British holidaymakers face a fee for European travel from late 2026 as the ETIAS travel authorisation becomes mandatory for trips to 30 countries including Spain, France and Portugal
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is set to become compulsory for Britons visiting 30 European nations in the final quarter of 2026. UK nationals, alongside citizens from 58 other visa-exempt territories, must secure travel authorisation before entering EU destinations such as France, Spain and Portugal.
As a result, British travellers bound for popular destinations like the Costa del Sol or the Dordogne will be required to obtain an ETIAS prior to departure, with all passengers needing to fill out an online application. Whilst the system aims to process most ETIAS authorisations within minutes, cases requiring additional scrutiny could take up to 30 days for clearance, making it advisable to arrange this immediately after confirming holiday plans.
Although the procedure appears relatively straightforward, the accompanying charge has emerged as the latest setback for British tourists. Initially announced in 2018 with a proposed €7 fee—roughly £6—it was revealed towards the end of last year that the actual cost will be €20, approximately £17.37, nearly triple the original estimate.
Travellers across all age groups must obtain an ETIAS, though the charge is exempt for children and elderly passengers, meaning only those aged 18-70 need to make a payment. Nevertheless, for a pair travelling together, this introduces an additional €40 expense to holiday costs requiring budgeting, reports the Mirror.
A statement published on the European Commission website confirms: “ETIAS fee has been set at EUR 20 instead of the previous EUR 7. The new fee takes into account the rise in inflation since 2018 and additional operational costs related to new technical features integrated into the system. It also brings the cost for an ETIAS travel authorisation in line with similar travel authorisation programmes around the globe.”
Following approval, an ETIAS remains valid for three years, or until passport expiry—whichever occurs sooner. It permits multiple journeys during this period.
British travellers visiting the EU in recent months have also encountered the new EU Entry/Exit system at airports. Designed to get rid of manual passport stamping, it requires photographs and fingerprints from anyone entering the Schengen zone.
The EES system seeks to strengthen security and readily identify those who overstay, and once fully operational should cut queuing times for non-EU nationals including Britons. Nevertheless, numerous passengers have experienced hold-ups caused by technical difficulties, with three-hour delays reported in Tenerife.
Unlike the ETIAS, British citizens aren’t required to pre-register for EES. That said, they can obtain the official Travel to Europe app, enabling them to submit their information beforehand, which may help accelerate the process on arrival.
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As of now, there’s no confirmed commencement date for the ETIAS. The European Commission has previously stated it will disclose the date well in advance, providing ample time for travellers and airports to get ready.
Brits currently don’t have to pay for an ETIAS, and once it’s launched, they should only apply via the official ETIAS website.
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