Collection and transfer of the payments of application fees for travel authorisations under ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation Syste...

The European Commission, through DG HOME - Migration and Home Affairs, has issued a call for tenders identified as EC-HOME/2025/CPN-CC/0014. The purpose of this call is to select a payment service provider (PSP) to provide, host, operate, and maintain a payment gateway for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). This gateway will facilitate the collection of application fees from travelers applying for ETIAS authorization. The selected contractor will manage the payment processing, transfer collected funds weekly to the Commission, and generate weekly reports related to the transactions.

The total estimated value of the contract is €150,000,000, reflecting the high transaction volumes expected from the system's operation. The maximum duration of the contract is 144 months, with a two-stage application process that begins with requests to participate, followed by full tender submissions. The evaluation criteria for bidders will weigh technical quality at 40% and price at 60%, emphasizing the importance of both quality and cost-effectiveness.

Submissions must be made electronically by December 26, 2025, at 16:00 CET, through the European Commission's Funding and Tenders Portal. This opportunity is specifically directed at larger companies with established operational capacities, as it is noted to be unsuitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The procedure is classified as a competitive one with negotiation, and bidders should be prepared to handle the complexities associated with implementing and maintaining high-security payment systems.

The core responsibilities of the contractor will include processing ETIAS fee payments through the payment gateway, ensuring secure fee collection, and complying with any additional requirements outlined in the tender documents. All interested parties must ensure that they meet the necessary eligibility criteria and are capable of fulfilling the technical specifications of the tender. The award method will prioritize the best price-quality ratio, and interested bidders should consult the details provided in the tender documents for comprehensive information regarding submission requirements and guidelines.

The European Commission, DG HOME Migration and Home Affairs, has published a call for tenders with procedure identifier EC-HOME/2025/CPN-CC/0014. The call, titled "Collection and transfer of the payments of application fees for travel authorisations under ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)", seeks to identify and select a payment service provider (PSP) to provide, host, operate, and maintain a payment gateway for applicants to pay the ETIAS application fee, collect the fees, and transfer them to the Contracting Authority. The TED reference for this call is 226/2025 778381-2025.

The services required include:
1. Processing ETIAS fee payments through the payment gateway, redirecting applicants from the official ETIAS website or mobile application.
2. Collecting application fees on behalf of the Contracting Authority.
3. Transferring the collected amount weekly from the contractor’s bank account to the Contracting Authority’s bank account as net pay-outs.
4. Providing weekly reports to the Contracting Authority.
5. Performing any additional tasks necessary to support the fulfillment of the aforementioned responsibilities.

This is a competitive procedure with negotiation. The estimated total value of the tender is 150,000,000 EUR. The nature of the contract is for services, and the maximum contract duration is 144 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. There is no framework agreement.

Key milestones include:
TED publication date: 24/11/2025
Deadline for receipt of requests to participate: 26/12/2025 16:00 Europe/Brussels

The following documents are available for download:
ENEC-HOME2025CPN-CC0014 Invitation to submit a request to participate, published on 24/11/2025, Version 1.
ENEC-HOME2025CPN-CC0014 ANNEX A1 Tender specs part 1 admin Tender specifications adm.part (requests to participate), published on 24/11/2025, Version 1.
ENEC-HOME2025CPN-CC0014 ANNEX A2 Tender specs part 2 techn Technical specifications (requests to participate), published on 24/11/2025, Version 1.
ENEC-HOME2025CPN-CC0014 ANNEX A3 B6 - Fin Offer Form protected Financial offer form (requests to participate), published on 24/11/2025, Version 1.
ENEC-HOME2025CPN-CC0014 ANNEX A4 Declaration on Honour Declaration on honour (requests to participate), published on 24/11/2025, Version 1.
ENEC-HOME2025CPN-CC0014 ANNEX A5 Draft Service Concession Contract Draft contract (requests to participate), published on 24/11/2025, Version 1.
ENEC-HOME2025CPN-CC0014 ANNEXES B3, B4, B5.1, B5.2, B7.1, B7.2 in Word format Tender specifications adm.part (requests to participate), published on 24/11/2025, Version 1.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQ) and their answers are:
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Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal? Depending on the type or step of procedure, you can find the submissions in one of these sections: In ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to.
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In summary, this tender opportunity is for selecting a payment service provider to manage the payment gateway for ETIAS application fees. The selected provider will be responsible for processing payments, collecting fees, transferring funds to the European Commission, and providing weekly reports. The tender is a competitive procedure with negotiation, and the contract could be worth up to 150 million EUR over 12 years. Interested parties must submit their requests to participate electronically by December 26, 2025. The European Commission is looking for a reliable and efficient PSP to handle the financial transactions related to the ETIAS program.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant type is a payment service provider (PSP).

Funding Type: This is a call for tenders, specifically a service contract.

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. It is open to interpretation based on the applicant's ability to fulfill the requirements.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but given that it is an EU funding opportunity related to ETIAS, it is likely open to entities within the EU and possibly EEA countries. Further clarification would be needed from the tender documents.

Target Sector: The target sector is finance, specifically payment processing and treasury services.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the context implies the European Union due to the ETIAS system.

Project Stage: The project is at the service provision stage, requiring a provider to host, operate, and maintain a payment gateway.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the tender is 150,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders.

Nature of Support: The beneficiary will receive money in exchange for providing services.

Application Stages: The procedure type is a competitive procedure with negotiation, suggesting multiple stages. First, a request to participate must be submitted. The number of stages is not explicitly defined but implies at least two: a request to participate and a full tender submission.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The need for co-funding is not explicitly mentioned.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders, EC-HOME/2025/CPN-CC/0014, issued by the European Commission, DG HOME - Migration and Home Affairs, for the selection of a payment service provider (PSP). The selected PSP will be responsible for providing, hosting, operating, and maintaining a payment gateway for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). This gateway will enable applicants to pay the ETIAS application fee. The PSP will also be responsible for collecting these fees on behalf of the Contracting Authority, transferring the collected amounts to the Contracting Authority's bank account on a weekly basis, providing weekly reports, and performing any additional tasks necessary to support these responsibilities. The procedure is a competitive one with negotiation, and submissions must be sent electronically. The estimated total value of the tender is 150,000,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 144 months. The TED publication date is 24/11/2025, and the deadline for receipt of requests to participate is 26/12/2025 at 16:00 Europe/Brussels time. The tender documents include an invitation to submit a request to participate, tender specifications (administrative and technical parts), a financial offer form, a declaration on honor, a draft service concession contract, and annexes in Word format. The tender is related to treasury services, with the main classification (CPV) code 66600000. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio.