By Farah Mokrani

Copyright euroweeklynews

British pensioners planning a getaway to Spain have just been handed a reason to smile – while younger travellers may not be quite so lucky. From 2026, new EU travel rules will see Brits charged to enter Europe, but those over 70 will be spared the fee.

What are the new rules?

The changes come under the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), a scheme that will soon apply to UK passport holders visiting Spain and 28 other European destinations.

From late 2026, travellers will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation before boarding flights or ferries. Once approved, the pass allows visitors to move freely across participating countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

But here’s the catch: each application will come with a €20 charge. That’s a sharp jump from the €7 originally proposed – a fee Brussels now says needs to be higher to cover the costs of post-Covid debt repayments and added technical features.

The only people who won’t pay? Children under 18 and pensioners aged 70 and above. For everyone else, the new fee could add up quickly. A family of four, for example, will see an extra €80 slapped onto the price of their holiday.

Why has the fee gone up?

EU officials argue that the rise is necessary to keep the scheme sustainable, pointing out that other global travel authorisation systems charge more. Still, the move is bound to sting for regular holidaymakers, especially as many households already face rising costs.

Meanwhile, the roll-out of ETIAS has been plagued by delays. Originally expected years ago, the system is now scheduled to launch in the final quarter of 2026, with a grace period running into 2027. The European Commission insists most applications will be approved within minutes, but warns that some could face rejection.

Applications could be declined for reasons ranging from invalid passports and incomplete forms to “risk alerts” flagged by European security databases. Travellers who are refused will have the right to appeal.

Once granted, ETIAS authorisation will be valid for three years, after which a new application – and another €20 – will be required.

More checks for Brits after Brexit

The ETIAS isn’t the only new hurdle for UK travellers. From October this year, Spain will also begin rolling out the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES). This will replace the traditional passport stamp with biometric checks, requiring Brits to provide fingerprints and a photo at the border.

The idea, according to Brussels, is to make border crossings quicker, safer and more efficient in the long term. But concerns remain about whether airports and ports can handle the changes smoothly, particularly during peak holiday seasons.

And there’s another issue: awareness. A recent survey by Co-op Insurance found that six in ten Brits had never even heard of ETIAS, raising fears that many travellers could be caught out by the new requirements.

Spain keen to keep pensioners coming back

For Spain, one of Britain’s favourite holiday spots, the exemption for over-70s is a smart move. Retirees make up a large slice of repeat visitors, often staying for longer periods and spending more locally. By scrapping the fee for them, Spain is signalling it doesn’t want to risk putting off this key group of tourists.

Cabinet Minister Antonio Leitao Amaro described the revised EU rules as aiming to “strike the right balance – neither with doors wide open to immigrants, nor closed,” but for many Brits the balance comes down to extra paperwork and added cost.

With over 16 million UK travellers heading to Spain every year, the changes will inevitably affect millions of households. For now, families may have to accept that a simple week in the sun could become just that little bit pricier – while grandparents enjoy free entry.