British tourists will avoid the upcoming EU entry fee for up to a year, as Brussels announces yet another delay. Non-EU travellers from 60 countries, including British citizens, will have to pay a €7 (£5.91) fee to visit countries in the Schengen area once the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is introduced.
The EU now plans to launch ETIAS in late 2026 under a six-month transitional period to give borders time to adjust, meaning travellers may not have to pay the fee until well into 2027. A specific date for its launch will be announced a few months before the end of 2026, according to the EU. Alongside the fee, non-EU travellers will have to complete an online application and provide personal details to visit the region, which will be linked to passports and valid for three years or until the passport expires.
Children under 18 and adults over 70 will be exempt from the fee, but they will need to apply for authorisation.
It comes as part of a double-pronged measure to tighten border security into the EU, alongside the launch of the Entry Exit System (EES), a new border check that will ask non-EU travellers for facial images and fingerprints to enter the Schengen area.
Originally set to be operational in 2026, ETIAS has had to be pushed back following the delay of EES until October 2025, because the fee cannot take effect until six months after EES is fully operational.
All airports, ferry ports and land crossings must have the system up and running before it can be launched.
Both systems have faced multiple delays, with various member states and borders expressing concern over the readiness of technology, which could impact travellers at borders and lead to delays.
