Before you board, more and more countries want an online travel permit, and the price differs from country to country. Some copycat websites ask for several times the official fee. This guide lists the fees as the governments publish them, the status of the European ETIAS and a family example. Prices are per person, babies and children included unless stated otherwise.
The fees at a glance (October 2026)
| Country and name | Fee per person | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USA, ESTA | USD 40.27 until 15 October 2026, USD 40.62 from 16 October 2026 | Federal Register |
| United Kingdom, ETA | GBP 20 | GOV.UK |
| Canada, eTA | CAD 7 | Government of Canada |
| Europe, ETIAS | EUR 20, not yet in operation | EU ETIAS site |
The US fee is the figure DHS published in the Federal Register on 1 October 2026 for fiscal year 2027, applied from 16 October. If an ESTA application is denied, the fee is USD 10.62 under the same notice. The US page of CBP itself blocked our automated check, so we used the Federal Register for the amount.
United Kingdom: ETA
According to GOV.UK the ETA costs GBP 20 and lets you stay in the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for up to 6 months. You usually need an ETA rather than a visa if you are from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada or certain other countries. British and Irish passport holders do not. Each person needs one, including babies and children. The apply page says it costs GBP 20 online or through the UK ETA app, that you cannot get a refund and that applying through another website does not give a faster decision. You usually get a decision by email within a day, in some cases up to 3 working days. An ETA lasts for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner.
Canada: eTA
The Government of Canada's official page states that an eTA only costs CAN$7, and the fee is non-refundable. You need a passport from a visa-exempt country, an email address and a card. Lawful permanent residents of the United States do not need an eTA. The page notes that citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia who meet certain requirements can apply for an eTA from 26 May 2026 to travel by air.
United States: ESTA
Visa Waiver Programme travellers use the ESTA, which CBP administers. The fee is made up of three parts set by law: USD 17, USD 13 and a cost-recovery part that is adjusted for inflation each year, which makes the total USD 40.62 in fiscal year 2027. The Federal Register notice says the adjusted part is USD 10.62. Because of a change on 16 October, the price on the day you apply depends on that date.
Europe: ETIAS
The EU's official site says ETIAS is the new travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers to enter 30 European countries, but it is currently not in operation and no applications are collected. The EU will announce the start date several months before launch. The fee will be EUR 20, the site states, and the steps are: fill in the application, pay, get the authorisation, travel and stay up to 90 days. Until the official site says otherwise, you do not need to apply.
Worked example: a family of four
Two adults and two children. The amounts use the published fees and are per person.
- UK ETA for a trip to London: 4 times GBP 20 equals GBP 80.
- Canadian eTA for a holiday in Canada: 4 times CAD 7 equals CAD 28.
- US ESTA applied for on or after 16 October 2026: 4 times USD 40.62 equals USD 162.48.
- Copycat site that adds a freely chosen EUR 30 per person: 4 times EUR 30 equals EUR 120 on top of the official fee.
Only the first three figures are official fees. The last line is an assumption to show what an imitation site can add. In the worst case you lose the extra fee for something the official site gives you at the official price.
How to avoid the wrong site
GOV.UK warns that other websites may charge more and that you should avoid websites that imitate government services. The Government of Canada calls its page the official website to apply for an eTA. For the US, the application is run by CBP, and for ETIAS only the EU site counts. If the price on screen is higher than the one in the table, you are probably not on the government page.
Step by step
- Look up whether your nationality and your reason for travel need a permit for the country.
- Start from the government page named in the table, not from an advertisement.
- Check the fee on the page against the table before you enter card details.
- Apply for everyone who travels, including children and babies.
- Apply days before you travel, because decisions can take up to 3 working days in the UK.
- Keep the confirmation email and the reference number.