UK holidaymakers planning to travel to 30 European countries, including Spain, Greece, Portugal, and France, have been warned about confusion over rule changes that started to come into force on April 2. Since last week, the European Travel Authorisation (ETA) has been in force, meaning European citizens coming into the UK need a ‘pass’ to enter the country.
Similar rules are coming for UK travellers who want to get into 30 countries in Europe. While those rules, known as ETIAS, have been delayed for another 18 months, confusion is allowing scammers to target holidaymakers with fake websites that will take your identity and bank details.
The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has issued a warning over the fake sites. At the minute you do not need any document other than your passport to get into Europe.
Explaining the current new rules for European citizens coming into the UK, an ABTA spokesman said: “If you have friends, family, or business associates visiting from abroad, they’ll need to check if they need to get an ETA. This is one of three changes coming up for travelling across borders between the EU and UK, but the only one to have gone live, meaning there is scope for confusion.”
The other changes yet to come are the EU Entry/Exit system (EES) and ETIAS.
EES is a new electronic border control system being rolled out by the European Union to modernise how travellers from non-EU countries are tracked when entering and leaving the Schengen Area. It replaces passport stamping for non-EU travellers and will see you have to give biometric data – fingerprints and facial image scans.
EES is set to begin in October this year.
ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System. ETIAS is not a visa but an electronic travel authorisation for non-EU travellers who don’t need a visa to enter the Schengen Area. It’s meant to enhance border security by pre-screening travellers before they arrive.
Travellers going from the UK to the EU will need to apply for ETIAS and make a small payment. But that system has yet to start.
ETIAS is expected to be introduced towards the end of 2026. Graeme Buck, director of communications at ABTA, said: “With three new changes coming in over the next couple of years, we’re keen that people understand what it 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.”
ABTA said: “People who try to apply for an ETIAS now may be at risk of fraud, with a loss of money and possibly personal data too.”