Fake ETIAS websites: don't pay for a permit that doesn't exist yet
You search “ETIAS” on Google because you heard you'll need it to enter Europe, and several polished-looking sites show up, complete with an EU flag and a payment form ready to go. The problem here is worse than with other paperwork: ETIAS doesn't exist yet. The EU has been postponing it since 2023, and as of September 2026 there's still no confirmed launch date. Any site charging you for ETIAS today is charging you for something that can't be processed anywhere.
How this scam works
The real process hasn't opened yet
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is the online authorization the EU will require from travelers who currently enter visa-free. It was first announced for 2023, has been delayed repeatedly, and as of late 2026 still has no officially confirmed date. The EU will announce the exact start date several months in advance. If it hasn't started, no one can legitimately be charging you for the real thing.
Frontex has already identified over 60 fake sites
The EU's border agency, Frontex, has flagged more than 100 unofficial websites already advertising ETIAS information, and over 60 of them are directly charging for an authorization that doesn't exist yet. They copy the look of a government portal almost perfectly.
After the first charge, they keep billing your card
It's not just a one-time overcharge: once these sites have your card details on file, they often keep generating additional charges after the initial payment, without you authorizing anything again.
How to identify the official site (once it exists)
The only real domain will be travel-europe.europa.eu
Every official EU address uses the .europa.eu domain. The official ETIAS portal is travel-europe.europa.eu. Any .com, .org, .net, or similar site offering to process it today is not the government.
The future official fee is 20 euros
Once ETIAS actually launches, the cost will be 20 euros. Any higher amount, charged today or after launch, is a middleman's markup or an outright scam.
If you already paid, act fast with your bank
If you already paid one of these sites, contact your bank or card issuer to request a chargeback as soon as possible, and check your following statements for any additional charges you didn't authorize.
A simpler way to check your trip
If you already paid for something related to ETIAS, ESTA, or an online visa and it left you with doubts, upload the receipt to AuditorTravel: in seconds it tells you, with a simple traffic light (🟢 🟡 🔴), if there's something worth checking before you travel.
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AuditorTravel is an automated information tool; use it as a guide. The final decision is always yours.