More than 150 fake or misleading websites are charging Americans money for a European travel authorization program that has not launched and isn’t accepting applications, according to a warning cited from The Guardian and travel experts.
The program, called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), is not currently operating. The European Union has said it will announce a specific launch date several months in advance. Until then, there is no legitimate reason for anyone to pay for it.
Bobby Laurie, a Pennsylvania-based travel expert and former flight attendant, told Fox News Digital that scam sites are deliberately built to look official.
“These scam websites are set up to look like official government websites,” Laurie said.
Laurie said the clearest red flag is any request for payment tied to ETIAS right now.
“The most important thing to remember right now is the program has not started,” he said. “So there’s no reason to pay a fee, period.”
The EU itself has flagged the risk, warning travelers about commercial intermediaries that pose as the official application channel, charge excessive fees, or misuse personal and financial information submitted by applicants.
When ETIAS does go live, legitimate third parties will be permitted to file applications on travelers’ behalf. Laurie noted that travelers will also be able to apply directly through the official EU website once the system opens.
What to Do Before ETIAS Launches
Laurie recommended that Americans traveling to Europe before ETIAS takes effect check the official entry requirements for every country on their itinerary, especially when connecting through nations with their own separate rules.
Anyone who has already handed over payment information to a suspicious site should contact their credit card company immediately, Laurie said. He also advised watching for fraudulent charges and considering identity monitoring if a passport number or other sensitive personal data was submitted.
“You don’t know where that information is going to end up,” Laurie said.
Laurie’s broader advice: slow down. Scammers are counting on travelers rushing through online searches instead of verifying sources.
“They’re just banking on you not reading and trying to do something in a hurry,” he said.
Once implemented, ETIAS will be required for certain visa-exempt travelers entering participating European countries, but the EU has confirmed it is not currently accepting applications of any kind.
