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FlashFranceOctober 17, 2026

ETIAS Delayed Until Mid-2025: Beware of Scam Websites Selling Fake Authorizations

PublishedEditorial policy

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) has been postponed until mid-2025. Despite this delay, fraudulent websites are already attempting to sell fake ETIAS authorizations to travelers, particularly British citizens. Learn how to identify and avoid these scams.

ETIASSchengenTravel AuthorizationScam AlertBritish Travellers

Key takeaways

  • ETIAS will not launch before mid-2025; any offers to process it now are fraudulent.
  • Scam websites mimic official designs; always verify the URL and do not pay before the official system launch.
  • The official authorization will cost €7 and be valid for three years; wait for the genuine portal before applying.

ETIAS Delayed, Scammers Active

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), designed to screen visa-exempt travelers entering the Schengen Area, has been postponed from its initial 2024 launch to **mid-2025**. For British citizens, this means that visa-free entry into the Schengen zone will continue as it currently does, but will eventually require a pre-travel authorization once ETIAS is fully operational.

Despite the system not yet being active, fraudulent websites are already attempting to sell ETIAS authorizations. These scam sites often mimic the design of official government portals, use similar-sounding names, and feature suspicious URLs. Authorities emphasize that **no payments are required or accepted for ETIAS until the system officially launches**. Any offer to process an ETIAS application today is a scam.

Once ETIAS is genuinely launched, the official authorization will cost **€7** and be valid for **three years** or until the traveler's passport expires, whichever comes first. To avoid falling victim to fraud, applicants should wait for the official launch, verify URLs carefully, disregard unsolicited emails offering ETIAS services, and refrain from making any payments until the legitimate ETIAS portal is live.

Source: The Local France — https://www.thelocal.fr/20261016/british-travellers-warned-to-avoid-scam-websites-offering-etias-visa-waiver

Sources

Based on Emigro corridor reporting. Primary links below.

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