The cost travelers will eventually have to pay for a digital permit to enter the European Union has gone up—even though the system hasn't been launched yet.
Foreigners applying for the EU's European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS)—which will be required of travelers from all visa-exempt nations, including the United States—will be charged a fee of €20 (about $23) when the much-delayed initiative finally goes into effect, according to the EU's official website.
That's nearly triple the €7 (about $8) originally announced for the mandatory registration fee.
The European Commission, which is the EU's governing body, blamed the change on "inflation and additional operational costs," according to Agence France-Presse.
The commission also noted that the adjusted cost brings the charge for Europe's travel authorization closer in line with similar programs, such as the United Kingdom's ETA (£16/$21) and the ESTA required by the U.S. ($21).
Adopted in 2018, Europe's ETIAS plan is currently expected to be implemented at some point "in the last quarter of 2026," according to the EU.
Starting then, non-EU citizens from visa-exempt countries, including the U.S. and Canada, will need the digital permit to enter 30 European countries: 26 of the 27 EU member states (all but Ireland), plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
You'll need to apply for ETIAS online. Once approved, the permit will remain valid for 3 years.
All foreigners will need ETIAS approval, but visitors younger than 18 or older than 70 will be excused from paying the fee.
The stated purpose of the program is security and smoother border entry.
Our ETIAS explainer has the full details, including what info you'll need to provide during the application process.
The requirement's start date has been pushed back on several occasions, mostly because the EU says it can't launch the ETIAS until the bloc's new automated system for border crossings (a separate but related project) is ready, and that won't get going until October of this year.