Starting in 2025, Most Foreigners Will Pay $13 To Cross the U.K.’s Borders — Even in Transit

Updated: September 11, 2024, 1:28pm CDT

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The U.K.’s New $13 Entrance Fee
Final Thoughts

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The U.K. government is clamping down on its borders.

By April 2, 2025, almost all international visitors, including those just transiting through the U.K., will have to be pre-approved for travel. According to the U.K. Government’s website, the move is being introduced to “prevent abuse of [the U.K.’s] immigration system.”

Here are the details you need to know.

The U.K.’s New $13 Entrance Fee

Similar to what foreign citizens are required to do when traveling to the U.S., the U.K. has been slowly rolling out a system whereby an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or eVisa is required to enter to the island nation.

Nationals from countries — such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E — already need to apply for the ETA.

However, from April 2, 2025, this will apply to all international visitors except Irish nationals, who are permitted to travel freely between the U.K. and Ireland.

“Everyone wishing to travel to the UK — except British and Irish citizens — will need permission to travel in advance of coming here. This can be either through an Electronic Travel Authorisation or an eVisa,” said the U.K. government in a statement.

Heathrow Airport view from the air — Climing out of Heathrow and looking down on Terminal 5 on a busy summer’s day in August. Image Credit: Daniel Ross

The cost of the ETA is £10 (roughly $13), which is a couple of dollars cheaper than what the U.S. Department of Homeland Security charges travelers to the U.S. for an ESTA — the name of its similar system.

Once travel has been approved, the ETA is valid for multiple entries for a period of 2 years — or the expiry date of the traveler’s passport, if that comes sooner.

It’s also worth pointing out that new border control procedures are coming for the European Union, though the requirement for travel authorization shouldn’t apply to U.S. citizens until 2026.

Hot Tip:

If all this talk of the U.K. has got you considering a trip before the fees come in, our guide on the best way to fly to London using points and miles might come in useful.

The U.K. will be the only nation in Europe to charge such a fee even for transiting passengers. That’s right, you’ll need this ETA even if you’re only transiting the U.K. while flying from the U.S. to another country.

In turn, this could deter travelers from the U.S from choosing to fly U.K. carriers like British Airways or Virgin Atlantic, opting instead to fly with alternative carriers such as Air France via Paris (CDG) or Lufthansa via Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich (MUC).

Some would even consider this move as potentially causing serious damange to airport and airline finances in the U.K.

“Taxing transit is tantamount to failure,” Paul Charles, director of the PC Agency told The Independent. “If other airports offer free transit then they will pick up market share.”

Final Thoughts

Even if takes some getting used to, the introduction of an electronic visa system is nothing out of the ordinary. What remains to be seen is the impact this could have on transiting passengers.

We’ll keep you updated should there be more changes in the coming months.