Europe’s Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) isn’t in effect yet and already the fee for visitors may potentially go up, prompting a coalition of organizations representing the European travel sector to warn that a price hike will put the continent’s travel competitiveness at risk.
Now expected to come into effect in 2026 (already delayed since 2024), the European Commission is proposing to hike the ETIAS fee from €7 (CDN$11) to €20 per application, nearly a threefold increase compared to the original amount agreed in 2018.
ETIAS will require visa-exempt non-EU travellers – including Canadians – to obtain an online authorization before entering the EU and pay a fee prior to travelling to the Schengen Area. It will be valid for multiple trips over a period of three years.
The coalition of eight travel organizations, including the European Tourism Association (ETOA), says the proposed fee increase raises questions about proportionality and fairness at a time when Europe’s tourism sector continues to face the combined pressures of geopolitical instability, high inflation, and rising operational costs.
“While the fee may represent a small fraction of overall travel expenses, the cumulative impact on families is not negligible, not least given the broader context of increasing overnight taxes,” the coalition said in a statement.
It continued: “This increase appears disproportionate and runs counter to the original intention of the co-legislators (European Parliament and Council), who agreed to a modest and reasonable fee during the 2018 negotiations – a key outcome supported by the travel and tourism sector.
“The industry is concerned by the lack of transparency surrounding the proposed amount and calls for clarity on whether alternative pricing models (e.g. €10 or €12) were assessed. At present, insufficient evidence has been offered to justify that such a fee level is necessary for the operation and maintenance of ETIAS.”
It further says that referencing other travel authorization schemes (e.g. UK ETA and US ESTA) as benchmarks for pricing sets a “concerning precedent” and that fee decisions should reflect the actual operational needs of the EU system and be fully justified – not aim to align with “unrelated schemes without clear rationale and legal basis.”
In light of these concerns, the travel and tourism industry calls for the following actions:
- The European Commission to publish an impact assessment justifying the proposed fee increase, including a detailed cost breakdown and confirmation of whether alternative pricing models were considered.
- The Council and European Parliament to reject the €20 proposal and request a more proportionate, evidence-based fee.
- Any surplus revenue collected through ETIAS, after covering its official costs, should be assigned to a specific budget line, or ideally earmarked for the travel and tourism sector, as part of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). This funding should support tourism infrastructure, staff training, and sustainable development initiatives.
“The travel and tourism industry supports secure, smart, and efficient borders,” says the coalition. “Financial and administrative burdens on visitors must be carefully balanced to maintain and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness as a global travel destination.”
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