NEWS: EUROPE Now Has An Admission Fee

Disney4me · March 4, 2023

Traveling to other countries can certainly be tricky.

©Southwest

We do our best to keep you updated with all the latest travel tips and tricks to make your days in the sky as easy as possible. However, if you’re traveling to the EU anytime after 2024, things are about to get more complicated.

Starting in 2024, the European Union and all countries a part of the EU will now have to use the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to enter the country.

©Lynx Air

ETIAS will be for visitors from countries that are not part of the EU in order to better digitally screen and track travelers to and from the country and increase border security.

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Flying over New York City

ETIAS will “check the security credentials and charge a fee to travelers visiting EU member countries for business, tourism, medical or transit purposes.” For travelers who can currently visit the EU visa-free, they will be able to “enter EU and Schengen Member countries cost-free and without any digital security screening.” ETIAS will be mandatory for citizens of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, and the cost will be €7 (about $7.50 at the time of this post) for those above 18 and below the age of 70.

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Will this make travel easier? Or more difficult?

95% of applicants will receive a decision within minutes of submitting, and if approved, a person’s ETIAS will be good for three years or the date of expiration on the person’s passport (whichever is sooner). For more information on this new system, check out their website below.