Travel to Europe: Canadians will soon have to pay fees to travel

Canadians wishing to visit Europe will, starting this year, have to pay additional fees to continue to travel to the European Union without a visa.

Travel to Europe: Canadians will soon have to pay fees to travel

Canadians wishing to visit Europe will, starting this year, have to pay additional fees to continue to travel to the European Union without a visa.

The European Union (EU) will therefore introduce, from November 2023, an electronic travel authorization: the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), as indicated on the official website.

ETIAS will be mandatory for visitors from nearly 60 countries, including Canada and the United States, who want to travel within the Schengen area and candidate countries, by air, land or sea.

To obtain this visa exemption valid for three years, the tourists concerned will have to pay 7 €, or nearly 10 $ CAD. Travelers under the age of 18, however, will not have to pay this fee.

ETIAS will exempt tourists for short stays of up to 90 days, for leisure or business only. People wishing to work or study will still need a visa.

By imposing a travel permit, the European Union wants to "allow travelers from these countries to continue to travel without a visa, while improving border management and security in Europe", can we read on the site.

The main objective being to improve security in the region, since this implies a security check on arrival in the EU.

Tourists will then be able to travel within the countries of the Schengen area, and will be able to enter and leave as long as the travel authorization is valid.

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