by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 9:05 AM ET, Tue July 22, 2025
Canadians travelling to the EU may be hit with a steeply increased ETIAS for 2026. Under the proposal, once the much-postponed travel fee comes into effect, it would be €20 ($32 CAD), rather than the previously announced €7 ($11 CAD).
The ETIAS program has been in the works for an extended time, facing delays as EU member countries hammer out details and logistics.
Once it is implemented, presently projected to be in late 2026, most people travelling from a visa-free non-Schengen country (including Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Japan) would be subject to the significantly increased fee. There are exceptions for children, seniors over 70 and some relatives of EU citizens.
According to ETIAS.com, the increased fee brings the European charge into line with other programs like the UK ETA and the U.S. ESTA.
The fee will go towards a “safer Europe,” by keeping traveller information in a centralized database, part of a “sweeping digital infrastructure” meant to boost border security across the EU.
The Independent reports it is also designed to “help to identify suspected criminals, and to police the limit on stays of 90 days in any 180 days,” which is the time period Canadians and other non-Schengen residents are allowed to stay in the EU.
Under the ETIAS, eligible travellers will apply online before boarding a plane, ferry or bus to any Schengen-zone country. They’ll fill out a short form, listing personal details like full name, birth date, and passport number. The system then screens each applicant for “security, health, and migration risks.”
According to the Commission, the €20 fee will help pay for new technical features, ongoing maintenance and operational staffing, as well as upgraded automation, stronger encryption, and better coordination with other EU systems such as the Entry/Exit System (EES).
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