Visitors to the EU face a substantial increase in entry fees, a decision made prior to actual implementation.
The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is set to undergo a significant change, with the fee for non-EU nationals from visa-free countries increasing from €7 to €20. This change, announced by the European Commission, will take effect when ETIAS becomes fully operational in late 2026.
This fee hike aligns ETIAS with similar travel authorization systems globally, such as the U.S. ESTA and the UK ETA. The European Commission justifies the increase by covering rising operational and administrative costs.
Travelers from countries such as the United States, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom, who currently do not require a visa for short stays in the EU’s Schengen area, will be affected by this change. The ETIAS authorization is a digital pre-screening process that must be completed before arrival, and the authorization will generally be valid for up to three years or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first.
Certain exemptions apply: travelers under 18 or over 70 years of age will not be required to pay the €20 ETIAS fee.
The increase in the ETIAS fee is comparable to the price of ESTAs in the U.S. ($21) and ETAs in the UK.
Meanwhile, in other travel-related news, a first for aviation history, the world's first airplane hijacking took place on the Miss Macao seaplane in 1948. The goal of the hijacking was to rob the passengers and hold them for ransom.
In a more positive note, Budaörs, a Bauhaus airport in Budapest, operates continuously since 1937, serving as an aviation time capsule.
Elsewhere, some interesting developments are taking place. A former Soviet state, unspecified, is showing signs it's ready for more tourists. Italian farmers have set up mountain turnstiles to charge access to Instagram hot spots, while comfortable walking shoes remain a necessity for city streets.
On a personal note, Janet Blaser, originally from New York, relocated from California to Mexico nearly two decades ago, starting a magazine business and securing a permanent resident visa in the process. Linda Leaming moved from Nashville to Bhutan three years after visiting in 1994 and found love and happiness in the Himalayas. Retired US veteran Christopher Boris moved from Maryland to Brazil in 2024 due to rising cost of living in the US. Making a permanent move to another country proved beneficial for these individuals, helping them cope with financial struggles and establishing friendships.
Lastly, the de Havilland DH106 1A Comet was the world's first passenger jet, a milestone in aviation history. As for transportation in Switzerland, residents are switching up their commute by swimming, making for a unique and eco-friendly approach to daily travel.
The ETIAS fee increase aligns the system with similar travel authorization fees worldwide, such as the U.S. ESTA and the UK ETA, making it comparable with the price of $21 for ESTAs and the same amount in pounds for ETAs. Janet Blaser, originally from New York, moved to Mexico almost two decades ago, starting a magazine business and securing a permanent resident visa, which could potentially be viewed as a lifestyle choice influenced by financial considerations.
