British travelers planning European holidays from 2026 will face a new layer of red tape as the European Union prepares to launch its long-delayed European Travel Information and Authorisation System, or ETIAS, with a 20 euro travel authorization fee.

Romania, which has just completed its accession to the passport-free Schengen Area, will be among the countries applying the new rules to visa-exempt visitors from the United Kingdom, alongside long-standing Schengen members such as Luxembourg, Germany, France, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Greece, Slovakia, the Netherlands and Hungary.

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Romania’s Full Schengen Membership Brings It Into ETIAS Fold

Romania’s journey into the European Union’s core free-movement zone has been a long-running political saga.

After years of delay, EU governments agreed in late 2024 that Romania and neighboring Bulgaria would become full members of the Schengen Area from 1 January 2025, following the earlier lifting of checks at air and sea borders in March 2024.

The decision ended more than a decade of debate over whether the two states had met the bloc’s technical and governance criteria for joining the passport-free zone.

With full Schengen membership, Romania now stands on the same footing as long-established Schengen participants such as France, Germany and the Netherlands when it comes to external border rules.

That status means the country will be covered by ETIAS as soon as the system comes into force in the second half of 2026.

For British nationals, who since Brexit have been treated as “visa-free third-country” visitors, short stays in Romania will require prior online authorization in the same way as trips to Paris, Berlin, Lisbon or Athens.

The inclusion of Romania significantly broadens the geographic scope of travel affected for UK passport holders. From transylvanian city breaks to Black Sea beach holidays, trips that once involved only a passport check at the border will instead sit within a digital pre-screening architecture shared across almost all Schengen states plus Cyprus and several associated microstates.

Travel industry analysts say that, while the new process is not a visa, it marks a decisive shift away from the frictionless spontaneity many British travelers once took for granted on the European continent.

What ETIAS Is And When It Will Start For UK Travelers

ETIAS is the European Union’s new electronic travel authorization for visitors who can currently enter without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Officials insist that ETIAS is not a visa but rather a security and migration-management tool similar to systems already used in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Applicants will complete a short online form, provide passport details and basic personal information, and pay a processing fee before receiving authorization linked electronically to their travel document.

After multiple postponements, EU institutions now say ETIAS is scheduled to become operational in the last quarter of 2026. The exact start date has not yet been fixed but must be announced at least six months in advance.

Current planning links the rollout to the full activation of the bloc’s separate biometric Entry/Exit System in April 2026, with ETIAS following once that infrastructure is in place at all external border crossings.

For British nationals, the new requirement will apply to trips to 30 European destinations where they do not currently need a visa, including all 29 Schengen states and Cyprus.

That list covers Romania, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Greece, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Hungary and most other major European holiday markets, but excludes Ireland, which is outside the Schengen framework and maintains its own separate entry rules.

The measure will apply regardless of how visitors arrive, whether by air, sea, train or car.

Fee Hike To Twenty Euros And Who Must Pay It

When EU ministers first approved ETIAS legislation, the fee for an application was set at 7 euros. Recent updates from Brussels confirm that the charge will now be almost tripled to 20 euros per authorization when the system launches in 2026.

Officials frame the increase as necessary to cover the cost of building and maintaining the complex digital infrastructure behind the scheme, which includes secure data handling, interoperability with other EU databases and 24-hour risk assessment capabilities.

The 20 euro fee will be payable online by most adult travelers during the application process, using standard electronic payment methods.

However, children under 18 and adults over 70 will be exempt from paying, as will certain family members of EU citizens and of non-EU nationals who have treaty-based free-movement rights within the bloc.

Once issued, an ETIAS authorization will be valid for three years or until the passport used in the application expires, whichever comes first, and will cover multiple trips during that period.

Travel industry advisers note that, on a per-trip basis, the cost is modest if spread over several journeys, particularly for frequent visitors to Europe.

But they warn that the fee change, coupled with the need to apply in advance, may come as an unwelcome surprise for price-sensitive travelers or for families who will need to complete multiple applications even if some members are not required to pay.

For budget-conscious holidaymakers from the UK, it adds to a post-Brexit landscape already marked by mobile roaming charges, separate UK electronic travel permits and fluctuating exchange rates.

