Latest news with #EuropeanTravelInformationandAuthorisationSystem
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Time of India
ETIAS explained: Why the EU just tripled its travel authorisation fee
In a significant update that could affect millions of travelers, the European Union (EU) has announced that it will triple the cost of its upcoming travel authorisation scheme—the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). The fee, which will now cost €20 per applicant, is almost three times higher than the initial fee. While the increase may appear steep, the EU defends the move as necessary to cover rising operational costs and bring the fee in line with similar systems worldwide. According to the European Commission, the decision stems from inflation, infrastructure costs, and additional financial pressures on EU programs, including defence, agriculture, and border security. By raising the ETIAS fee, the EU hopes to maintain the system's long-term sustainability and fund a broader range of priorities that individual member states may not be able to support on their own. Read more: These are Visa free for Indian nationals? Check this out for monsoon holidays What i s ETIAS? ETIAS will be a mandatory travel authorisation for citizens of visa-exempt countries, such as the US, UK, Canada, Japan, and Australia, who plan short-term stays in the EU. Once implemented, it will apply to travel across the 27 EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Designed as an online, user-friendly system, ETIAS will allow most applications to be processed in minutes. Approved permits will be valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, and will allow multiple entries within that period. Who i s e xempt? To ease the burden on families and older travelers, children under 18 and adults over 70 will be exempt from the €20 fee. These exemptions aim to encourage personal and family travel without adding significant costs for those on tighter budgets or fixed incomes. How w ill t his i mpact t ourists? While the fee hike may frustrate some travelers, its real impact is expected to be minimal. Moreover, ETIAS offers perks such as faster border checks, digital processing, and enhanced security, making the travel experience smoother and more secure. Read more: 5 places in the hills that feel like a Yash Raj set Though the fee has been confirmed, ETIAS has yet to go live. Initially slated for an earlier launch, the program is now expected to roll out by end of 2026. The delay provides time for airports, border agencies, and travelers to prepare for the system's full implementation. Despite delays, the EU remains confident that ETIAS will modernize border control, help identify security risks, and enhance the travel experience. Officials say that as international tourism continues to rebound post-pandemic, such systems are vital for managing growing travel volumes efficiently.
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
EU to triple travel permit fee to 20 euros
A picture taken on May 11, 2022 shows flags of the European Union outside the European commission headquarters in Brussels. Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP via Getty Images Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Brussels (Belgium) (AFP) — The digital travel permit for foreigners to enter the European Union should cost 20 euros ($23), almost triple the original planned fee, under a proposal published Friday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The adjustment to the yet-to-be implemented ETIAS scheme for visa-exempt nationals comes as the European Commission seeks to boost its financial resources to fund an array of priorities from defence to agriculture. The change reflects inflation and additional operational costs, the commission said. 'It will also bring the cost for a travel authorisation to the EU in line with similar travel authorisation programmes,' the EU's top executive body said. Adopted in 2018, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) regulation originally envisaged a fee of seven euros. Britain's equivalent, known as ETA, comes with a 16 pound fee ($21), while the United States' ESTA permit costs $21. Obtainable online, the European Union's ETIAS permit will be required for the bloc's 27 countries with the exception of Ireland, as well as for Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The permit, valid for three years, will be required for non-EU nationals from countries whose citizens do not need a visa for short stays in Europe, such as Canada, Britain and the United States. Those aged under 18 or over 70 years will be exempt from the fee. Brussels said the scheme was created to identify security, irregular migration and other risks as well as to facilitate border crossing for regular travellers. But its implementation, which was supposed to go hand-in-hand with a new automated border check system, has suffered from delays. The European Parliament and member states have two months to review the new 20-euro fee, which will enter into effect as soon as ETIAS becomes operational — now expected for the last quarter of 2026. This week the commission proposed a boosted two-trillion-euro long-term budget for 2028-2034, which has already upset some of the EU countries that will have to chip in most of the money. As part of the blueprint, which is subject to negotiation, Brussels said it will seek to raise about 58 billion euros a year collecting money directly through measures like its carbon border tax and a levy on electronic waste. MMA Tennis Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Toronto Maple Leafs
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Europe to triple travel permit fee for foreigners
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The digital travel permit for foreigners to enter the European Union should cost 20 euros ($23), almost triple the original planned fee, under a proposal published Friday. The adjustment to the yet-to-be implemented ETIAS scheme for visa-exempt nationals comes as the European Commission seeks to boost its financial resources to fund an array of priorities from defence to change reflects inflation and additional operational costs, the commission said."It will also bring the cost for a travel authorisation to the EU in line with similar travel authorisation programmes," the EU's top executive body in 2018, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) regulation originally envisaged a fee of seven euros. Britain's equivalent, known as ETA, comes with a 16 pound fee ($21), while the United States' ESTA permit costs $ online, the European Union's ETIAS permit will be required for the bloc's 27 countries with the exception of Ireland, as well as for Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and permit, valid for three years, will be required for non-EU nationals from countries whose citizens do not need a visa for short stays in Europe, such as Canada, Britain and the United States. Those aged under 18 or over 70 years will be exempt from the said the scheme was created to identify security, irregular migration and other risks as well as to facilitate border crossing for regular travellers. But its implementation, which was supposed to go hand-in-hand with a new automated border check system, has suffered from European Parliament and member states have two months to review the new 20-euro fee, which will enter into effect as soon as ETIAS becomes operational -- now expected for the last quarter of 2026. This week the commission proposed a boosted two-trillion-euro long-term budget for 2028-2034, which has already upset some of the EU countries that will have to chip in most of the part of the blueprint, which is subject to negotiation, Brussels said it will seek to raise about 58 billion euros a year collecting money directly through measures like its carbon border tax and a levy on electronic waste.
