ETIAS Application Fee Will Rise to EUR 20 Ahead of the 2026 Launch

The application fee for an ETIAS travel authorisation is set to rise to EUR 20, up from the previously planned EUR 7, following an adjustment put forward by the European Commission. The change has been widely reported, but the reasons behind it and the practical detail are worth setting out clearly for the travellers who will eventually pay it.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System is a pre-travel authorisation that visa-exempt visitors will need before entering the European countries that require it. The new fee level brings ETIAS broadly into line with comparable schemes elsewhere.

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Why the fee is going up

According to the European Commission, the increase is intended to cover the operational costs of running ETIAS. It also takes into account the rise in inflation since the original fee was first set, and reflects the increased functionalities the system will offer. Finally, the higher fee brings ETIAS into line with other comparable travel authorisation programmes, such as the United Kingdom's ETA and the United States' ESTA, which carry their own charges.

In procedural terms, the new fee adopted by the Commission still has to pass through a two-month scrutiny period by the Council and the European Parliament, a window that can be renewed once. In other words, the EUR 20 figure is the Commission's proposal moving through the standard EU review process.

When it applies and who is exempt

From the last quarter of 2026, visa-exempt travellers will be required to hold an ETIAS travel authorisation to visit the 30 European countries that require it. Applicants will complete and pay for the application online, using either the official ETIAS website or the mobile app, before they travel.

Not everyone will pay. Certain applicants are exempt from the fee, including those who are under 18 or over 70 at the time of their application, although they still need to hold a valid authorisation. To understand the full process, including who needs to apply and how to pay, you can review the ETIAS application steps before the system goes live.