European travel permit fees to be tripled

While the European Travel Information and Authorization System ( ETIAS ), which the European Union is preparing to launch, has not yet entered into force, the fee increase has already been announced.

The European Commission proposed raising the ETIAS application fee from €7 to €20 on July 18, 2025. The reason given was inflation and rising costs stemming from repeated system postponements.

The new system will follow the European Union's Entry/Exit System ( EES ). The EES is expected to launch in October 2025, while ETIAS is scheduled to be implemented in the last quarter of 2026.

It will be mandatory for citizens of 59 countries

ETIAS is a travel permit that will be mandatory for citizens of 59 countries eligible for visa-free travel to enter 30 European countries for short-term stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period). Similar regulations are already in effect in countries such as the US, Canada, and the UK. The US and UK have also implemented fee increases.

The European Commission's proposed new fee for ETIAS follows increases for similar systems. The UK increased its ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) fee from £10 to £16 (approximately $20.70) in April 2025. In the US, the ESTA (Electronic Travel Authorization System) currently costs $21, with talk of this amount rising to $40 in 2026.

With the entry into force of ETIAS, millions of tourists travelling to Europe without a visa will face additional costs.