The European electronic travel authorization isn’t even in effect yet, but the European Union is already bumping up the fees.
According to the EU, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be implemented for visa-free travelers in the last quarter of 2026, and an application will now cost 20 euros (about $23.20), up from the initially announced 7 euros.
The program has been continually delayed since its initial announcement in 2016, with an initial launch date planned for 2022.
Here’s what travelers need to know about ETIAS when it begins late next year.
Prescreening travelers to the Schengen Area, the new systems “aim to strengthen European security and security of those who travel,” according to the official website.
Not to be confused with a visa, the ETIAS is an entry requirement for visitors from 59 countries, including the United States, to travel to 30 EU countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. You can apply online, and approval time takes as quickly as minutes to a few days.
“ETIAS is not a visa and does not reintroduce visa-like obligations,” European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper previously told USA TODAY. “There will be no need to go to a consulate to make an application, no biometric data will be collected and no additional documentation will be required beyond a valid travel document.”
It lasts for three years and is tied to your passport. So if you get a new passport, you also need a new ETIAS.
It’s free for applicants who are under 18 or over 70. For everyone else, the costs is €20 (about $23.20).

source