LONDON – Travellers planning trips to Europe have been issued fresh warning after the European Union’s long-delayed ETIAS travel authorisation missed its previously expected 2026 launch window, while more than 150 websites are reportedly offering applications for a system that is not yet operational.
The warning raised concerns about holidaymakers losing money or exposing sensitive passport information to potentially fraudulent operators before the new travel requirement comes into force. European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) still has no confirmed launch date, despite earlier expectations that it would begin operating in the final quarter of this year.
ABTA, the British travel association, has warned travellers against attempting to purchase authorisations through unofficial websites.
The growing number of websites claiming to sell ETIAS authorisations has become a major concern for travellers and travel authorities. More than 150 websites are reportedly advertising application services even though the official EU system is not accepting applications. Some allegedly charge between €50 and €178, significantly exceeding the expected official fee of €20.
Using an unofficial platform could leave travellers out of pocket without obtaining a valid authorisation. There are also concerns that personal information, payment details and passport data could be collected or misused.
Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, has previously identified unofficial websites offering ETIAS-related services. ABTA has also warned travellers about the risks associated with third-party platforms.
Travellers should be particularly cautious of sponsored search results, websites imitating EU branding and services promising immediate approval. The official European Union ETIAS website is travel-europe.europa.eu/etias.
The latest setback follows years of postponements affecting the planned European travel authorisation system. ETIAS had been expected to launch during the final three months of 2026, but that target was subsequently withdrawn, according to the supplied information.
Luke Petherbridge, ABTA’s director of public affairs, has highlighted the absence of an official launch date and called for the European Union to ensure that its separate Entry/Exit System is operating effectively before introducing ETIAS.
EU’s official website confirms that ETIAS is not operational and that applications are not currently being collected. Authorities are expected to announce the launch date several months before implementation. Although some reports suggest the scheme could begin in 2027, travellers should not treat that possibility as a confirmed deadline.
Once introduced, ETIAS will apply to eligible travellers from visa-exempt countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia, visiting participating European destinations for short stays. The system is intended to cover approximately 30 European countries, with visits generally limited to 90 days within any 180-day period.
ETIAS is not a traditional visa. Instead, it will operate as an electronic pre-travel authorisation, similar in concept to the United States’ ESTA system. Approved authorisations will be linked to travellers’ passports.
British citizens will generally need the authorisation for eligible trips once the system becomes operational. Certain people covered by the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement may qualify for exemptions, depending on their circumstances.
EU citizens and travellers who require a visa will generally not fall under the standard ETIAS requirement. Some qualifying residence-permit holders and other eligible categories may also be exempt.
The anticipated ETIAS application fee is €20, approximately £17. The charge was previously set at €7 before being increased in July 2025, according to the supplied information. Applicants younger than 18 and those older than 70 are expected to be exempt from the fee, although they will generally still need authorisation if they fall within the scheme’s scope.
An approved authorisation is expected to remain valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. It will allow multiple trips during its validity period, provided the traveller continues to meet the applicable entry conditions.
Most applications are expected to be processed within minutes, although cases requiring additional checks may take several days or longer. An approved ETIAS will not guarantee entry into Europe. Border authorities will retain the power to determine whether a traveller meets the conditions for admission.
The delay has also drawn attention to the EU’s separate Entry/Exit System, which has introduced additional digital checks for eligible non-EU visitors.
EES became fully operational in April 2026, according to the supplied information. It records travellers’ entries and exits at participating European borders and uses biometric information, including facial images and fingerprints where applicable. The system replaces traditional passport stamping for covered travellers.
Pakistan plans Strict Identity Checks for Foreign SIMs, eSIM Users
ETIAS serves a different purpose: it will require eligible visa-exempt visitors to obtain travel authorisation before departure. EES rollout has presented practical challenges at some border crossings, including concerns about longer queues and processing times. These difficulties have fuelled questions about the readiness of Europe’s new travel systems, although the precise relationship between EES problems and the ETIAS launch timetable should not be assumed without official confirmation.
For the moment, travellers do not need to apply for ETIAS or pay the expected application fee because the official system is not accepting applications.
Holidaymakers should monitor announcements from the European Union, verify information through the official website and avoid platforms claiming to provide immediate approval.
British travellers planning European holidays should also check government travel advice before departure and confirm whether any new requirements apply to their particular circumstances.