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Americans planning trips to Europe should not pay any website that offers to get them Europe’s new ETIAS travel permit. The system is not open, and no applications are being accepted.
“The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorisations are collected at this point,” the European Union says in an official notice. The EU says it will announce the specific start date several months before launch, and applications will be accepted only through the official EU website or app once the system goes live.
ETIAS will be a travel authorization, not a visa, for visa-exempt visitors, including Americans, heading to most European countries.
Even so, websites built to look like official government pages are already offering ETIAS applications and charging fees. The biggest red flag is any site asking for payment now: since the program has not started, there is no legitimate fee to pay. The EU has also warned of possible abuse by commercial intermediaries, including sites made to appear to be the official application channel, with risks of excessive charges and misuse of personal and financial information.
Once ETIAS launches, legitimate third parties will be allowed to submit applications on behalf of travelers, and travelers will also be able to apply themselves on the official site. Until then, any paid offer is premature at best.
“The most important thing to remember right now is the program has not started,” Bobby Laurie, a Pennsylvania-based travel advisor and former flight attendant, told Fox News. “So there’s no reason to pay a fee, period.”
For trips before ETIAS takes effect, check the entry requirements for each country on the itinerary, including any connection countries. Travelers who already gave payment details to a suspicious site should contact their credit card company, watch for fraudulent charges, and consider identity monitoring if they shared passport or other sensitive information.
JBizNews Desk | New York
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