What changed in 2026: fees, rules and what slipped
2026 has been an unusual year for entry fees and rules. Many guides still quote last year’s numbers, and the gap can be double. Every figure here was checked against the official source, and the date above says when.
United States: the ESTA nearly doubled
The fee sat at $14 for years, rose to $21, then jumped to $40 in September 2025 under H.R.1. In January 2026 it was adjusted for inflation and now stands at $40.27. It is the most dramatic change of the year and the one most sources still miss. If a guide says $21, it is a year out of date.
Worth knowing: if the application is denied only $4 is charged. The balance is taken only on an approved authorization.
United Kingdom: the ETA rose to £20
Britain’s entry authorization rose from £16 to £20 on 8 April 2026. It also became mandatory for transit passengers — changing planes at Heathrow requires one. That is the requirement travellers most often discover at the check-in desk.
Sri Lanka: the fee was abolished
On 25 May 2026 Sri Lanka waived the ETA fee for nationals of 40 countries, Israel among them. The authorization is still mandatory and still has to be obtained in advance — but it is free. Any site charging a Sri Lankan "government fee" is charging for something that no longer exists.
Europe: ETIAS slipped again
This is the change most sources still get wrong. ETIAS is not in force, and has no official launch date. The previous target was late 2026; the current expectation is 2027. Until then Europe is entered exactly as before, with no prior authorization. When it opens the fee will be €20, with under-18s and over-70s exempt.
New Zealand: the levy that doubles the price
The NZeTA itself is cheap — about NZ$23. But the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy rose to NZ$100 and is collected with the application. The real cost is roughly five times what it first appears. Guides quoting only the NZeTA fee are misleading.
What did not change
- Canada — The eTA is still CAD 7 — among the cheapest anywhere.
- Australia — The ETA is still AUD 20.
- Thailand — The TDAC digital arrival card is still free, filed within 72 hours of landing.
The full, current pricing
The table below shows processing time and all-in cost — government fee plus our handling — for every destination we cover. It is drawn from the same data we charge from, so there is no gap between what it says and what you pay.
| Destination | Processing | All in |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka · ETA | Up to 48 hours | $67 |
| Thailand · TDAC | Immediate | $67 |
| Canada · eTA | Usually minutes | $72 |
| Australia · ETA | Up to 24 hours | $80 |
| Philippines · eTA | Up to 24 hours | $83 |
| Europe (Schengen) · ETIAS | Usually hours | $89 |
| United Kingdom · ETA | Up to 3 business days | $93 |
| Azerbaijan · e-Visa | Up to 3 business days | $93 |
| Morocco · e-Visa | Up to 3 business days | $96 |
| Kenya · eTA | Up to 72 hours | $98 |
| Indonesia · e-VOA | Up to 24 hours | $99 |
| Cambodia · e-Visa | Up to 3 business days | $104 |
| India · e-Visa | Up to 72 hours | $107 |
| United States · ESTA | Up to 72 hours | $107 |
| Vietnam · e-Visa | Up to 3 business days | $117 |
| Tanzania · e-Visa | Up to 5 business days | $117 |
| China · Tourist Visa | Up to 7 business days | $127 |
| New Zealand · NZeTA | Up to 72 hours | $143 |
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