Europe's Tourism Coalition Pushes Back on the Proposed €20 ETIAS Fee

Europe's travel and tourism industry has raised serious concerns about the European Commission's proposal to increase the ETIAS fee from €7 to €20 per application. The nearly threefold rise comes despite the original €7 fee being agreed by co-legislators back in 2018, after consultation with the sector. A coalition of major industry bodies says the increase is disproportionate and risks denting Europe's competitiveness as a destination.

This article looks at the industry's objections to the proposed fee, the actions it is calling for, and what the dispute could mean for travellers planning future trips.

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Why the industry objects

ETIAS, set to launch in late 2026, will require visa-exempt non-EU travellers to obtain an online travel authorisation before entering the Schengen area. While €20 may seem modest for a single trip, industry bodies argue the impact is more significant for families and frequent travellers, especially on top of rising overnight taxes and broader inflationary pressures.

The coalition calls the proposed fee disproportionate and poorly justified. "This increase appears disproportionate and runs counter to the original intention of the co-legislators," it said. It also raised concerns about a lack of transparency, noting there was no published assessment of whether lower alternatives such as €10 or €12 had been considered. The group further warned against using other schemes such as the UK's ETA or the US ESTA as pricing benchmarks, arguing fees should reflect the actual operational needs of the EU system.

What the coalition is asking for

In response to the proposal, the coalition set out three key requests:

• the Commission should publish a full impact assessment justifying the €20 fee, with a detailed cost breakdown and evidence that alternatives were considered
• the Council and European Parliament should reject the current proposal in favour of a more proportionate, evidence-based fee
• any surplus revenue generated by ETIAS should be channelled back into the tourism sector, ideally through the next Multiannual Financial Framework, funding infrastructure, staff training and sustainable tourism

The statement was backed by a broad group of organisations, including A4E, ECTAA, ERA, ETOA, HOTREC, IAAPA, IRU and RURALTOUR.

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What it means for travellers

The industry stresses that it supports the principles of secure, smart and efficient borders, but warns against adding unnecessary burdens that could deter visitors. Maintaining Europe's appeal as a global destination, it argues, requires balancing safety, competitiveness and affordability.

For now, the €20 figure remains a proposal under scrutiny, so the final fee could still change before ETIAS launches. Travellers who simply want to understand how to obtain the authorisation can read our guide on how to apply for ETIAS.