U.K. Changes Rules Regarding $13 Entrance and Transit Fee for U.S. Citizens

The U.K. government began charging for international travelers to cross its borders on January 8, 2025.

The plan was for the U.K. to have a system in place by April 2025 that requires all international visitors, even those just transiting through the country, to be preapproved for travel.

Now the U.K. government has backtracked slightly and is even considering increasing the $13 fee to $20!

Here are the updated details you need to know.

U.K. Government Removes $13 Transit Fee

The U.K. was set to be the only nation in Europe to charge such a fee just to transit. That’s right, the U.K. government wanted to charge you $13 to fly from the U.S. to another country via the U.K.

As predicted, the transit fee to connect didn’t go down well with, well, anyone.

In theory, such a fee could deter U.S.-based travelers from choosing to fly U.K. carriers like British Airways or Virgin Atlantic, opting instead to fly with other options such as Air France via its Paris (CDG) hub or Lufthansa via its hubs in Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC).

Some even considered this move as potentially damaging 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.”

With that, it’s no wonder the government has already backtracked.

The U.K.’s New $13 Entrance Fee Could Rise to $20

In a tactical move, the U.K. government is trying to increase the ETA fee by around 60% from $13 to $20. This is very likely to make up for the money it could have charged on the now-revoked transit fee.

This increase is yet to be confirmed.

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 the island nation.

As of January 8, 2025, non-European nationals (which includes U.S. citizens) are now required to be approved for and possess an ETA in order to enter the U.K.

In April, citizens of all nations outside the U.K. — except Ireland — will need the ETA to enter the country.

How To Apply for an ETA To Enter the U.K.

To apply for your ETA, you must download the UK ETA mobile app (iOS, Android).

“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.

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 2 years — or until the expiration 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.

Final Thoughts

Even if takes some getting used to, the introduction of an electronic visa system is nothing out of the ordinary.

U.S. citizens can now apply for preapproval to enter U.K. borders. If you have an upcoming trip to Great Britain, using this new system is now mandatory.