3-fold increase in EU entry fee? Commission proposal: From 7 to 20 euros for short-term stays
The European Commission has proposed increasing the fee for visa-exempt travelers arriving in the bloc for short stays from 7 euros to 20 euros, a senior EU official has confirmed.
Visa-exempt travel will be available from the last quarter of 2026 through the "European Travel Information and Authorization System" (ETIAS) to 30 European countries, namely, all EU member states except Ireland, plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
An ETIAS authorization is required for short-term stays (up to 90 days) in these countries by citizens of visa-exempt countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Australia, etc.
The new ETIAS fee system will be allocated to the EU budget.
Currently, the cost for visa-free arrival is set at 7 euros for applicants, with exemptions for those under 18 or over 70 at the time of application. However, the European Commission now wants to triple the fee to 20 euros in order to raise additional funds.
The proposal accompanies the presentation of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the EU's long-term budget for the period 2028-2034, which foresees a significant increase in revenues generated through so-called "own resources" - that is, taxes collected at EU level.
In addition to the five new proposals for internal resources presented by the Commission last week, plans to increase the ETIAS fee are expected to generate an additional €300 million per year.
The Commission has submitted the proposal to the Council and the European Parliament, which must approve it, the senior official said. Unlike other private sources, the ETIAS fee increase does not require unanimous approval by all EU member states.
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