Americans booking European vacations are running into websites that charge for an EU travel authorization that cannot be obtained yet. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System, known as ETIAS, is not operating and is not taking applications, according to European Union guidance.
The EU has said it will announce a firm launch date several months before the program starts. Once it is running, ETIAS will be required for certain visa-exempt travelers entering participating European countries.
Upward of 150 outside sites pitching ETIAS help or information have reportedly surfaced in the meantime. Bobby Laurie, a Pennsylvania-based travel expert and former flight attendant, said some are built to mimic official government pages and catch travelers searching online for European entry rules.
They're just banking on you not reading and trying to do something in a hurry,
Bobby Laurie, travel expert and former flight attendant
The clearest red flag right now is any demand for payment, Laurie said. Because the program has not begun, he said, travelers have no reason to pay a fee at all.
EU officials have separately cautioned about commercial intermediaries that may present themselves as the official application channel. The bloc also flagged excessive fees and the possible misuse of travelers' personal or financial data.
After ETIAS launches, legitimate third parties will be permitted to file applications for travelers. Laurie noted that people will also be able to apply on their own through the official EU website.
Anyone who has already handed payment details to a questionable site should call their credit card company, Laurie said. He also advised watching for fraudulent charges and considering identity monitoring if a passport number or other sensitive information was shared.
Until the system goes live, Laurie recommended checking the official entry requirements of every country on an itinerary, especially when connecting through nations with their own rules. He urged travelers to slow down during online searches and confirm they are on official government sources.
