Safety · 5 November 2026

ETIAS scam sites: how to spot them

ETIAS does not exist yet, yet you can already “apply” on dozens of websites. Here is how to recognise them.

By Kelly Kap · · 2 min read

The one rule to remember

Official EU information about ETIAS and EES is on travel-europe.europa.eu. Official EU addresses end in europa.eu. Anything else is not the EU.

Six warning signs

  1. They accept applications today. ETIAS is not live. Any “application” now is not real.
  2. The price is far above €20. The planned official fee is €20. Many sites add large “processing” or “service” fees.
  3. They charge for EES. EES registration is free and happens at the border.
  4. EU flags and official-sounding names. Lookalike sites copy the design of government pages.
  5. Urgency. “Apply now before it’s too late” is a sales tactic, not information.
  6. Paid ads at the top of search results. Scroll past the ads and check the address.

Already paid?

Contact your bank or card issuer and ask about a chargeback. Keep the confirmation emails. Report the site to your national consumer authority.

What we do differently

SchengenClear is an independent guide. We never process applications and never ask for passport data. We always link to the official source. Read how we work.

FAQ

How do I know a site is official?

Official EU addresses end in europa.eu.

What will the official ETIAS fee be?

The planned fee is €20, with exemptions expected for under-18s and over-70s.

I already paid a lookalike site. What now?

Ask your bank or card issuer about a chargeback and report the site to your consumer authority.

Does EES or ETIAS apply to you?

Choose your nationality and get your checklist in ten seconds.

Open the checklist

Sources

Last checked

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