The fee will have to be paid for every eligible traveller in your group, so it could soon add up
10:21, 21 Jul 2025Updated 13:17, 21 Jul 2025
UK and other non-EU travellers will soon be required to pay for entry into 30 European countries(Image: JJFarquitectos via Getty Images)
UK and other non-EU travellers will soon be required to pay for entry into 30 European countries as part of a new travel scheme. Because of Brexit, UK passport holders will need to register with the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to gain access to certain European nations.
The ETIAS travel authorisation is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals visiting a select group of 30 European countries. With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, travellers can enter these European countries as frequently as desired for short-term stays, typically up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Originally, an ETIAS was said to cost 7 euros per person, but now EU chiefs have said the travel permit will cost almost triple that, at 20 euros per eligible traveller. Travellers aged under 18 or over 70 are exempt, so for a family of four travelling with two children, the cost would be 40 euros.
The scheme has been pushed back a few times, and, earlier this year the EU’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs estimated that the ETIAS will be introduced in the final quarter of 2026. There will then be a grace period, so applying for an ETIAS will not become mandatory until 2027. The ETIAS is stored electronically against the passport and will be necessary for travel to the following countries:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. It will also be needed for Cyprus travel when Cyprus joins the Schengen area.
Most applications are expected to be approved “almost immediately”, but if the system identifies an error in your ETIAS request, it could be rejected. Reasons for ETIAS applications being declined could are said to include an invalid passport, being considered a “risk” or having a Schengen Information System (SIS) alert, submitting an incomplete application, or failing to attend a required interview.
READ MORE: Turkey holiday rules everyone with a UK passport must followREAD MORE: Ryanair and easyJet passengers may be able to take two bags each for free
If your ETIAS application is rejected, you can lodge an appeal.