The European Commission has proposed a significant increase in the fee for the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). If adopted, the congestion charge will increase from its current 7 euros (about $8) to 20 euros (about $23). This change is a step in the right direction toward bringing ETIAS more in line with other travel authorizations that already exist, and have been successful, around the world.
ETIAS will be needed by travelers from the current 59 visa-waiver countries. These are Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, United States and the United Kingdom. The European Council and Parliament are currently in the process of considering the fee change proposal. She won’t have two months to make up her mind. This review will provide opportunities for advocacy and comment on the fee increase and its effects on future international travelers.
Adopted in 2018, the ETIAS system is meant to screen visa-exempt travelers who want to visit up to 30 European countries. It provides for stays of no more than 90 days cumulatively over a 180-day period. The rollout of ETIAS has already faced multiple postponements. It is now slated to go into effect in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The proposed fee increase aligns ETIAS with similar travel authorization systems, such as the United Kingdom’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and the United States’ Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). This final step seeks to keep ETIAS competitive and as one of the fastest ETIAS in the world at processing travel authorizations for international visitors.
Some groups of travelers will not have to pay the ETIAS fee. People younger than 18 years old and older than 70 years old would be exempt from the new fee. It should be noted that immediate family of European Union citizens are exempt from this charge. This exemption is intended to promote tourism without sacrificing the affordability for families and senior citizens to visit museums.