“UK Travel Rules Gone Rogue: EU Confusion Leads to Scam Surge”

“Chaos at the Border: UK Entry Rules Mislead EU Travellers, Fuel Scams”

With the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for European visitors now in effect and the upcoming ETIAS for UK travelers to Europe, scammers are exploiting the confusion with fake websites, prompting travel industry warnings. 

With Europe-bound Brits not yet required to apply for ETIAS until 2026, experts warn of fake websites exploiting the chaos for financial and personal data theft.

UK launches ETA for European visitors

• Starting April 2nd, European travelers must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK, unless they hold a British or Irish passport or qualify for an exemption. The cost is £10 but will rise to £16 on April 9.
• This marks the first of three planned border changes between the UK and European Union (EU).
• Graeme Buck, director of communications of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), explains: “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.”

Future changes for travelers to EU

• The next change is the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), a digital border management program that will replace passport stamps. Under EES, travelers will undergo fingerprinting and facial recognition scans.
• Although delayed multiple times, the EES is now expected to begin rolling out in October 2025. The full rollout will occur in phases over six months.
• Once EES is in place, the EU will launch the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which mirrors the UK’s ETA. British travelers will need ETIAS clearance to enter EU countries.
• However, officials don’t expect this system to go live until late 2026. Even then, there will be a six-month grace period before enforcement begins.
• Despite this, many Brits are already encountering misleading sites offering early access to ETIAS.

Fake ETIAS sites target confused travelers

• Scammers are exploiting the rollout timeline. Unofficial websites posing as ETIAS application portals are tricking UK travelers into handing over personal data and money. 
• Since ETIAS doesn’t exist yet, any website offering this service is fraudulent.
• “People who try to apply for an ETIAS now may be at risk of fraud,” warns ABTA. “There’s a risk of losing money and possibly personal data too.”

Don’t rush to apply—yet

Despite growing anxiety, travelers from the UK can still enter EU countries without an ETIAS. No new paperwork is required this summer or fall. Officials stress that no action is needed right now.

Buck reinforces this message: “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… As the changes affecting UK travellers start to come in towards the end of the year, ABTA and our members will be on hand to support travellers.”

How to stay safe online

To avoid scams, travelers should:

• Ignore unsolicited emails or ads promoting ETIAS.
• Avoid unofficial travel websites that charge high fees or request unusual personal details.
• Bookmark and use the official EU site once ETIAS becomes active.
• Report suspicious activity to travel authorities or consumer protection agencies.

Stay smart, stay safe

• As new travel authorisation systems like the UK’s ETA and the EU’s upcoming ETIAS reshape border entry rules, clarity and caution are more important than ever.
• While only European visitors to the UK currently need to act, travelers to Europe should remain alert—not to red tape, but to rising scams exploiting the confusion. 
• The ETIAS system won’t go live until late 2026, yet fraudulent websites already prey on unaware travellers.
• As change looms, one constant remains: informed travel is safer travel. Bookmark official sources, ignore unofficial shortcuts, and keep your passport—and your data—protected.