ETIAS Application Fee Will Rise to EUR 20 Ahead of the 2026 Launch
The ETIAS application fee is set to increase from EUR 7 to EUR 20 before the system's launch in 2026.
The ETIAS application fee is set to increase from EUR 7 to EUR 20 before the system's launch in 2026.
The EU will start rolling out the Entry/Exit System (EES) from 12 October 2025, with full deployment expected by 10 April 2026. ETIAS is expected in late 2026 and the travel authorisation fee is set to rise to €20.
European travel organisations are urging EU policymakers to rethink the planned ETIAS fee increase from €7 to €20, arguing that the move would add cost pressure for travellers without a sufficiently clear justification.
EU governments approved a new sanctions package on Russia after Slovakia withdrew its objections. The measures are designed to tighten enforcement and increase pressure on energy and shipping channels connected to Moscow's war effort in Ukraine.
A long-running uncertainty over Europe's next border systems narrowed in mid-2025 when the EU set a firm EES start date and confirmed a higher ETIAS fee. For UK travellers, the change meant more clarity on timing, but not a simpler border process.
The update moved the debate from theory to timetable: some travellers would encounter EES from 12 October 2025, while the full border rollout would continue into April 2026. It also pointed to a later ETIAS launch with a higher fee than previously planned.
A broad coalition from Europe’s tourism and travel sector is challenging the European Commission’s proposal to raise the ETIAS fee from €7 to €20. The group says the increase is disproportionate and calls for a transparent impact assessment before any decision is finalised.
EU governments approved a new sanctions package on Russia after Slovakia withdrew its objections. The measures are designed to tighten enforcement and increase pressure on energy and shipping channels connected to Moscow's war effort in Ukraine.
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