British travellers have been warned about new scams exploiting confusion over post-Brexit travel rules. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said fake websites are misleading travellers, particularly those planning trips to Europe.
Although the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system launched this week for European visitors to Britain, UK citizens do not need any additional documentation to travel to Europe. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will not be mandatory until at least 2026, but scammers are already charging fees for fake applications.
ABTA warned that travellers applying for ETIAS now risk fraud, as the system will not be introduced until the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully implemented, expected from October 2025. The EES will replace passport stamps with an automated system using fingerprints and facial recognition.
Graeme Buck, ABTA's Director of Communications, said: 'With three new changes coming in over the next couple of years, we’re keen that people understand what today’s news means for them. In short, the only thing to act on now is for European visitors to the UK to apply for an ETA. Nothing will be changing for UK travellers going to Europe this summer.'
There has also been a rise in fake websites targeting EU travellers applying for the UK ETA, mimicking the official government site. To avoid scams, travellers should always apply through the official Government website, check the URL, and be wary of sponsored ads or sites using official-looking graphics.
