The United Kingdom has increased its Electronic Travel Authorisation fee to £20 from 8 April, raising travel costs and adding procedural complexity for Indian visitors. The move comes weeks after the system’s rollout and is expected to impact both leisure and corporate travel planning.
Indian nationals must now secure both a standard UK visit visa and an ETA before travel, as India is not among visa-exempt countries. The revised ETA fee adds approximately ₹2,463 to the existing ₹16,000-plus visa cost for stays of up to six months. The requirement introduces a two-step process, with the ETA capturing biographic details, travel history, and security information, and remaining digitally linked to the traveller’s passport.
Airlines may deny boarding if records do not match or approvals expire. Anita Kapoor, Head – Global Mobility, Gurugram-based IT company, said, “Executives who used to get a UK visit visa over a long-term validity now have to remember to file an ETA every trip.”
