The impact will be significant, especially for frequent travelers to the continent. Citizens of over 60 countries — who currently do not require a visa for short stays in the Schengen Area — will need to adapt to this new system, which includes the introduction of ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System), expected to come into force by mid-2026. While originally expected to cost €7, the European Commission has confirmed that the fee will be €21, tripling the initial estimate. This authorization will be mandatory for all travelers over the age of 18 and will remain valid for three years or until the traveler’s passport expires.
Both the EES and ETIAS are inspired by systems already in place in other countries, such as the U.S. ESTA and Canada’s eTA. Their implementation has been debated in recent years due to technical concerns and potential impacts on tourism and international mobility. Although European authorities stress that these systems will not replace visas or affect the freedom of movement for EU citizens, they do represent a considerable tightening of procedures for third-country nationals — even for those who do not require a visa.
Leading tourism organizations have expressed concern over the effects of these new measures on traveler experience and the fluidity of travel. Some industry operators fear that the new technologies, while aimed at improving security, could result in longer lines, processing errors, or confusion at airports and border crossings. Additionally, the tripling of the ETIAS fee has drawn criticism from industry groups, who argue that the increase could discourage certain types of travelers, especially young people or those coming for cultural or educational purposes.
Nevertheless, European institutions maintain that in the long term, the new system will streamline processes, reduce bureaucracy, prevent abuse, and offer greater transparency in managing external borders. They argue that digitization is a necessary step to adapt migration control to 21st-century challenges and to respond in a coordinated way to the rise in international tourism, global mobility, and risks associated with organized crime and terrorism.
Travelers are strongly advised to stay informed in advance about entry requirements for each Schengen country, ensure their documents are up to date, and familiarize themselves with the new procedures being phased in. The EES is scheduled to launch in October of this year, while ETIAS will become mandatory starting in 2026, with a transition period in place to help both passengers and border authorities adjust.
Europe is thus moving toward a more digitized, secure, and structured model of international mobility — but also a more demanding one. It is a delicate balance between necessary control and the hospitality expected by travelers, at a time when tourism is regaining strength after years of global uncertainty.
