Europe’s new travel authorization is already generating a cottage industry of copycat websites, and it hasn’t even opened yet. Travelers searching for “ETIAS” can land on pages that look official, ask for passport details and take a payment. The trouble is that nobody can issue a genuine ETIAS right now.
The warnings have grown louder this autumn. More than 150 websites are advertising services to obtain the permit, even though the system is delayed.[1] Here’s what’s going on, why the confusion exists, and how to avoid paying for something that doesn’t exist.
What ETIAS Is, and Why It Isn’t Live
ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. Once operational, it will require travelers from visa-exempt countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, to get electronic authorization before visiting participating European destinations.[1] It’s designed as a pre-screening tool, not a visa.
Despite the headlines, the system isn’t running. The official EU page says ETIAS is currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorizations are collected at this point.[2] In practical terms, a traveler heading to Spain, France or Italy today doesn’t need it.
A Moving Launch Date Created the Opening
ETIAS has been postponed repeatedly. It was delayed again and again after an original 2021 start date, and the latest target of the final quarter of 2026 was quietly removed from the official website in July.[3] Many observers now expect 2027, though no date has been confirmed.
That uncertainty matters. ABTA’s director of public affairs, Luke Petherbridge, has said there is no longer an official launch date for ETIAS.[4] One industry write-up quotes him saying the missing date creates exactly the kind of confusion scammers thrive on. The EU has reportedly promised several months’ notice before launch.[5]
More Than 150 Websites Are Already Selling It
The scale of the problem is striking. According to ABTA, European authorities have already identified more than 150 websites offering ETIAS.[3] ABTA’s message to its members is blunt: any website currently requesting payment for an ETIAS authorisation is a scam.[4]
This isn’t an entirely new issue. Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, earlier said it had identified over 100 unofficial websites providing information on ETIAS to non-EU travelers.[6] The agency added that some are run by legitimate businesses, while others may be less trustworthy.[6] The count has since grown.
What the Fake Sites Charge
The real fee is modest. The original legislation set the fee at €7, but the European Commission raised it to €20 per application in July 2025.[7] Applicants younger than 18 and older than 70 are expected to be exempt from the fee, though they generally still need authorization.[8]
Copycat sites ask for far more. Some allegedly charge between €50 and €178, well above the expected official fee.[8] Remember also that no one can legitimately collect the €20 yet, so any payment today is going to a middleman at best and a scammer at worst.
The Entry/Exit System Added to the Confusion
ETIAS has a similar-sounding sibling. The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) was due to launch on 12 October 2025, with a six-month rollout period.[9] Because the two are often reported together, plenty of travelers assume they need both.
They don’t. EES is a border registration system for biometric data, while ETIAS is a pre-travel authorization. ABTA and the EU have warned that scammers are taking advantage of this mix-up. The delay to ETIAS is itself tied to EES: the launch date was removed because of problems and delays during the EES rollout, with authorities prioritising its stabilisation.[4]
How Fake ETIAS Sites Try to Look Real
These pages are built to look trustworthy. Frontex has noted that scammers use legitimate-looking sites that resemble real application portals, sometimes with official-looking domain names and copyrighted EU materials.[6] Travelers searching quickly on a phone can easily be fooled.
Several red flags come up repeatedly in the warnings. Be cautious of sponsored search results, sites imitating EU branding and services promising immediate approval.[8] Fees above €20 and any site accepting applications now are also giveaways, since the official system hasn’t opened.
How to Protect Yourself Before You Book or Pay
The simplest rule is to do nothing for now. The only official source is travel-europe.europa.eu/etias, and when ETIAS opens there will be a single official website and app.[3] Bookmark it, then ignore ads, emails and social posts that say otherwise.
ABTA’s advice is that until the EU announces a launch, travelers shouldn’t pay sites claiming to issue the authorization or submit passport details through ads, emails or third-party pages.[10] If you’ve already paid or shared your details, contact your bank or card provider promptly. UK travelers can also report fraud to Action Fraud, while others should use their national fraud-reporting service.
