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Planning a trip to the UK? Watch out—some travelers are getting royally ripped off when applying for the new British travel document called the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation).
The permit, which became mandatory on April 2 for visits under six months, officially costs just £10 (around €12). But scammers are cashing in—big time.
Take Belgian traveler Eva Mertens, for example. She and her husband are heading to the UK this August. Like most of us, she googled “ETA United Kingdom,” clicked one of the top links, and followed the steps to apply. Everything seemed legit… until she checked her bank account. Over €437 had vanished for just two documents.
“Expensive tuition,” Eva said, summing it up with a grim smile. She immediately blocked her debit card—just in case.
And she’s not alone.
Across Belgium and the Netherlands, fraud reports are stacking up. The Fraud Helpdesk in the Netherlands even created a dedicated file just for this scam. While some victims do receive a valid ETA in return (which adds to the confusion), others are left in the dark—out of pocket and unsure if they’ll even be allowed to board.
And it’s not just about money. Many fake sites ask for personal info, including passport details and IDs, putting people at risk of identity theft too.
What makes this scam especially tricky is how convincing some of these fake websites look. They use slick designs, official-sounding names like “UK Travel Authorization Service,” and even copy language from the real UK government site. Some even rank higher on Google than the real one.
So even if you’re careful, it’s alarmingly easy to land on the wrong page and think you’re in the right place. You might see terms like “urgent processing” or “instant approval” to add pressure—classic scammer moves that make people click before they think.
When you search “apply for UK ETA,” you’re likely to see a long list of third-party websites, many of them pretending to be official. These sites often charge huge markups or, worse, scam you outright. It’s the same shady tactic used with things like car registration codes and visa waivers. The problem isn’t new—but it’s definitely growing.
Skip the guesswork. Instead of googling blindly, head straight to NederlandWereldwijd (for Dutch travellers) or your own government’s travel site. They’ll point you to the official UK ETA application page.
As of April 9th, the ETA fee has increased to £16 (around €19)—but that’s still a far cry from the €437 scammers are charging.
The application is simple, usually processed in under three days, and you’ll need one for every traveler, including kids and babies. No ETA? No boarding that plane, train, or ferry.
If it looks too complicated, expensive, or fancy—it’s probably a scam. The real ETA is quick, cheap, and online at a government website. Don’t let scammers take you for a ride before your trip even starts.
Image source: Pixabay
