The UK Now Costs Twenty Pounds Before You Even Pack

The UK Now Costs Twenty Pounds Before You Even Pack

Since February the Electronic Travel Authorisation is mandatory and checked before you board, so here is what it costs, how long it lasts, and who skips it.

Marieke van der Velde

Closed automated boarding gates with a red cross at a transit station, railings and empty floor, no identifiable people or branding, for the piece on the UK ETA being checked before you board

Photo Ries Bosch / Unsplash

If you hold an EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or Liechtenstein passport, the UK now costs twenty pounds per person before you pack. The Electronic Travel Authorisation is mandatory, and since February 25, 2026 it is checked at boarding, the Eurostar gate at Brussels-Midi as much as the plane. Forget it and you don't board.

The details that catch people out:

One ETA per head, babies and children included: a family of four pays eighty pounds, no group rate.
It covers multiple trips, stays up to six months, and lasts two years or until your passport expires.
Apply only at gov.uk/eta or the official app, never a copycat site, and allow at least three working days.

Book the permit before the ticket. It is the cheapest part of the trip and the one that stops you at the gate.