With just five months until the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) becomes mandatory for European visitors, consumer watchdogs have reported a sharp rise in fraudulent websites charging up to €200 for the £16 permit. The Dutch Fraud Helpdesk alone logged 396 complaints, according to an investigation published on 18 November.
The UK Home Office reiterated that the only legitimate application channels are the official GOV.UK website and the dedicated ETA mobile app. Travellers are urged to apply at least three working days before departure and to avoid third-party ‘rush-processing’ services, none of which are authorised.
![Government warns of Electronic Travel Authorisation scams as EU roll-out nears]()
Travel-risk advisers say corporate-travel managers should distribute clear guidance to EU-based staff and clients, emphasising that companies will not reimburse inflated fees paid to scam operators. Failure to obtain a valid ETA could see passengers denied boarding once air carriers become liable for fines from April 2025.
The warning also signals a wider compliance risk: under the Border Security Bill carriers must digitally verify ETA status before departure, so data-integrity issues caused by fraudulent applications could increase false-positive alerts at departure gates.
The UK Home Office reiterated that the only legitimate application channels are the official GOV.UK website and the dedicated ETA mobile app. Travellers are urged to apply at least three working days before departure and to avoid third-party ‘rush-processing’ services, none of which are authorised.
Travel-risk advisers say corporate-travel managers should distribute clear guidance to EU-based staff and clients, emphasising that companies will not reimburse inflated fees paid to scam operators. Failure to obtain a valid ETA could see passengers denied boarding once air carriers become liable for fines from April 2025.
The warning also signals a wider compliance risk: under the Border Security Bill carriers must digitally verify ETA status before departure, so data-integrity issues caused by fraudulent applications could increase false-positive alerts at departure gates.
