Britons Warned Against Applying for EU Etias Waiver Amid Delay
Travel body Abta cautions UK travelers not to apply for the Etias waiver as over 150 websites promote the service despite its postponement.
British tourists planning trips to European Union countries are being urged by travel industry body Abta to hold off on applying for the Etias electronic travel authorization, even as more than 150 websites actively market the service to would-be applicants.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System, known as Etias, will eventually require non-EU nationals — including travelers from the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Canada — to obtain a pre-travel waiver before entering the Schengen zone. The fee for the authorization is set at €20, roughly £17, once the system goes live.
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Despite the scheme's launch being delayed, a proliferation of third-party websites has emerged offering to secure Etias entry clearance on behalf of travelers, raising concerns about consumers paying for a service that cannot yet be fulfilled. Abta's warning reflects broader anxiety within the travel sector that tourists could be misled or lose money to operators capitalizing on confusion around the rollout timeline.
The Etias framework mirrors similar electronic authorization programs already in place in countries such as the United States, which operates its own ESTA system for visa-exempt visitors. Analysts note that the eventual introduction of Etias will mark a significant procedural shift for UK nationals, who lost automatic EU freedom of movement following Brexit and now face additional entry requirements as third-country visitors.
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