Mediterranean ObserverThe European Commission has proposed increasing the application fee for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) from €7 to €20. ETIAS, which will be mandatory for visa-exempt non-EU travellers entering the EU, is designed to enhance security and streamline entry procedures. The fee adjustment reflects inflation since the 2018 adoption of the ETIAS Regulation and covers additional operational costs, including new technical features. The new fee aligns ETIAS with comparable systems like the UK’s ETA and the US’s ESTA.
The revised fee will undergo a two-month scrutiny period by the Council and European Parliament (renewable once). It will apply once ETIAS becomes operational, expected in late 2026. Exemptions include applicants under 18 or over 70, as well as family members of EU citizens and of non-EU nationals entitled to free movement within the EU. Once launched, ETIAS will require eligible travellers to complete an online application with basic personal and travel document information, typically processed within minutes.
More information here.
