New EU ETIAS fee increases to $23 from $8

Travel Costs to Europe on the Rise

Travel prices to Europe are increasing.

The European Union has been working on a system for visitor approvals for some time now, and it’s finally set to launch next year. But it seems before it officially rolls out, costs have jumped significantly.

Initially, the price was estimated at around 7 euros (roughly $8), but that figure has now risen to 20 euros (about $23).

On a brighter note, travelers who are over 18 or over 70 won’t need this approval. However, families can still group their applications.

Known as the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS for short, this approval will be mandatory for travelers from outside the Schengen area when visiting most European nations. Essentially, it’s akin to a Visa-Waiver program similar to what the UK currently has.

You can apply through an online portal. It would be nice to see an official app for this in the future. The application process, I hope, will be as straightforward as the UK’s version I discussed earlier this year, which opened in November. That one can be done easily via the official government app or online.

This system is similar to the electronic travel authorization that visitors to the US have been using for many years.

ETIAS will allow those from 60 countries outside the Schengen zone to enter Europe for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a full visa, which includes visitors from the US and the UK. Those who need a visa, such as travelers from India, still won’t need to apply for ETIAS.

Additionally, starting in October of this year, Europe will begin implementing passport scanning for incoming travelers, introducing biometric screenings for all passengers. So don’t worry, your passport stamps won’t disappear when entering or exiting the EU.