The European Commission has set the fee for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) at €20replacing the previously planned €7 for visa-exempt visitors to 30 European countries.
By design, travellers will not pay anything until ETIAS actually starts. Brussels says the fee will take effect when the system goes live, currently slated for the last quarter of 2026 after a standard two-month scrutiny period by the Council and European Parliament.
Commission says higher charge covers operating costs; under-18s and travellers 70+ remain exempt.
Who will pay – and who won’t
According to the Commission, the €20 charge applies to most visa-exempt non-EU visitors. Children under 18 and adults over 70 are exemptas are certain family members of EU citizens and of non-EU nationals with free-movement rights.
Authorisations will be valid for three years or until the traveller’s passport expires, whichever comes first, and most applications are expected to be processed automatically within minutes.
When does the charge kick in?
ETIAS is not yet operational. EU diplomatic guidance says the launch is planned for Q4 2026with the exact start date to be announced at least six months beforehand. The separate Entry/Exit System (EES) is due to begin earlier, on October 12, 2025and will record border crossings for short-stay travellers.
Recent EU reporting has pressed for steady progress on both programmes, reflecting broader efforts to modernise border checks. Relatedly, Member-State preparedness for EES has drawn attention in the past year.
Why the price rose
The Commission says the €20 fee reflects operational costs, added technical features, and inflation since the ETIAS regulation was adopted, and that it aligns the EU with similar travel-authorisation schemes used by other countries.
A note on third-party services
Travellers will be able to apply through the official ETIAS websiteor authorise an intermediary. EU guidance cautions that third-party providers may add their own service charges on top of the EU fee; applicants should verify what they are paying for.
Editor’s note: ETIAS is not a visa. It is a pre-travel authorisation for short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period; holding an ETIAS does not guarantee entry at the border.