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
EU to triple travel permit fee to 20 euros
18 July 2025 17:13 Brussels (AFP)The digital travel permit for foreigners to enter the European Union should cost 20 euros ($23), almost triple the original planned fee, under a proposal published on adjustment to the yet-to-be implemented ETIAS scheme for visa-exempt nationals comes as the European Commission seeks to boost its financial resources to fund an array of priorities from defence to change reflects inflation and additional operational costs, the commission said."It will also bring the cost for a travel authorisation to the EU in line with similar travel authorisation programmes," the EU's top executive body in 2018, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) regulation originally envisaged a fee of seven equivalent, known as ETA, comes with a 16 pound fee ($21), while the United States' ESTA permit costs $ online, the European Union's ETIAS permit will be required for the bloc's 27 countries with the exception of Ireland, as well as for Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and permit, valid for three years, will be required for non-EU nationals from countries whose citizens do not need a visa for short stays in Europe, such as Canada, Britain and the United aged under 18 or over 70 years will be exempt from the said the scheme was created to identify security, irregular migration and other risks as well as to facilitate border crossing for regular its implementation, which was supposed to go hand-in-hand with a new automated border check system, has suffered from European Parliament and member states have two months to review the new 20-euro fee, which will enter into effect as soon as ETIAS becomes operational -- now expected for the last quarter of week the commission proposed a boosted two-trillion-euro long-term budget for 2028-2034, which has already upset some of the EU countries that will have to chip in most of the money. As part of the blueprint, which is subject to negotiation, Brussels said it will seek to raise about 58 billion euros a year collecting money directly through measures like its carbon border tax and a levy on electronic waste.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Scots may be turned away from France under new rules
The new scheme is set to come into effect from next year Scots and other UK holidaymakers heading to France and other parts of the European Union (EU) could be denied entry if they lack a specific document, once a new scheme is implemented. A new travel permit, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), is being introduced to bolster security and strengthen the borders of the Schengen zone. The ETIAS comes with a 7 euro fee, but according to the most recent update, UK travellers can journey to the EU without one until at least April 2027. Earlier this year, the EU's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs projected that the ETIAS will be launched in the last quarter of 2026. However, due to a transitional and grace period, the obligation to apply for an ETIAS before departure won't become compulsory until 2027. The roll-out of ETIAS is linked to the implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES). After several delays, the EU has agreed to gradually introduce the EES from October this year. This phased introduction allows member states to progressively launch the new border system over a six-month period. If the EU decides to implement the EES in October 2025, member states will need to register ten per cent of travellers crossing the border after the first month. For the initial 60 days, the system can operate without biometric functionalities, reports the Liverpool Echo. However, by January 2026, all member states should have the EES operating with biometric functionalities, and by April 2026, the EES roll-out should be complete. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system designed to register non-EU nationals travelling for short stays, each time they cross the borders of any of the following European countries utilising the system: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. If you're travelling to a country in the Schengen area using a UK passport, you'll need to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints or a photo, upon arrival. The EES registration will supersede the current practice of manually stamping passports when visitors enter the EU. Once the EES is fully operational, the ETIAS will be introduced. According to EU authorities, the ETIAS will be implemented six months after the EES, around October 2026. There will be a transitional period and a grace period, each lasting six months, which means that the ETIAS will become mandatory for most people in April 2027 and fully compulsory by October 2027. And if you don't have an approved ETIAS, you'll be denied entry to your destination country. The ETIAS is tied to a traveller's passport and remains valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever occurs first. Should you obtain a new passport, you'll need to secure a fresh ETIAS travel authorisation. With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you're allowed to enter the territory of these European countries as often as you wish for short-term visits - generally up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Nevertheless, this doesn't guarantee entry. Upon arrival, a border official will ask for your passport and other documentation, checking that you meet the entry criteria. The majority of ETIAS applications will receive approval "almost immediately", but should the system detect a mistake in your ETIAS application it may be refused. ETIAS applications might be declined if your passport is invalid, if you don't complete the application properly, if you do not attend a required interview, if you are considered a "risk" by officials, or if you have a Schengen Information System (SIS) alert. If your ETIAS application is refused you can lodge an appeal.
