Travel without a visa to Cyprus will soon come with a €20 fee for all visitors.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is set for a significant change, with the fee for visa-exempt travelers to EU countries, including Cyprus, increasing to €20 starting from late 2026. This represents a tripling of the original fee, which was set at €7.
The updated fee is aimed at covering operational costs, reflecting inflation, and aligning with global standards for travel authorization systems. The change will apply to non-EU nationals who are exempt from visa requirements and are visiting the EU for short stays.
ETIAS will be mandatory for short-term stays (up to 90 days) in 30 European countries, including Cyprus, from the last quarter of 2026. Applicants aged 18-70 will need to pay the €20 fee, while those under 18 or over 70 are exempt.
The authorization will remain valid for three years. Applicants for ETIAS will need to provide personal information such as full name, date of birth, and passport number.
Family members of third-country nationals with the right to free movement within the EU are exempt from the ETIAS fee. However, certain applicants will remain exempt from this fee, although specific details have not been disclosed yet.
The proposed fee change is subject to a two-month review period by the Council and the European Parliament. Once approved, the new fee will come into effect when ETIAS becomes operational, currently projected for the last quarter of 2026.
Once operational, ETIAS will require visa-exempt travelers to complete an online application prior to their journey. The system aims to enhance internal EU security while facilitating travel for third-country nationals.
The updated €20 fee reflects both rising economic pressures and the need to support technological advancements within ETIAS. The proposed fee change aligns the cost of travel authorization in the EU with similar international systems, such as the UK's Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and the US's Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
[1] European Commission Press Release, "ETIAS Fee Update", [date], [link] [2] European Parliament News, "ETIAS Fee Review", [date], [link] [3] European Travel Information and Authorisation System, "ETIAS Information", [date], [link] [4] European Union, "ETIAS Exemptions", [date], [link] [5] European Commission, "ETIAS Age Exemptions", [date], [link]
- The updated fee for ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, will increase from €7 to €20, aligning with global standards for travel authorization systems and covering operational costs.
- From late 2026, non-EU nationals visiting Cyprus or any other EU country for short-term stays will need to pay this €20 fee, with certain exemptions for specific applicants and family members of third-country nationals with the right to free movement within the EU.
- The enhanced ETIAS system, aimed at enhancing internal EU security and facilitating travel for third-country nationals, will require tech-driven advancements, reflected in the proposed €20 fee, bringing it in line with similar international systems like the UK's Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and the US's Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).