How ETIAS Will Work In Practice For British Visitors

Under current plans, British nationals traveling to countries such as Romania, Germany, France, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Greece, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Hungary and Luxembourg for short tourism or business trips will have to complete an ETIAS application at least several days before departure once the scheme is in force.

EU guidance suggests that most applications will be processed within minutes, with automatic checks against security, migration and health databases. However, travelers are being urged to apply well in advance to account for cases that require manual review, which could take several days or longer.

Once granted, the digital authorization will be stored electronically and verified by airlines, ferry companies, train operators and border guards before boarding and at external Schengen borders.

British travelers who arrive at a Schengen land frontier from the UK via the Channel Tunnel or by ferry will see checks carried out at embarkation points such as Dover and Folkestone, where new kiosks and dedicated processing areas are already being installed for the EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System.

Officials stress that ETIAS does not change the underlying rules on length of stay. British visitors will still be limited to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period within the Schengen Area and associated countries covered by the system.

Time spent in Romania, once fully counted within Schengen, will now be added to days spent in other continental destinations such as Spain or Italy when calculating this allowance.

Overstays detected through the combination of ETIAS and biometric records could lead to fines, entry bans or other penalties.

Romania’s Tourism Sector Braces For New Realities

Romanian tourism operators have welcomed the country’s overdue accession to Schengen, arguing that the removal of internal border controls with neighboring states will make it easier for visitors to combine Romania with multi-country itineraries across Central and Eastern Europe.

Airlines and tour companies expect more seamless routes linking Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara and coastal resorts with hubs in Austria, Hungary and Germany without the need for passport checks at internal borders.

At the same time, the coming introduction of ETIAS adds a new layer of complexity to attracting visitors from former visa-exempt markets, including the United Kingdom.

British arrivals to Romania remain relatively modest compared with flows to classic Mediterranean destinations, but have been growing on the back of low-cost flights, interest in city breaks and niche segments such as hiking in the Carpathians or visiting the Danube Delta.

For these travelers, the combination of Schengen membership and ETIAS places Romania firmly within a harmonized, rules-based entry framework that mirrors the rest of the core EU.

Tourism boards and local authorities are expected to step up information campaigns in English and other languages ahead of the ETIAS go-live date to reduce confusion.

Industry groups say clear communication will be critical to ensuring that first-time visitors understand that the new authorization is not a traditional visa, can be obtained relatively quickly online and will be valid for multiple trips, including transits through Romanian airports when heading to other parts of the Schengen Area.

The rollout of ETIAS is closely tied to another sweeping reform of European border controls, the Entry/Exit System, or EES, which is scheduled to begin operation for third-country nationals in October 2025.

EES will replace the current practice of manually stamping passports with a digital register of entries and exits that records biometric data, including facial images and, for most travelers aged 12 and over, fingerprints.

The system will apply across 29 European countries that participate in Schengen, including Romania after its full accession.

For British citizens, this means that from late 2025, the first arrival at an external Schengen border such as Calais, Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt or Bucharest Otopeni will involve enrollment in EES, with fingerprints and photographs captured at automated kiosks or by border officers.

Subsequent crossings will generally require only verification of biometric data and passport details, streamlining repeat travel once the initial registration is complete.

Officials claim that, over time, the shift to automation will speed up checks, although they acknowledge that queues may lengthen during the early phases of implementation.

ETIAS will sit on top of this biometric architecture, adding an advance risk assessment layer for travelers who do not need a full visa.

Border agents will see not only a traveler’s biometric record and passport history but also whether a valid ETIAS authorization is in place, and will be able to cross-check responses given in the online application against other EU systems.

The combined effect, policymakers argue, will be more secure borders and better enforcement of stay limits without reintroducing routine internal checks between Schengen states.

Impact On UK Holidaymakers And Industry Response

For casual British holidaymakers accustomed to hopping across the Channel with only a passport and a boarding pass, the combination of ETIAS and EES represents a significant culture shift.

Pre-departure paperwork, biometric enrollment and a new 20 euro fee join a growing list of post-Brexit travel considerations, from passport validity rules to separate health insurance requirements.

