Travelers Warned Against Fake Etias Visa Waiver Sites

Abta and the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders have issued warnings to British and other non-EU citizens against applying for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) visa waiver. The official implementation of the system remains suspended, yet over 150 unofficial websites are currently promoting the service.

These third-party sites pose significant risks of identity theft, data protection breaches, and extortionate fees. The official system will eventually cost 20 euros for most adults, but the application portal is not yet live. The postponement of Etias follows persistent software failures with the Entry-Exit System (EES), specifically at entry points in France.

Travelers are urged to avoid these scams to prevent financial loss. Luke Petherbridge of Abta cautioned that using these sites puts personal data at risk, while the travel association emphasized that the system should remain on hold until the EES is fully operational.