With this week's launch of the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, British travellers have been warned about new scams targeting them. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has warned of fake websites misleading travellers, especially those planning trips to Europe. It said that UK travellers who try to apply for a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)now could be at risk of fraud as it won't come into effect until 2026. 

Although ETA is now required for European visitors to the UK, UK citizens do not need any additional documentation to travel to Europe. The ETIAS, a similar system, won't become mandatory until at least 2026. The ABTA added that the ETIAS won't be put in place until the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully implemented.  The EES is set to be a new digital system expected to start from October 2025 for non-EU passports where passports won't be stamped any more and will be replaced with an automated IT system taking fingerprints and facial recognition.

Scammers are currently taking advantage of travellers' confusion concerning the visa changes between the UK and the EU, with many websites falsely claiming that ETIAS is already needed.

When the ETIAS is eventually introduced, it will only be available through the official EU website, and travellers should avoid applying through unofficial sites to prevent scams.

There has also been a recent increase in the number of fake websites for European travellers applying for the ETA to enter the UK. 

EU travellers have reported fraudulent websites mimicking the official UK government and tricking people into paying fees for fake ETAs. 

Graeme Buck, Director of Communications at The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), warned: "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.

“With two further changes planned, the situation may not seem simple. 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.”

To prevent falling victim to such scams, always apply through the official Government website and check the URL to make sure it is an official domain and check the fee amount. Watch out for sponsored ads and websites that overuse graphics that look official to appear credible.