European travel groups have expressed concern over a proposal that would set the fee for the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) at 20 euros. The fee is currently set to be 7 euros when ETIAS becomes operational; the launch is expected to happen in the fourth quarter of 2026.
ETIAS will require visa-exempt, non-European Union travelers to obtain an online authorization prior to entering the EU and pay the fee before traveling to the Schengen Area, which consists of 29 European countries. The launch of ETIAS has been delayed multiple times.
The fee will apply to visitors from the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
A group of organizations -- including the European Tourism Association, Airlines For Europe and Hospitality Europe -- said they were concerned about the proposed fee hike, which comes "at a time when Europe's tourism sector continues to face the combined pressures of geopolitical instability, high inflation and rising operational costs," a joint letter said.
The organizations said the travel and tourism industries support a "modest and reasonable fee" agreed upon during the 2018 negotiations. The groups say the fee increase has not been justified, adding that it is unclear that such a fee is necessary to maintain ETIAS.
"The industry is concerned by the lack of transparency surrounding the proposed amount and calls for clarity on whether alternative pricing models ... were assessed," the letter said.
The groups called for the European Commission to publish an impact assessment justifying the proposed fee; for the Council and European Parliament to reject the proposed fee; and for any surplus revenue collected through ETIAS to be assigned a specific budget line to support tourism infrastructure.
ETOA director general Tim Fairhurst said the increased fee will be implemented unless European legislators object.