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.
The Guardian issued a correction in July 2025 confirming that the ETIAS visa waiver will cost €20 when it is introduced, not the €7 figure cited in earlier reporting. This article explains what the €20 fee covers, who is exempt, and when the system is expected to go live.
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.
The European Commission wants to increase the planned ETIAS authorization fee from €7 to €20 for visa-free travelers visiting most of Europe for short stays. The move is designed to support the EU budget, but the proposal still needs political approval before it can take effect.
The ETIAS application fee is set to increase from EUR 7 to EUR 20 before the system's launch in 2026.
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.
Eurostar passengers at London St Pancras can now board 30 minutes before departure. The change is designed to reduce congestion, improve the pre-departure experience and support future growth in cross-Channel rail travel.
Every summer, some holidays collapse at the airport because travellers check their passport too late. In 2025 the safest approach is to remember that renewal speed helps, but only if you understand the rule for your destination.
For many young Britons, a second passport is no longer a niche legal curiosity. It has become a practical route back to mobility in Europe and, for some families, a way of reconnecting with a heritage that was always there.