The Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) has confirmed that the fee for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will rise from €7 to €20 on 1 January 2026, matching a Schengen-wide decision endorsed this week by France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Belgium and others. The announcement, made public on 22 November, ends months of speculation about how the scheme would be funded once it goes live next year.
ETIAS is an electronic travel authorisation required for visa-exempt nationals visiting the Schengen Area for short stays. Once approved, it remains valid for three years or until the traveller’s passport expires. SEM officials say the higher fee will bankroll cybersecurity upgrades, new Europol data interfaces and enhancements to the Schengen Information System that aim to catch identity fraud at the border more quickly.
![ETIAS Fee for Switzerland and Schengen Area to Triple to €20 from 1 January 2026]()
For travellers the impact is modest in absolute terms, but companies that bulk-pay ETIAS fees for rotating project staff could see administration costs triple. Mobility managers may wish to bundle multiple assignments into one authorisation period or pass the surcharge on to clients. Travel industry associations have welcomed the clarity, arguing that predictable user fees are preferable to ad-hoc security levies added at airports.
The higher ETIAS fee will dovetail with Switzerland’s rollout of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES); Zurich Airport plans to integrate ETIAS validation into its new biometric kiosks, so travellers will eventually present a single QR code confirming both EES enrolment and ETIAS approval. SEM has pledged to publish employer-focused guidance in several languages before the end of Q2 2026.
ETIAS is an electronic travel authorisation required for visa-exempt nationals visiting the Schengen Area for short stays. Once approved, it remains valid for three years or until the traveller’s passport expires. SEM officials say the higher fee will bankroll cybersecurity upgrades, new Europol data interfaces and enhancements to the Schengen Information System that aim to catch identity fraud at the border more quickly.
For travellers the impact is modest in absolute terms, but companies that bulk-pay ETIAS fees for rotating project staff could see administration costs triple. Mobility managers may wish to bundle multiple assignments into one authorisation period or pass the surcharge on to clients. Travel industry associations have welcomed the clarity, arguing that predictable user fees are preferable to ad-hoc security levies added at airports.
The higher ETIAS fee will dovetail with Switzerland’s rollout of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES); Zurich Airport plans to integrate ETIAS validation into its new biometric kiosks, so travellers will eventually present a single QR code confirming both EES enrolment and ETIAS approval. SEM has pledged to publish employer-focused guidance in several languages before the end of Q2 2026.
