ETIAS is not live yet: how to spot fake sites before you pay

Searching for "ETIAS" right now can lead you to a website that looks official, asks for your passport details and takes a payment. The problem: nobody can issue an ETIAS today, because the system has not opened. Yahoo Travel wrote about the wave of copycat sites on November 1, 2026. Here is what is confirmed and how to stay safe.

What ETIAS is and where it stands

ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System. According to the official EU ETIAS website, it will be a travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers who visit 30 European countries. It is a pre-screening tool, not a visa. Yahoo Travel adds that it will cover travelers from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

The official page states plainly that ETIAS is currently not in operation and that no applications for travel authorizations are collected at this point. The European Union says it will announce the start date several months before the launch.

No launch date

The launch has been pushed back several times since its original 2021 start date. Yahoo Travel reports that the latest target, the last quarter of 2026, was quietly removed from the official website in July, and that many observers now expect 2027. ABTA, the UK travel association, says there is no longer an official launch date. The delay is tied to the rollout of the separate Entry/Exit System (EES), which is a border registration system for biometric data. ETIAS is a different thing: a pre-travel authorization.

Why the scam works

The missing launch date leaves a gap that copycat sites fill. According to ABTA, European authorities have already identified more than 150 websites offering ETIAS. ABTA's message to its members is direct: any website currently asking for payment for an ETIAS authorization is a scam.

The official fee is EUR 20 per application. Yahoo Travel reports that some fake sites allegedly charge between EUR 50 and EUR 178. Because no one can legitimately collect the EUR 20 yet, any payment today goes to a middleman at best and a scammer at worst.

Red flags

• Sponsored search results and ads that promise ETIAS.
• Pages that imitate EU branding.
• Promises of "immediate approval".
• A fee above EUR 20.
• Any site that accepts applications now.

What to do

If you are flying to Spain, France or Italy today, you do not need ETIAS. When it opens, there will be a single official website and app. Until then, the only trusted source is travel-europe.europa.eu/etias. Bookmark it and ignore ads, emails and social posts that say otherwise.

If you already paid a site or entered your passport details, contact your bank or card provider promptly and report the fraud through your national fraud-reporting service.

Planning a trip to Europe? Compare dates in the HotTrip flight search, see when to book cheap flights, keep your e-ticket in order and read what travel insurance for trips abroad covers.

Frequently asked questions

Do US citizens need ETIAS right now?

No. According to the official EU website, ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are collected.

When will ETIAS start?

There is no confirmed date. The EU says it will announce the start several months before the launch.

How much will ETIAS cost?

The official fee shown on the EU website is EUR 20 per application. Anything above that on a website is not the official fee.

Is ETIAS the same as the Entry/Exit System?

No. EES is a border registration system for biometric data. ETIAS is a pre-travel authorization.

What if I already paid a fake site?

Contact your bank or card provider as soon as possible and report the fraud through your national fraud-reporting service.

Cover: photo by Jakub Zerdzicki on Pexels