The European Commission has finalised the application fee for the **European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)** at €20, up from the €7 originally mooted in 2018. The new price applies to travellers aged 18-70 from 59 visa-exempt countries—including the United Kingdom, United States and Canada—who plan short stays of up to 90 days in Cyprus or the Schengen Area. Children and seniors remain exempt from payment but must still obtain authorisation.
Although Cyprus is not yet a full Schengen member, officials in Nicosia confirmed the Republic will participate in both ETIAS and the biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) from day one of the EU-wide launch, now scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. Non-EU visitors who currently breeze through Cypriot passport control will therefore need to complete an on-line form, supply passport data, answer security questions and pay the €20 fee **before boarding their flight or cruise**.
Most approvals are expected within minutes, but applications flagged for manual review could take up to 30 days, making early submission advisable—especially for business travellers with tight itineraries. Airlines, ferry companies and private-jet operators will face fines for carrying passengers without a valid authorisation.
![€20 ETIAS fee confirmed—Cyprus to join EU travel authorisation scheme in late 2026]()
Travellers who would like expert assistance navigating the new ETIAS rules can enlist VisaHQ, whose Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) offers a streamlined application workflow, document checks and real-time status updates. The platform also supports bulk submissions for corporate travel managers and sends automatic reminders when authorisations near expiry, reducing the risk of last-minute surprises.
Once issued, ETIAS will be valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Airlines, ferry companies and private-jet operators will face fines for carrying passengers without a valid authorisation.
For corporate travel programmes this introduces a new compliance layer similar to the U.S. ESTA and Canada’s eTA. Employers should update pre-trip approval workflows, budget for the higher fee, and warn frequent travellers that **last-minute meetings in Cyprus could become more difficult without pre-cleared passports**.
Although Cyprus is not yet a full Schengen member, officials in Nicosia confirmed the Republic will participate in both ETIAS and the biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) from day one of the EU-wide launch, now scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. Non-EU visitors who currently breeze through Cypriot passport control will therefore need to complete an on-line form, supply passport data, answer security questions and pay the €20 fee **before boarding their flight or cruise**.
Most approvals are expected within minutes, but applications flagged for manual review could take up to 30 days, making early submission advisable—especially for business travellers with tight itineraries. Airlines, ferry companies and private-jet operators will face fines for carrying passengers without a valid authorisation.
Travellers who would like expert assistance navigating the new ETIAS rules can enlist VisaHQ, whose Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) offers a streamlined application workflow, document checks and real-time status updates. The platform also supports bulk submissions for corporate travel managers and sends automatic reminders when authorisations near expiry, reducing the risk of last-minute surprises.
Once issued, ETIAS will be valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Airlines, ferry companies and private-jet operators will face fines for carrying passengers without a valid authorisation.
For corporate travel programmes this introduces a new compliance layer similar to the U.S. ESTA and Canada’s eTA. Employers should update pre-trip approval workflows, budget for the higher fee, and warn frequent travellers that **last-minute meetings in Cyprus could become more difficult without pre-cleared passports**.
