Visitors to the UK from April 2025 will be hit in the pocket as the government has imposed hikes on visa fees and introduced a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening:
Visas
From April 9, the UK will increase visa fees by 13%, affecting international travellers, particularly students, workers and standard visitor visas. The schedule of fees is:
- A 6-month standard visitor visa will now cost around £127 from £115
- A 2-year visa is now £475
- A 5-year visa will cost £848
- A 10-year visa will be priced at £1,059
- Student visa fees will be £524 (RM 3,019)
- Short-term study visas for English language courses between 6-11 months will cost £214
- The Skilled Worker visa for stays of up to 3 years will cost about £769. The Innovator Founder visa will cost £1,274.
A Certificate of Sponsorship will be required and is priced at £525, with sponsor license fees for large companies set at £1,579, while for small businesses and charities, the cost will be £574.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
If hikes on visa fees weren’t enough, the UK has also introduced the ETA, which authorities claim is “a more streamlined, digital immigration system” for travellers.
The UK government brought in the ETA at the beginning of April 2025. It added: “Visitors to the UK need an ETA if they do not need a visa for short stays of up to six months or do not already have a UK immigration status.”
An ETA is a digital permission to travel. It is not a visa or a tax, but does not permit entry into the UK. It simply authorises a person to travel to the UK.
An ETA was initially £10, but from April 9, 2025, that has risen to £16. It will permit multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires, whichever is sooner.
The government said: “The introduction of ETAs is in line with the approach many other countries have taken to border security, including the US and Australia, and helps prevent the arrival of those who present a threat to the UK.”
Those who require an ETA can apply through the UK ETA app, which can be downloaded from Google Play or Apple App Store. It takes three working days for a decision on their application.
Currently, the UK government has agreed to a temporary exemption for passengers who transit airside and therefore do not pass through UK border control from needing an ETA.
Andy Probert is an independent journalist who writes about global travel news, airlines, airports, and business. His work has appeared globally on the BBC, and in many national newspapers and magazines.
