From 2026 onwards, thousands of travelers will have to pay 20 euros to obtain the new ETIAS electronic authorization, the system that becomes mandatory to enter the Schengen Area and which directly changes travel costs and preparations. The measure is part of a wider set of changes that have been transforming circulation in Europe, from strengthening border controls to increasing tourist taxes, with a clear impact on the expenses of those who want to visit the continent.
According to the Euronews portal, ETIAS should have come into operation after the Entry and Exit System (EES), but ended up being postponed until the end of 2026. The decision extended the current exemption regime for tourists from several countries, although electronic authorization will be required as soon as the new schedule is met.
EES delays and border effects
The EES, launched in October, replaces the stamp in the passport with the digital collection of biometric data, such as fingerprints and facial image, upon entry at the external borders of the Schengen Area. According to the same source, the system is being introduced in a phased manner until April 2026, covering almost all European Union countries, as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Start-up problems caused successive delays throughout 2025. At the Port of Dover, the full introduction of the system was pushed back to 2026 in the case of car passengers, to avoid constraints during the Christmas period. The transition is expected to maintain longer waiting times at various entry points, although the ultimate goal is to make controls faster.
What ETIAS entails for travelers
ETIAS will be necessary for visa-exempt tourists and costs 20 euros, valid for three years and for stays of up to 90 days in each 180-day period. The publication adds that this authorization will work in a similar way to systems already used in other countries, requiring an online application before travel.
The United Kingdom will also have its own system, the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which will begin to be required in February 2026. The same source states that the application costs 16 pounds and is valid for two years, applying to visitors from 85 countries that until now did not need a visa for short stays.
Rising costs and tighter rules
Alongside electronic authorizations, several countries have introduced measures that increase travel expenses. The portal explains that tourist taxes have become more common, with new values announced in Spain, Norway, Iceland and the United Kingdom, while the tax for day visitors to Venice remains in force. The objective is to finance infrastructure and manage the weight of mass tourism.
Cities such as Paris and Barcelona have tightened short-term accommodation rules to control the impact on the residential rental market, reducing the supply of affordable options.
What is this new framework for?
The changes point to a European strategy that aims to move away from low-cost tourism and direct the sector towards models considered more sustainable, with less pressure on cities and greater investment capacity on the part of those who travel. According to , ETIAS appears as the centerpiece of this transition, functioning not only as a security instrument, but also as part of a new design of costs associated with traveling in Europe.
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