British travellers heading to the EU will likely have to pay a €20 visa-waiver fee from late 2026, nearly tripling the original €7 charge.
The increase, proposed by the European Commission, is part of a broader plan to raise revenue and cover rising operational costs for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).
The revised fee is expected to generate around €2 billion, though a portion will be used to fund the system itself. The ETIAS scheme, similar to the US ESTA, applies to travellers from countries with visa-waiver agreements, including the UK, US, Canada, Japan, Brazil, and Ukraine.
Originally agreed in 2018, the €7 fee is now being revised due to inflation and expanded costs. The €20 charge will automatically become law unless EU member states or the European Parliament object within the next two months.
The fee grants a three-year travel authorisation or lasts until the traveller’s passport expires. It will take effect in the final quarter of 2026 when ETIAS is launched.
Exemptions will apply to children, people aged over 70 at the time of application, and British citizens living in the EU under the terms of the Brexit withdrawal agreement.
