BERLIN — The major summer tourist wave across Europe is in full effect, leading to the usual humorous remarks around dinner tables — from Parisian cafes to Roman trattorias — regarding the unmistakable noise that only a group of Americans can bring to the Old World’s most charming and popular spots.
However, traveling to the sun and spritz will soon involve an additional charge. And even before the fee has been implemented, Europe’s new travel authorization system is already experiencing a price increase.
This month, the European Union revealed its intention to almost triple the price of its delayed European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), increasing the fee to approximately $24 from around $8.
The rise in the fee, applicable to visa-exempt travelers such as Americans, was approved over a year prior to the system’s scheduled launch in late 2026.
The ETIAS was introduced in 2018 as Europe’s solution for pre-travel screening, similar to the ESTA system used in the United States. The ESTA is required for travelers from over 40 countries participating in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
Numerous border control regulations are handled together in Europe by nations within the Schengen visa-exempt travel area.
The ETIAS has encountered several delays, partly due to the slow implementation of the Schengen Area’s biometric Entry-Exit System, along with financial and legal challenges, as well as issues caused by the pandemic.
In a statement released last week regarding the fee hike, the European Commission, which is the E.U.’s executive body, mentioned inflation and increasing operational expenses, such as the introduction of new technical features. Officials also pointed out that the increased fee would bring ETIAS in line with comparable systems in other regions: the U.S. ESTA charges $21, whereas the U.K.’s ETA is approximately $20.
The travel and tourism industry in Europe has expressed worries about the planned rise in fees, despite the fact that the charge has not been implemented yet.
“Although the fee may be a minor part of total travel costs, the overall effect on families is significant,” a group of travel industry associations stated in a statement.statementThursday. “There is not enough evidence provided to support the claim that such a fee amount is essential for the functioning and upkeep of ETIAS.”
After becoming active, ETIAS will mandate that visitors from over 50 visa-free nations — such as the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom — complete an online application prior to entering most European countries.
The permit is valid for a maximum of three years or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever happens earlier. Visitors cannot remain in the country for more than 90 days during any 180-day period.
Minors under 18 and individuals over 70 will be exempt from the charge, as well as specific family members of European Union citizens and residents who have the right to move freely within the bloc.
Similar to the procedures in the United States and the United Kingdom, the process is anticipated to be fast and entirely online: travelers will input their personal information through the internet and, in the majority of instances, obtain approval within a short time frame.
The suggested rise in fees will now be examined by the European Parliament and the Council — although, historically, such changes encounter minimal resistance.
For this summer without fees, at least, there’s no reason for visitors to avoid gelato or souvenirs.
