US plans to levy fees on European Union tourists and business travellers visiting the US have come under fire in Brussels and could prompt the EU to enact its own visa-like system for US travellers, according to diplomats.

A bill making its way through Congress would require all visitors travelling under the visa-waiver programme – in which 22 of the EU’s 27 member states participate – to pay up to $15 and register their visit at least three days before departure.