA even for those transiting through the UK (London Heathrow and Manchester), but it has now withdrawn this requirement for an undisclosed time. The ETA price, however, will soon increase by 60% from 10GBP to 16GBP.

You can access the UK’s page for ETA here.

Here’s the update:

Next steps for a more efficient immigration system

New measures have been announced today to reduce the reliance of the migration and borders system on taxpayer funding.

The proposed changes laid before Parliament today (16 January) will provide the flexibility to increase the maximum fee that can be charged on a range of immigration and nationality products and services, including:

• Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee rising to £16
• certificate of sponsorship fee rising to £525
• naturalisation as a British citizen rising to £1,605
• naturalisation as a British overseas territories citizen rising to £1,070

The changes to ETAs, certificates of sponsorship and nationality products are forecast to generate an additional £269 million a year.

As part of the government’s Plan for Change, ETAs will deliver a more streamlined, digital immigration system which will be quicker and more secure for the millions of people who pass through the UK border each year.

The introduction of ETAs is in line with the approach to border security taken by many other countries, including the USA and Australia.

However, following feedback from the aviation industry, the government has agreed a temporary exemption for passengers who transit airside, and therefore do not pass through UK border control.

This move will primarily affect Heathrow and Manchester airports, as the only UK airports which currently offer transit facilities. The exemption will be kept under review.

The legislation laid today will be debated in Parliament and is subject to approval by both Houses. If approved, the proposed new fees will be introduced by amending separate legislation, the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018, as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

Conclusion

These various ETAs, ESTAs, or eVisors are essentially visas, but they don’t go through the usual application process, as the passengers/visitors are from countries that are unlikely to overstay.

They are usually approved within minutes or seconds but can occasionally take a few hours to a day or two.

Source