UK travellers to face higher entry fees for Europe — new EU tariffs introduced

Travelling to Europe will soon become less straightforward for UK citizens, as the European Union prepares to launch its new entry system — ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), a counterpart to the US ESTA. Alongside it comes a mandatory €20 fee per person.

This article is also available in Russian here.

The system will apply to all travellers planning short-term stays (up to 90 days) in Schengen countries — from France and Italy to Germany and Spain. Its main goal is to strengthen border control across the EU’s external frontiers.

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Initially, the entry fee was expected to be €7, but it has now been increased to nearly three times that amount. Children under 18 and adults over 70 will be exempt, meaning, for example, a family with two children will pay €40.

Applications will be submitted online, with authorisation linked to a passport. Once granted, the permit will be valid for up to three years or until the passport expires. The ETIAS system is expected to launch by the end of 2026, becoming mandatory in 2027 following a technical rollout and transition period.

Cover photo: Ho LI / Unsplash

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