Frontex Warns of Over 100 Fake ETIAS Websites Charging Excessive Fees

Frontex, the European Union's Border and Coast Guard Agency, has identified over 100 fraudulent websites posing as official ETIAS application portals. These sites are currently charging travellers between €50 and €178 for an application to a system that is not yet operational. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) has not launched and cannot accept any legitimate applications. Any payments made to these unofficial sites are for a non-existent service and do not result in a valid travel authorisation.

The official ETIAS fee, when the system eventually launches, will be €7 per person. This official fee is significantly lower than the amounts demanded by scam sites, with exemptions for those under 18 and over 70, who will not be charged. The European Commission's official ETIAS page explicitly states that the system is "currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorizations are collected at this point." Travellers should be aware there is no early access, priority registration, or pre-approval programme available.

The initial launch target of the last quarter of 2026 was quietly removed from the official website in July 2026. A new realistic launch date is now expected sometime in 2027, though no official confirmation has been provided. When ETIAS becomes operational, it will apply to all visa-exempt non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss nationals travelling to the Schengen Area. This includes citizens from countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Citizens of EU member states, EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), and Switzerland are exempt from ETIAS requirements. Holders of an existing EU visa or residence permit also do not need an ETIAS authorisation. Entry requirements for affected nationalities currently remain unchanged, requiring only a valid passport for travel to Europe. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a separate, operational system that launched in April 2026, which should not be confused with ETIAS.

The only official application portal will be found on travel-europe.europa.eu/etias, along with an official mobile application once launched. Frontex Director Francois Laruelle publicly advised caution regarding websites claiming to accept ETIAS applications. Reports of scam sites can be made to Action Fraud in the UK or the European Consumer Centre for EU-wide issues. It is crucial for travellers to verify information through official sources before making any payments or providing personal data.