Travellers from Brazil heading to Europe will need to budget a little more for border formalities. The European Commission has confirmed that the application fee for the upcoming European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will be €20—almost triple the €7 price originally announced in 2018. British media highlighted the increase on 4 February 2026, noting that it applies to nationals of 59 visa-exempt countries, Brazil included. (thetimes.com)
ETIAS is slated to go live in the fourth quarter of 2026 and will function much like the U.S. ESTA: travellers complete an on-line form, pay the fee and receive a travel authorisation linked to their passport for three years (or until the passport expires). Most applications will clear within minutes, but up to 30 days may be needed if additional security checks are triggered. Minors and adults over 70 will remain fee-exempt. (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu)
To simplify compliance, travellers can leverage VisaHQ’s Brazil portal, which already tracks ETIAS roll-out milestones, provides step-by-step application support and issues notifications once approvals come through. The service centralises documents for both individuals and corporate mobility teams, helping avoid last-minute airport surprises. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/brazil/
![EU Hikes ETIAS Fee to €20 Ahead of 2026 Launch, Affecting Brazilian Visitors]()
For Brazilian corporates, the higher cost is modest but not negligible—especially for project teams shuttling frequently between São Paulo and European hubs. Mobility managers should adjust travel budgets and update pre-trip checklists to ensure ETIAS approvals are in hand before tickets are issued, as airlines will deny boarding without a valid authorisation once enforcement begins.
Industry bodies had lobbied for the fee to stay close to the original €7, arguing that a sharp increase could deter long-haul leisure visitors. EU officials counter that inflation and additional cybersecurity features justify the adjustment and still place the price in line with Canada’s eTA (C$ 7) and the forthcoming U.K. ETA (£16).
Although ETIAS is not a visa, the change underscores a wider move toward paid, pre-travel screening even for visa-exempt markets. Brazilian travellers accustomed to fee-free entry into the Schengen Area should therefore factor both the cost and the lead time into their 2026 travel plans.
ETIAS is slated to go live in the fourth quarter of 2026 and will function much like the U.S. ESTA: travellers complete an on-line form, pay the fee and receive a travel authorisation linked to their passport for three years (or until the passport expires). Most applications will clear within minutes, but up to 30 days may be needed if additional security checks are triggered. Minors and adults over 70 will remain fee-exempt. (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu)
To simplify compliance, travellers can leverage VisaHQ’s Brazil portal, which already tracks ETIAS roll-out milestones, provides step-by-step application support and issues notifications once approvals come through. The service centralises documents for both individuals and corporate mobility teams, helping avoid last-minute airport surprises. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/brazil/
For Brazilian corporates, the higher cost is modest but not negligible—especially for project teams shuttling frequently between São Paulo and European hubs. Mobility managers should adjust travel budgets and update pre-trip checklists to ensure ETIAS approvals are in hand before tickets are issued, as airlines will deny boarding without a valid authorisation once enforcement begins.
Industry bodies had lobbied for the fee to stay close to the original €7, arguing that a sharp increase could deter long-haul leisure visitors. EU officials counter that inflation and additional cybersecurity features justify the adjustment and still place the price in line with Canada’s eTA (C$ 7) and the forthcoming U.K. ETA (£16).
Although ETIAS is not a visa, the change underscores a wider move toward paid, pre-travel screening even for visa-exempt markets. Brazilian travellers accustomed to fee-free entry into the Schengen Area should therefore factor both the cost and the lead time into their 2026 travel plans.
