Travellers from visa-exempt countries planning trips to Germany and the wider Schengen Area face a steeper bill from next year. On 26 November the European Commission confirmed that the fee for the forthcoming European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will rise from the originally announced €7 to €20. Officials cited inflation, higher cyber-security costs and the need to harmonise with comparable programmes such as the US ESTA.
ETIAS is due to launch in the second half of 2026, shortly after the EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System becomes fully operational. Once live, nationals of roughly 60 countries—including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and Australia—will need to obtain online clearance before boarding transport to any of the 30 participating European states. Authorisations will remain valid for three years or until the passport expires.
![EU Hikes ETIAS Fee to €20 Ahead of 2026 Roll-Out, Raising Cost of Visa-Free Trips to Germany]()
For Germany’s inbound tourism and corporate-travel market the higher fee is unlikely to dampen demand, but global-mobility managers point to budget implications for large project teams and frequent shuttlers. A ten-person delegation visiting German plants four times over three years will now pay €800 in ETIAS charges versus €280 under the previous tariff. Companies may need to adjust travel policies, expense caps and per-diem structures accordingly.
Consumer groups welcomed the retention of fee waivers for children under 18 and adults over 70, yet urged Brussels to ensure transparent online processes to curb fraud. The Commission acknowledged more than 60 fake ETIAS websites already targeting unwary applicants and promised a dedicated information campaign in early 2026.
German airports and airlines, meanwhile, must upgrade check-in systems to validate ETIAS status, a task complicated by the parallel retrofit for Entry/Exit biometric kiosks. Industry body BDL warned that partial roll-outs could create “two-class queues” unless adequate staffing and signage are in place.
ETIAS is due to launch in the second half of 2026, shortly after the EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System becomes fully operational. Once live, nationals of roughly 60 countries—including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and Australia—will need to obtain online clearance before boarding transport to any of the 30 participating European states. Authorisations will remain valid for three years or until the passport expires.
For Germany’s inbound tourism and corporate-travel market the higher fee is unlikely to dampen demand, but global-mobility managers point to budget implications for large project teams and frequent shuttlers. A ten-person delegation visiting German plants four times over three years will now pay €800 in ETIAS charges versus €280 under the previous tariff. Companies may need to adjust travel policies, expense caps and per-diem structures accordingly.
Consumer groups welcomed the retention of fee waivers for children under 18 and adults over 70, yet urged Brussels to ensure transparent online processes to curb fraud. The Commission acknowledged more than 60 fake ETIAS websites already targeting unwary applicants and promised a dedicated information campaign in early 2026.
German airports and airlines, meanwhile, must upgrade check-in systems to validate ETIAS status, a task complicated by the parallel retrofit for Entry/Exit biometric kiosks. Industry body BDL warned that partial roll-outs could create “two-class queues” unless adequate staffing and signage are in place.
