If you've got plans to visit the United Kingdom in 2025 and beyond, you might want to check to see what you need to do before hopping on a plane. Right now, the United Kingdom has added a fee for travelers from the United States and other nations. While the cost won't be large enough to offset your trip, it is new, so don't get caught off guard.

If the Vikings play in the UK this season, you'll want to make sure you get this taken care of, so you don't run into any issues as you enter the country.

The fee, which is called an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), will cost travelers 16 pounds (or roughly $21) and according to a United Kingdom's immigration website, "making an application is straightforward. It is typically processed within 3 working days. An ETA is not a traditional visa application therefore, it is usually fast and most ETAs are successful."

What is an ETA?

An ETA, or Electronic Travel Authorization, acts as a virtual permit for individuals who are visiting or passing through the UK for short stays and don’t require a visa. We here in the US do the same thing for travelers from the UK, we just happen to call it a different thing, in the US visitors can apply for a ESTA.

The new rule went into affect back in January, but it seems like people are still being caught off gaurd with the new fee to enter the UK from the US.

According to the US Embassy and Consulate, even passing through a UK airport for travel will see you having to apply and pay for an ETA. 

The good news for those that do lots of overseas traveling is that the ETA will be good for 2 years, or the remaining life of your passport, which ever is shorter. So you won't get tagged everytime you enter the UK if you do lots of overseas travel.

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If you are looking at traveling to the UK this summer, here is the link to the UK government page about ETA's, where there is also an application link.