UK ETA scams: the official way to apply and the real fee

The official ETA address and fee

The UK ETA lets visitors from many countries come to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man for up to 6 months ¹. GOV.UK says it costs £20 to apply online or through the UK ETA app ².

The online form starts on GOV.UK and runs on apply-for-an-eta.homeoffice.gov.uk. The app is called UK ETA and comes from the Home Office on Google Play and the App Store ².

Each traveller needs their own ETA, babies and children included ¹. You pay with a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay ².

What the UK government says

The ETA page carries its own warning: “Other websites may charge more to apply. Avoid websites that imitate government services” ¹.

The apply page adds: “You cannot get a faster decision by applying through another website or app” ².

GOV.UK's scam guide says some websites look like an official government service when they are not. It says “Some make you pay for things that would be free or cheaper if you used the official government service” ³.

How the overcharge works

Copycat sites charge a service fee on top of the £20. Some promise priority handling. The Home Office says no other website or app can speed up a decision ².

Danish payment firms warned in June 2025 that sites copying the UK, US and Canadian systems buy high places in search results. Victims often receive a genuine authorisation but pay far more than the real cost ⁴.

There is no refund once you apply, even if your application is rejected ². So a private site's fee is money you will not get back from the Home Office.

Who needs a UK ETA and how the process works

You need an ETA if you pass through UK border control on a landside transit. You do not need one if you hold a British or Irish passport, or permission to live, work or study in the UK ¹.

After you apply, the decision comes by email with a 16 digit ETA reference number. You must wait for that email before you travel ². If your application is rejected or you need to change your details, you apply again ².

Help is by webchat. GOV.UK says UK Visas and Immigration cannot help with ETA enquiries over the phone ¹. Treat any paid ETA phone helpline with care.

What to do

• Start from gov.uk/eta and follow the link from there ¹.
• Check whether you already hold an ETA on GOV.UK's check service before paying again ¹.
• Report a suspicious website to the NCSC. It has the power to investigate and remove scam websites ⁵.
• If you lost money in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, contact Report Fraud online or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101 ⁵.