British travellers heading to Europe have been told not to apply for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). The scheme has no launch date, yet more than 150 websites already claim to sell it.
The warning comes from the travel association ABTA, which says European authorities believe more than 150 ETIAS scam websites and other unofficial sites are already operating. No official application route is open.
“You can’t – and shouldn’t – apply for an [ETIAS] now,” Luke Petherbridge, Abta’s director of public affairs, told The Times.
An Abta official confirmed there is “no official launch date for ETIAS”. Until one is set, holidaymakers do not need to take any action.
One door, many fakes
Petherbridge says there will be only one official site for applications once the system goes live. That site is travel-europe.europa.eu/etias.
According to the EU border agency Frontex, some unofficial sites copy the official website’s layout. Others use convincing, official-looking domain names.
Some also spread false information about who needs an ETIAS. Frontex warned about scam websites long before the scheme was due to start.
The agency lists risks ranging from data protection problems and identity theft to extortionate fees. Some sites may charge far more than the real fee, while others could misuse personal and financial details.
Frontex notes that commercial sites can legitimately apply for waivers on clients’ behalf. The difficulty lies in telling them apart from copycat operators.
Petherbridge cautioned that anyone using these sites would lose money and put their personal data at risk. ABTA had sounded the alarm earlier too.
“People who try to apply for an ETIAS now may be at risk of fraud,” the association warned. “There’s a risk of losing money and possibly personal data too.”
Stuck behind EES
ETIAS was meant to arrive soon after the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) rollout.
ETIAS had been pencilled in for late 2026. Persistent problems after EES went live, including software trouble at French entry points, have left it suspended.
“While [ETIAS] was due to come into force this year, it is now back on hold,” Petherbridge explained. “Abta believes it shouldn’t be brought in until EES is fully operational and working properly.”
Lisa Minot, head of travel at The Sun, made the same link. She noted there is no launch date, and “there won’t be one until EES actually works”.
Minot expects more disruption ahead. “Holidaymakers heading to Europe are facing further chaos in 2027,” she warned.
Queues on pause
EES is up and running, but with a safety valve. Border authorities have been told the EU will not enforce penalties if they suspend the system at entry points when queues build.
Minot argues that EES “has yet to function properly”. Countries can pause checks until the end of the year, she pointed out.
That flexibility meant the travel industry’s worst fears were largely avoided this summer. ABTA surveys found 46% of visitors to Europe reported full checks.
Half of that group waited less than 30 minutes. Just 13% queued for an hour.
€20, three years
Once launched, ETIAS will apply to visa-exempt non-EU nationals. That includes travellers from the UK, US, Australia and Canada.
It will cover short visits to 30 European countries. Spain, France, Italy and Greece are all on the list.
The fee will be €20 (about £17), up from €7. Under-18s and over-70s will not pay, though they still have to apply.
Each authorisation will last up to three years or until the holder’s passport expires. Whichever comes first sets the end date.
Rough year for holidays
Awareness of the new border rules is growing. ABTA research found it rose from 41% in 2024 to 56%.
Mark Tanzer, ABTA chief executive, described a tough year for the sector. He pointed first to the conflict in the Middle East and its effect on fuel supply and prices.
“Closer to home, Europe’s new Entry/Exit System, and climate-related events such as wildfires and extreme heat, have also affected people’s travel plans,” Tanzer added. “Together, this is a lot for an industry to deal with over a short period.”
Minot also flagged confusion over the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which has already launched. Airlines remind all passengers they need one, she noted, even UK travellers flying home who do not.
She warned that ETIAS has “even more potential to cause confusion and chaos”. The two permits will run side by side once the European scheme starts.
Blank calendar
For now, no genuine ETIAS exists to buy. Any money or data handed to a website today does not secure a valid authorisation.
ABTA wants the EU to hold off until EES is fully operational. The current allowance for countries to pause EES checks runs until the end of the year.
The EU has not yet set a launch date for ETIAS. When it does, applications will go through a single official site.