Canadians will soon have to pay triple the amount to get into Europe

Canadians will have to pay even more to check destinations like Spain and Portugal off their bucket list, as the European Travel Information Authorization System (ETIAS) fee is set to increase next year.

The European Commission (EC) announced last Friday that it's adjusting the fee for the new visa waiver system, which is an entry requirement for visa-exempt, non-European Union citizens travelling to Europe.

The ETIAS was created to track tourists from 59 countries that are not part of the EU but can enter Europe without needing a visa, mainly for security purposes.

Canadians, Americans and Australians are just some of the visitors who will need to pay the extra fee to enter Europe.

How much more will Canadians have to pay for the ETIAS?

When the visa waiver system was first announced in 2018, the fee was set at €7 (around $11 CAD). The EC says next year, it will be increasing the cost to €20 ($32 CAD) per application, which is nearly triple the original fee.

It cites "the rise in inflation since 2018 and additional operational costs" as reasons for the fee hike.

"It will also bring the cost for a travel authorization to the EU in line with similar travel authorization programmes such as the U.K. Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)," reads the announcement.

The ETA currently costs £16 ($29.50 CAD) and the ESTA costs $21 USD ($28.65 CAD).

The upside is that the ETIAS is valid for up to three years, or until the passport it's linked to expires. So, you can take advantage and do as many Euro trips as possible within that timeline.

How do you apply for the ETIAS, and which European countries require it?

Although it was announced six years ago, the ETIAS still hasn't been implemented. It was initially supposed to be implemented in 2021, but has since been delayed several times.

The EC says the fee will kick in as soon as the ETIAS is operational, which is expected to be late 2026. For now, Canadians don't have to worry about paying the $32 fee.

When the ETIAS takes effect, only Canadians between 18 and 70 years old will be required to pay the additional fee.

The travel authorization will be linked to your passport, so you'll need one that doesn't expire within the next three months.

Canadians will be asked to provide the following information when filling out the application:

• Personal information including your name(s), surname, date, and place of birth, nationality, home address, parents' first names, email address and phone number
• Travel document details
• Details about your level of education and current occupation
• Details about your intended travel and stay in any of the countries requiring ETIAS
• Details about any criminal convictions, any past travels to war or conflict zones, and whether you have recently been subject of a decision requiring you to leave the territory of any country

You'll be approved if your application form is correct and not flagged as a security risk. According to the EU, most applications are processed within minutes. Applications that take longer to process will receive a decision within four days.

"Please note that this period could be extended by up to 14 days if you are requested to provide additional information or documentation, or up to 30 days if you are invited to an interview," advises the EU. "This is why you should apply for an ETIAS travel authorization well in advance of your planned journey."

Once you obtain ETIAS authorization, it'll be valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

There are 30 countries in Europe that will require visa-exempt travellers to have an ETIAS travel authorization — including Belgium, France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland — while people from 59 countries will need ETIAS approval.

For more information, check out the ETIAS website.