Visa-Free Travel Could Get Costlier in 2027
Travellers planning visa-free holidays in 2027 may face more forms and fees before they even reach the airport. A report by travel-document service Visamundi found that nearly seven in ten applications it handled in 2026 involved people who did not need a visa but still needed an authorisation or other paperwork. These are company figures, not a measure of all international travel.
Some costs have already risen. The UK charges £20 for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), while the US ESTA application now costs $40.62. Europe's Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational since 10 April 2026, collecting biometric data from eligible non-EU visitors at external borders. The separate ETIAS authorisation is not yet accepting applications, and the EU has not announced its exact launch date.
Visa-Free Entry Rules and Costs for 2027
- Report: Visamundi’s 2027 Travel Trends Report; projections based on company data.
- UK ETA: £20; valid two years or until passport expiry; British and Irish citizens exempt.
- US ESTA: $40.62; generally valid two years; apply at least 72 hours before travel.
- ETIAS: Not open; €20 application fee, waived for under-18s and over-70s.
- EES: Biometric registration at borders; no advance application.
- Official websites: UK ETA, US ESTA, EU ETIAS.
Transit can change the paperwork too. Visa-exempt passengers connecting through a UK airport without passing border control generally do not need an ETA; those who pass immigration usually do. Visamundi found 8% of passports it examined had less than six months’ validity remaining, but destinations apply different passport rules. Its average UK ETA processing time of 42 minutes does not guarantee a quick decision.
One trip can involve several separate checks. Someone visiting London before flying to the US may need both an ETA and ESTA, each tied to the passport used to apply. A renewed passport means obtaining new authorisations, even if earlier approvals have not expired. Before buying tickets, check the entry rules for every country you're visiting or passing through. You may pay more if you use a third-party website instead of applying directly through a government site.
