by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 10:50 AM ET, Fri January 17, 2025
With the rollout of Europe’s new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which is a digital entry form expected to charge an entry fee to visit Europe visa-free and streamline the entry process, Americans are wondering: what will this cost me on my next trip abroad?
Check out our definitive guide on traveling to Europe with ETIAS in place to learn more about how it works and how it might change the entry process.
What Will ETIAS Cost Individual Americans?
Turns out, it’ll cost about US$8 per person when it begins, likely sometime in mid-2025 following several delays.
ETIAS is mandatory for travelers visiting Europe visa-free (90 days or less) from 60 countries, including the U.S., Canada and Australia. Minors and adults over 70 will not be required to pay the fee.
Plus, it’s valid for a traveler until their passport expires or up to three years (depending on which one is sooner), so frequent fliers can enjoy paying once for several trips.
How Much Could Americans Pay All Together Next Year?
VisaGuide.World analyzed the cost, combined with how many Americans are expected to visit Europe in 2025 to estimate that they could pay a combined total of $180 million in entry fees to Europe this year.
While travelers will likely complain about the new compulsory entry system and fee, the American visa-waiver program that was implemented in 2009, called the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, charges a $4 fee for applying and then another $17 upon approval, making it significantly more expensive.
Which Countries Will Require ETIAS?
The 29 European Union countries will be saying goodbye to passport stamping and implement this digital entry system instead. The only exceptions are Cyprus and Ireland, which will continue stamping passports. So next time you head anywhere in Europe, you’re pretty much guaranteed to be required to use ETIAS, unless you’re visiting a non-EU member state.
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