Tourism | What will happen to travel to England from April

The cost of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), recently introduced by the United Kingdom, may increase by 60%, according to a proposal by the Home Office announced on Wednesday, January 16.

The ETA, which was first implemented in November 2023, is being introduced gradually and currently concerns travelers from more than 50 countries. From April 2, 2025, this obligation will also be extended to travelers from European countries that do not require a visa, including Greece.

The cost of applying for an ETA is proposed to increase from £10 to £16. However, after consultation with the airline industry, the government has decided to temporarily exempt passengers in transit at airports from the ETA requirement. This exemption, the Home Office said, “will be reviewed.”

Impact on business travel

The increase in costs has drawn strong criticism from the business travel industry.

Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, called the proposal “disappointing” and expressed concerns that it would negatively impact both inbound and outbound travel.

“Without a thriving inbound tourism sector, there cannot be a thriving outbound tourism sector. The government should encourage growth, capitalising on people’s desire to travel, to support the economy, creating jobs and strengthening tourism destinations,” she said.

Clive Wratten, chief executive of the Business Travel Association, said the increase in costs would discourage business travellers from abroad.

“The government has chosen the worst possible time for this policy as it risks discouraging significant business visits, particularly those coming to do business with UK businesses,” he said.

He also referred to the upcoming European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which will cost just €7. “In this way, we are effectively saying we are closed for business, encouraging visitors to turn to mainland Europe or elsewhere,” he said.

Transit passengers exempt

In contrast, airlines welcomed the decision to temporarily exempt transit passengers from the ETA requirement.

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, called the decision a “pragmatic step” that averts “the real risk of the UK losing passengers to European airports that do not require transit visas.”

“We urge that this exemption be made permanent as transit passengers play a significant role in the viability of international routes, particularly to emerging markets,” he added.

Border security creates a workload

The digitalization of the UK’s borders will require all visitors who do not require a visa – except for British and Irish citizens – to obtain an ETA before arrival. Those who do require a visa to enter the country will continue to obtain one without the need for an additional ETA.

The changes are expected to strengthen border security, but according to law firm Kingsley Napley, they could lead to more travelers having to obtain a visa.

“The Home Office is anticipating around 30 million ETA applications per year. If 1% of those applicants have a criminal record, that means there will be an additional 300,000 visa applications each year for the Home Office to deal with,” explained lawyer Katie Newbury.

She warned that there were “concerns about the ability of Home Office staff to manage this increased workload” and predicted that there would be legal challenges to the refusals, as “there is currently no right of appeal against the refusal of a visitor visa application.”

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