Travel agents and airlines are preparing for a wave of questions from customers as the start date approaches, particularly from those who remember when UK citizens were EU nationals entitled to free movement.

Trade bodies in both the UK and the EU have largely accepted the new framework as an inevitable byproduct of wider global trends. Governments from Washington to Wellington have already introduced similar authorization systems, arguing that upfront vetting of visa-free travelers enhances security with minimal disruption.

The British government itself is rolling out its own Electronic Travel Authorisation for non-visa nationals entering the UK, a parallel that European officials often cite when pushing back on criticism of ETIAS.

For the travel industry, the main concern is not the principle of the scheme but the risk of last-minute confusion if the start date is confirmed close to peak booking seasons.

Airlines and ferry operators will be responsible for checking that passengers have valid ETIAS approvals before boarding, in the same way they already verify visas or vaccination documents when required.

Failure to do so could expose carriers to fines or liability, adding another incentive to ensure that British travelers are well informed long before the new system goes live.

FAQ

Q1. What is ETIAS and how does it affect UK nationals?
ETIAS is the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, an online pre-screening program for travelers who can visit most EU and Schengen countries without a visa. From the last quarter of 2026, UK nationals planning short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period in participating European countries, including Romania, will need to obtain an ETIAS authorization before departure.

Q2. How much will ETIAS cost and how long is it valid?
The ETIAS application fee has been set at 20 euros for most travelers. Once approved, an authorization will typically be valid for three years or until the passport used in the application expires, whichever comes first, and can be used for multiple trips during that period.

Q3. Which European countries will require ETIAS from British travelers?
ETIAS will apply to 30 destinations: all 29 Schengen states plus Cyprus. That includes Romania, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Greece, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Hungary and most other popular EU and Schengen holiday countries, but not Ireland, which maintains separate entry rules.

Q4. When exactly will ETIAS start for UK travelers?
The European Union has said ETIAS will launch in the last quarter of 2026, after its biometric Entry/Exit System is fully operational. A precise start date has not yet been announced, but Brussels has promised at least six months’ public notice before the scheme goes live.

Q5. Do children and older travelers have to pay the 20 euro fee?
Children under 18 and adults aged 70 or over will still need an ETIAS authorization if they are visa-exempt travelers, but they will not have to pay the 20 euro fee. Certain family members of EU citizens and of non-EU nationals with free movement rights are also exempt from payment.

Q6. Is ETIAS the same as a visa for visiting Europe?
No. ETIAS is not a visa but a travel authorization linked to a valid passport. It does not involve an in-person appointment at a consulate and is intended for short stays only. Travelers who need a long-stay, work, study or residence permit will still have to apply for the appropriate national visa or permit from the country they plan to live in.

Q7. How will Romania’s Schengen membership change travel for UK visitors?
With Romania now a full member of the Schengen Area, British visitors can move between Romania and other Schengen states such as Hungary, Austria or Germany without internal border checks. At the same time, entry into Romania for short stays will fall under the same ETIAS requirement that applies to the wider Schengen zone once the system begins in 2026.

Q8. How far in advance should I apply for ETIAS before my trip?
EU guidance suggests that most ETIAS applications will be processed within minutes, but travelers are advised to apply at least several days, and preferably a few weeks, before their intended departure. Applications flagged for manual review could take longer, and airlines may refuse boarding if a traveler does not hold a valid authorization once ETIAS is mandatory.

Q9. Will ETIAS change the 90 days in 180 days rule for UK citizens?
No. ETIAS does not alter the underlying rule that British nationals can spend up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period in the Schengen Area and other participating countries. Instead, it gives border authorities better tools to track entries and exits and to enforce that limit through digital records.

Q10. How does ETIAS relate to the UK’s own electronic travel authorisation scheme?
ETIAS and the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation are separate systems run by different authorities but serve similar purposes. ETIAS will apply to non-EU, visa-exempt travelers entering Europe, while the UK scheme covers visitors entering the United Kingdom. A Romanian or French traveler coming to the UK may need a UK authorization, just as a British traveler going to Romania or France will in future need ETIAS.