How much will ETIAS cost?
The ETIAS fee will be €20 per application, paid online on the official EU website or app. Applicants under 18 or over 70 pay nothing, and neither do certain family members of EU citizens. Today you cannot pay anything, because ETIAS is not in operation.
ETIAS is not in operation yet and the EU has not announced a start date (checked on 9 November 2026). Nobody can apply or pay for ETIAS today.
Follow the ETIAS timeline →| Standard fee | €20 |
|---|---|
| Under 18 at the time of application | Free |
| Over 70 at the time of application | Free |
| Family members of EU citizens and of nationals with free movement rights (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) | Free, subject to conditions |
| Validity for the price | 3 years or until the passport expires |
Why €20 and not €7
The 2018 ETIAS Regulation set the fee at €7. In 2025 the EU raised it to €20, to take account of inflation and of the higher running costs of the system since the regulation was adopted. Many older articles still mention €7: that figure is out of date.
Who pays nothing
Children and teenagers. Applicants under 18 on the day of the application are exempt from the fee. They still need their own ETIAS.
Older travellers. Applicants over 70 are exempt from the fee and still need ETIAS.
Family members of EU citizens. Non-EU family members of an EU citizen, or of a national of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, who benefit from EU free movement rules, do not pay. In general this means a spouse or registered partner, children under 21 or dependent, and dependent parents, travelling with or joining the EU citizen. Family members of a citizen visiting their own country are usually treated like ordinary visitors. If you hold a residence card as a family member, you do not need ETIAS at all.
What you will pay with an intermediary
The EU allows intermediaries, such as travel agencies, to apply on your behalf. They are free to charge for this service. The amount paid to the EU stays €20; everything above that is the intermediary’s margin.
Many websites already advertise “ETIAS applications” at several times the official price. For a form that takes a few minutes on the official site, the added value is usually small, and while ETIAS is not in operation they cannot submit anything at all.
No ETIAS application can be submitted before the official launch. If you have paid a website for ETIAS, contact your bank about a chargeback and keep the payment confirmation. More on unofficial websites.
Payment and refunds
Payment will be made by bank card when you submit the application. The fee pays for the processing of your file, so do not expect a refund if the application is refused. If you get a new passport, you will need a new ETIAS and pay again.
Is €20 a lot?
Compared with similar systems, no. The UK ETA costs more for a shorter validity, and the US ESTA also costs more for two years. A Schengen visa, for nationalities that need one, costs several times as much and requires an appointment.
Sources
- OfficialETIAS – frequently asked questions — European Union
- OfficialETIAS – official website — European Union
- OfficialRegulation (EU) 2018/1240 establishing ETIAS — EUR-Lex
- Official7 myths and facts about ETIAS — EU Delegation to Georgia (EEAS)
- PressEU reveals latest start date for EES biometric passport checks (22 Jul 2025) — The Local
- PressEU’s ETIAS travel authorisation delayed until 2026: here’s when you’ll have to pay (14 Mar 2025) — Euronews
Change history
- — Page rewritten for the new version of the site.