Industry leaders have labelled the European Commission’s proposed hike to the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) application fee as “incredibly disappointing” and “disproportionate”.
The European Commission (EC) has proposed increasing its ETIAS fee from €7 to €20, sparking a two-month review period by the European Council and Parliament.
The concept of the ETIAS is comparable to schemes such as the USA’s ESTA (costing $21), Canada’s eTA (CAD$7) and the UK’s ETA (£16). It is expected to come into operation in the last quarter of 2026.
Ahead of entering the European Union, visa-exempt travellers holding non-EU passports will be required to acquire online authorisation for an ETIAS.
Commenting on the prospect of the cost of ETIAS applications being hiked, Julia Lo Bue-Said OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “It is incredibly disappointing to see the significant rise in cost, almost tripling in price from €7 (£6) – €20 (£17) before it has even been implemented.”
“For many travellers, especially university students, families, and budget-conscious tourists, this sharp increase adds an unnecessary burden and makes travel to Europe less accessible. A move like this undermines the spirit of open travel and feels more like a revenue grab than a justified policy change,” she continued.
The proposal to increase the ETIAS application fee follows the EU’s announcement that its entry-exit system (EES) for visiting UK passport holders will be rolled out from October 12 over a six-month period.
Lo Bue-Said commented: “As countries across the EU will be adopting the system at different stages over the first six months, it is not yet clear which destinations will be first to adopt the technology and require British travellers to provide fingerprints and facial biometrics. We expect the EES to be a small addition to the process of travel and have minimal impact on the incredibly strong demand we are seeing for travel this year from consumers.”
She offered the following advice to UK passport holders: “With travel becoming ever more complex, we recommend booking through your local travel agent who will be able to ensure you are fully compliant with all travel requirements, as well as receiving the best value for flights and accommodation, using their expert knowledge.”
Patrick Diemer, Chair of BT4Europe, commented: “This fee hike sends the wrong signal.”
While affirming that BT4Europe supports secure and efficient entry systems, he said it does so only where they deliver real value to travellers and businesses, and said the proposed €13 increase seemed “disproportionate.”
Diemer added that increasing the fee to €20 would represent “yet another cost and administrative burden on travellers, with little noticeable benefit to the user experience”.
“At a time when Europe’s borders should be becoming more seamless and digital travel more efficient, this move risks undermining the competitiveness of European travel and adds friction for visitors—especially for business travellers who already navigate complex and inconsistent travel rules across the continent,” he said.
Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association (BTA), commented: “For companies with large volumes of international travellers, the proposed increase to the ETIAS application fee from €7 to €20 is going to significantly and quickly add up as a cost, becoming even more problematic for SMEs already navigating tight budgets.
“We understand the need to fund robust border security and modernise travel systems, but it’s vital that any changes to travel authorisation schemes are proportionate, transparent and consider the wider economic impact. Business travel is a critical enabler of trade, innovation and growth across Europe. Additional costs and administrative hurdles risk undermining those benefits.”
The BTA is urging the European Council and Parliament to carefully review the fee structure and consider keeping travel frictionless and affordable for legitimate travellers.
“Visa waiver systems like ETIAS might remove the burden of full visa processes but their value depends on how accessible, affordable and predictable they remain,” explained Wratten.
“Above all, any changes to ETIAS should be made in close dialogue with the travel and business communities. We must protect mobility as a force for economic and diplomatic collaboration instead of putting a price tag on it.”
