The European Commission proposes to triple the EU entry fee for visa-free travelers
21 July 16:46
The European Commission is planning to almost triple the fee for entering the European Union for third-country nationals who enjoy visa-free travel. This is a change in the conditions of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which is to be launched at the end of 2026, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The new fee will be 20 euros instead of the current 7 euros.
The permit will be valid for three years after the submission of one application.
Benefits: persons under the age of 18 and over 70, as well as family members of EU citizens or those who have the right to free movement within the Union, will be exempt from paying the fee.
The European Commission notes that the changes are justified by inflation and rising operating costs, and the proposed amount is in line with similar payment systems in the UK (ETA) and the US (ESTA).
The final decision is still to be made by the EU Council and the European Parliament within the next two months. The fee increase will take effect after the launch of ETIAS in the fourth quarter of 2026.
After the system is implemented, citizens of countries with visa-free travel to the EU, including Ukrainians, will have to fill out an online application before traveling. It will be automatically processed by the system and an entry permit will be issued within minutes.
As a reminder, ETIAS is not a visa – it is an electronic travel permit that confirms the security check of a traveler before entering the Schengen area.
