Two countries lose visa-free entry, and the UK is considering raising the ETA fee to £20.
As Parliament considers immigration charge caps, the UK may increase its ETA fee from £16 to £20. In the meantime, the UK ETA program will soon no longer be available to Nicaragua and Saint Lucia.
The cost of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), a digital entry permit needed by many visitors without a visa, may shortly increase in the United Kingdom.
Although the rise has not yet taken effect, a recent debate in Parliament indicates that the government is getting ready for it.
In addition, the UK has taken steps to remove two nations from the ETA program and tighten admission requirements for them.
The UK Is Getting Closer to Increasing the ETA Fee
The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2026 is a draft rule that was considered by the UK House of Lords on March 3, 2026.
The main goal of the plan is to alter the highest prices that the government is permitted by law to charge for specific immigration services.
The UK ETA is one of the major adjustments.
The current legal maximum is £16.
£20 is the suggested new cap.
It's critical to comprehend what this implies.
Today's price is not increased by the vote. Rather, it permits the government to raise the ETA fee in the future via a different rule.
Travelers still pay £16 as of right now.
The UK's Reasons for Increasing the ETA Fee
A minister at the UK Home Office, Lord Hanson of Flint, claims that the modification would only align the UK with other travel authorization schemes.
He cited two prominent instances:
To enter the US without a visa, you must have a US ESTA.
Visitors entering Europe will be subject to the impending EU ETIAS.
According to the government, a £20 tax would still be fair and unlikely to deter travelers.
Additionally, officials claim that the additional funds support the broader immigration system, which includes processing applications and managing borders.
In other words, travelers who use the system pay a portion of its operating expenses.
The ETA system is now fully operational for visitors without a visa.]Shortly after the UK finished implementing its ETA system in its entirety, the topic of costs came up. Since February 25, 2026, the majority of visitors from nations that do not require a visa are required to get an ETA prior to their brief visits to the UK.
Usually, the permit is needed for:
Visits for business and tourism
Short-term research
Travel via the United Kingdom
Before boarding a flight to the UK, the ETA—which is digitally linked to the traveler's passport—must be approved.
Saint Lucia and Nicaragua Were Eliminated from the ETA Program
The UK government announced a significant change in policy in tandem with the fee negotiations. ETA travel will soon be prohibited for citizens of Saint Lucia and Nicaragua.
Rather, before visiting the UK, they must apply for a regular visitor visa.
According to authorities, the decision was made in response to an increase in asylum requests from both nations. Government statistics reveal:
Nicaragua from 2022 to 2025
505 border claims and 609 asylum applications
By the end of 2025, 261 individuals in Saint Lucia will be getting asylum support (2022–2025).
360 petitions for asylum
128 claims were filed at UK ports.
Assistance relating to asylum is being provided to 222 individuals.
These figures, according to the administration, sparked worries about the abuse of visa-free immigration.
Authorities are prepared to tighten regulations as needed to safeguard border control, according to UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
Issues with Passports for Citizenship by Investment
Additionally, officials mentioned citizenship-by-investment initiatives, particularly in Saint Lucia.
Through these initiatives, foreign nationals can invest money to become citizens.
Authorities in the UK think that the quick growth of these programs may have had a role in some travelers entering the country with passports from Saint Lucia and then applying for asylum or working illegally.
Affected Travelers' Temporary Transition Period
The UK has implemented a six-week transition period to prevent travel disruptions. Until April 16, 2026 (3:00 p.m. BST), citizens of Nicaragua and Saint Lucia may still enter the UK without a visa provided they fulfill two requirements:
They have a current ETA.
Their reservation was confirmed prior to the implementation of the new regulation.
But there has been a significant shift.
The deadline for ETA applications in both nations was March 5, 2026.
Travelers from these nations must apply for a visitor visa prior to departure when the transition period concludes, even if they are passing via UK airports.
What Travelers Can Anticipate Next
The ETA price is currently £16, however the latest parliamentary action suggests that a £20 fee might be implemented in the future.
However, it is evident that the UK is tightening its regulations around visa-free travel, especially in areas where officials feel the system is being abused.
This illustrates a developing tendency among regular foreign travelers. Crossing borders increasingly requires the use of digital travel permits like ETA, ESTA, and ETIAS.
It is more crucial than ever to check the admission requirements before making travel plans.
