The consumer champion team at Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert.com has issued an urgent alert to British holidaymakers, cautioning them not to be duped by online scams selling fake European visa waivers.
What is the ETIAS and why is it needed?
Following the UK's departure from the European Union, new travel rules are being phased in. UK nationals will soon require a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) visa waiver to enter 30 European countries within the Schengen Area.
This is not a visa, but a travel authorisation for short stays. The official cost will be €20 per person, and once approved, it will be valid for three years, permitting stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
The crucial warning over fake websites
MoneySavingExpert's central warning is that the ETIAS system is not yet operational and is not expected to launch until at least October 2026. Despite this, the team has identified what it calls "shyster firms" setting up online to charge unsuspecting travellers for a service that cannot yet be provided.
"Beware online shyster firms saying get a European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) visa waiver – you don't need it yet," the MSE alert states. "Any firm offering to sell or fast-track an ETIAS for you is a fake. Don't be taken in!"
The team emphasises that the official application system is not live, and any website currently taking payments is fraudulent.
Understanding the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
This warning comes in the wake of the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) going live last year. The EES is a digital border control system that replaces manual passport stamping for non-EU travellers, which now includes UK passport holders.
Under EES, on first entry into the Schengen Area, travellers must provide fingerprints and a facial photograph at a border kiosk or booth. This data, along with entry and exit dates and location, is stored for three years. While this may add some time to border processing initially, it is designed to streamline future travel.
The 30 Schengen countries where both ETIAS and EES will apply are:
- Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
It is important to note that the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus are not in the Schengen Area, so the EES and the future ETIAS do not apply for travel to these destinations.
How to stay protected
Holidaymakers planning trips to Europe should be vigilant. No legitimate company can currently process an ETIAS application. The official system will be accessible via EU government websites when it launches later this year. Until an official announcement is made, travellers should ignore any site offering this service and report suspected scams to authorities.
The MSE warning serves as a critical reminder for consumers to always use official government channels for travel documentation and to be sceptical of third-party sites offering expedited services for systems that are not yet active.
