New National Park Nonresident Fee: What It Means and How IITA Is Responding

The Department of the Interior (DOI) announced a new international visitor / nonresident surcharge for entry to 11 major U.S. National Parks beginning January 1, 2026. Since the announcement, we’ve heard from operators, DMOs, and partners across the globe who are deeply concerned—and, in many cases, already experiencing anxiety from international consumers.

This blog outlines what we know so far, why the fee poses significant challenges, and what IITA is actively doing to advocate for the inbound travel community. (New updates to this article can be found here.)

What We Know

1. $100 International Visitor Surcharge
   DOI has announced a $100 per-person entrance fee surcharge for international visitors/nonresidents age 16 and older at 11 of America’s top national parks.
   
   The surcharge is in addition to the vehicle or per-person entrance fee.
   
   
2. America the Beautiful Nonresident Annual Pass
   The cost of the annual pass for international visitors/nonresidents will increase to $250.
   Beginning 1/1/26, the Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250) covers:
   
   - One private vehicle and all occupants, including all non-resident fees
   - Two motorcycles and passengers, including non-resident fees
   - The passholder only, at per-person entrance parks
   
   
3. Road-based Commercial Tour CUA Groups
   Clear guidance on how the surcharge will apply to group tours, RBCT CUA permits, and non-commercial entry has not yet been issued, however, initial responses from the National Park Service indicate that the $100 non-resident fee applies to every non-resident visitor age 16+ on commercial road-based tours, in addition to the standard commercial tour vehicle fee. 
   
   Non-resident tour passengers may have the $250 annual pass for entry to multiple parks in lieu of the $100 surcharge, but it will only allow entry for the passholder in that case.
   
   The fee applies based on the date of entry, so tours entering on or after January 1, 2026, are subject to the non-resident fee even if the trip was booked earlier.

Why This Matters

While we generally don’t support fees targeting international visitors, particularly on top of those that have already gone into effect – increase ESTA and I-94 Arrival fees – and the proposed $250 visa integrity fee, the impact these national park surcharges will have on Group Tours is substantial and requires urgent action.

What IITA Is Doing

• We have communicated directly with Interior Secretary Burgum and NPS leadership, requesting an urgent meeting to share industry expertise and present workable solutions.
• We requested a delay in applying the nonresident fee to group tours to allow for a viable solution.
• We are assembling and delivering detailed operational questions and concerns, especially related to group tour impacts.
• We are coordinating closely with national advocacy partners to elevate the economic, competitiveness, and gateway community implications of this fee.
• We are preparing materials for Congressional offices, so they fully understand the consequences for their districts and constituents.
• We are providing you with these talking points so your voices can help reinforce the urgency of this issue.

How You Can Help Right Now

We strongly encourage all members—operators, DMOs, suppliers, and international partners—to send their concerns directly to DOI and NPS officials. Your messages reinforce the operational and economic realities they must consider as they finalize the plan.

Please use these talking points when emailing or calling DOI/NPS. The more they hear from those who manage international travel daily, the better our chances of shaping a workable and fair solution.

We will continue to keep you informed as discussions progress. You can also find up-to-date information on our Trusted Resource Hub page. Please let us know what you’re hearing — whether concerns from clients, feedback from partners, or signals from U.S. officials — so we can keep elevating your voices in our advocacy efforts. Thank you for your rapid engagement and for standing together as we address this critical issue for our industry.

IITA Media Release - International Visitor Entrance Surcharge for National Parks