Photo: Subhashish Panigrahi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travelling got more paperwork in 2026. Europe now fingerprints non-EU visitors at the border, a €20 pre-travel permit is coming, and the US, Japan and Barcelona all raised fees. None of it is going away: every year adds another rule. Here is what changed, what it costs, and how to avoid the worst queues.
The short version
- Europe (EES): first entry takes longer; fingerprints and a photo at the border. Allow 2+ extra hours at busy airports.
- Europe (ETIAS): expected in late 2026, €20, valid 3 years. Not live yet.
- USA: ESTA is now about $40.
- Japan: departure tax tripled to ¥3,000 from July 2026.
The 2026 travel fee table
| Where | What | Cost | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen area | EES biometric registration | Free | Live since 12 Oct 2025; full rollout April 2026 |
| Schengen area | ETIAS travel authorisation | €20 (3 years) | Expected late 2026 |
| USA | ESTA (visa waiver) | About $40 | Live |
| Japan | International tourist (departure) tax | ¥3,000 | From July 2026 (was ¥1,000) |
| Barcelona | Tourist tax per night | Roughly doubled in 2026 | Live; cruise-visitor tax being prepared |
EES: Europe’s new border check
The Entry/Exit System replaced passport stamps for non-EU travellers in 29 Schengen countries. The first time you enter, a border officer or kiosk scans your passport, takes your fingerprints and a photo. After that, it’s quicker. In its first year it recorded almost 230 million entries and exits and refused entry to 80,000 people. The downside is queues: on 13 October 2026, Europe’s airport and airline associations said waits still routinely exceed two hours and can hit five at peak times.
How to beat the queue: fly into smaller airports where you can, avoid Friday and Sunday peaks, use self-service kiosks if offered, and give yourself at least three hours for a connection through a Schengen hub on your first entry.
ETIAS: the €20 permit that comes next
Visitors from visa-free countries (including the US, UK, Canada and Australia) will need an online ETIAS approval before flying to Europe. It is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026, cost €20 and last three years or until your passport expires, with a transition period before it becomes compulsory. Apply only on the official EU site, travel-europe.europa.eu; look-alike sites charge extra.
USA, Japan and the city taxes
- USA: the ESTA fee is now about $40, and a separate $250 “visa integrity fee” was written into US law in 2025 for many visa applicants. If you need a visa, check the State Department site for what you’ll pay.
- Japan: the departure tax is ¥3,000 per person on tickets bought from July 2026. It’s included in your airfare, so compare total prices.
- Barcelona and other hotspots: tourist taxes are added per night at the hotel. In Barcelona they roughly doubled in 2026, and more cities (Venice, Amsterdam) charge their own.
Your pre-trip checklist
- ☐ Check your passport has at least 3 months left after your return from Europe, and 6 months for many other countries.
- ☐ Apply for ESTA or ETIAS only on the official sites: esta.cbp.dhs.gov and travel-europe.europa.eu.
- ☐ Add 2 hours to your first Schengen entry this year.
- ☐ Budget the city tax: ask the hotel whether it’s included.
- ☐ Claw some of it back: the flight, train and hotel codes below can offset part of the new fees.
Trip.com codes to offset the new fees
Trip.com codes for 2026 trips
| Code | What you get | |
|---|---|---|
TRIPFLIGHT26 | Up to US$15 off your first flight booking. New Trip.com users · listed until 31 Dec 2026 | Open Trip.com → |
triptrain5p | 5% off trains, Eurostar and UK coaches (max €20). New Trip.com users · ends 1 Jan 2027 | Open Trip.com → |
| IN APP | 10% off your first hotel booking (new-user coupon, claimed in the Trip.com app). New Trip.com users · only when you pay in USD, SGD or THB | Open Trip.com → |
The hotel coupon only works when you pay in US dollars, Singapore dollars or Thai baht. TRIPFLIGHT26 is listed on Trip.com’s own promo-code page; the other offers come from Trip.com’s affiliate feed. We haven’t tested them at checkout and Trip.com can change them at any time, so check that the total drops before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)?
EES replaced passport stamps for non-EU travellers in 29 Schengen countries. On your first entry, your passport is scanned and your fingerprints and photo are taken. It started on 12 October 2025 and was fully rolled out in April 2026.
When does ETIAS start and how much does it cost?
ETIAS is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026. It will cost €20 and be valid for three years or until your passport expires, with a transition period before it becomes mandatory. Apply only on travel-europe.europa.eu.
How much is Japan's departure tax?
¥3,000 per person for tickets bought from July 2026, up from ¥1,000. It is usually included in the airfare.
How long are EES queues at European airports?
On 13 October 2026, Europe's airport and airline associations said waits routinely exceed two hours and can reach five hours at peak times at some airports.
Sources: The Local (13 Oct 2026, ACI Europe and A4E), JNTO / japan.travel, EU ETIAS guidance and 2026 coverage, US CBP, Barcelona tourist-tax coverage (2026), and Trip.com’s promo-code page. Photo from Wikimedia Commons. Last checked: 13 October 2026. We may earn a commission from links on this page.
