British Nationals to Face a €7 Fee to Enter the Schengen Area

The European Commission has announced that British nationals will have to pay a visa-waiver fee to enter Europe's Schengen Area next year. The charge is linked to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), an online platform that forms part of a wider plan to improve border security across the Schengen Area.

ETIAS is currently set to launch before the end of 2022 and will affect visa-exempt non-EU nationals — a group that now includes UK citizens following Britain's departure from the European Union.

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What ETIAS will cost and how it works

The ETIAS authorisation will cost €7 for all applicants aged 18 to 70. It is a one-off fee, valid for three years and for multiple entries into the Schengen states. Travellers under 18 or over 70 will not be charged, but they must still apply — completing the application is mandatory regardless of age.

Applicants fill in an online form through the official website or app. The EU Commission expects the vast majority of cases — more than 95 per cent — to be approved automatically within minutes. Where further checks are required, issuing the authorisation may take up to 30 days.

Once granted, ETIAS becomes a mandatory condition of entry to the Schengen states. Border guards will check it alongside travel documents whenever a traveller crosses the EU's external border. If you are preparing for the change, you can start your ETIAS application and review the requirements in advance.

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Why the EU is introducing the system

The Commission has stressed that ETIAS will not change which non-EU countries are subject to a visa requirement, nor will it introduce a new visa for nationals of visa-exempt countries. Instead, it is a lighter-touch authorisation designed to screen visitors before they travel.

According to the EU, verifying visa-exempt non-EU citizens in advance will facilitate border checks, avoid unnecessary bureaucracy and delays, ensure a coordinated approach to risk assessment, and reduce the number of travellers refused entry at the frontier.