U.K. Proposes ETA Fee Hike

The cost for the United Kingdom's Electronic Travel Authorization approval could increase to £16 from £10, according to changes proposed Thursday by the U.K. government. 

The new ETA requirement just went into effect Jan. 8 for travelers from 54 countries, including those from the United States. It permits multiple journeys to the U.K. for stays of up to six months over a period of two years. The U.K. also is set to require travelers from European countries to have an ETA prior to arrival beginning April 2.

If enacted, the U.K. government projects the increase to generate an additional £269 million per year.

"Proposing to increase ETA costs just a week after the system was introduced is bewildering," International Air Transport Association director general Willie Walsh said in a statement. "If implemented, it would be a self-inflicted blow to the U.K.'s tourism competitiveness. The added cost would come on top of the Air Passenger Duty—the biggest travel tax in the world—which itself will increase again in April. And let's not forget that travelers have choice and the [European Union's] ETIAS to visit Europe will be far better value—costing about a third as much as this proposed pricing and lasting a year longer. It makes no sense to discourage visitors with high costs even before they set foot in the country."

RELATED: U.K. Begins ETA Requirement for Entry for Travelers from 54 Countries