The European Commission has proposed increasing the fee for visa-exempt travellers entering the bloc for short stays from €7 to €20, Euronews reported, citing a senior EU official.
This move aims to generate additional “own resources” for the EU budget.
The increased fee would apply through the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is expected to be operational from the final quarter of 2026. ETIAS authorisation will be mandatory for short-term stays (up to 90 days) in 30 European countries for nationals of visa-exempt states, including the UK, US, Canada, Brazil, and Australia. The 30 countries include all EU member states except Ireland, plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
Currently, the ETIAS fee is set at €7, with exemptions for applicants under 18 or over 70 years old. The proposed tripling of this fee to €20 is part of the Commission’s presentation of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the EU’s long-term budget for 2028–2034. This framework anticipates a notable increase in revenues from EU-level taxes.
Alongside five new own resource proposals introduced last week, the raised ETIAS fee is projected to generate an additional €300 million annually.
The proposal has been submitted to the Council and the European Parliament for endorsement. Unlike some other “own resources” initiatives, the increase in the ETIAS fee does not require unanimous approval from all EU member states.
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