Fake ETIAS and Visa Websites: How to Spot Them Before You Pay

You search online for a travel permit, click the first result, and pay. Later you discover you paid three times the real fee, or for something that does not exist yet. This happens to thousands of travellers every year.

Right now, the biggest trap is ETIAS. The European system is not running and has no launch date, yet websites are already taking payments. Copycat sites also target the US ESTA, the UK ETA and other online permits.

Short on time? Here is the quick answer.

Official Sites and Real Fees

Seven Warning Signs

1. The site sells ETIAS before the EU has launched it.
2. The fee is much higher than the official fee.
3. The web address is not a government domain.
4. Words like official or express appear everywhere, but no government name.
5. There are countdown timers and urgent pressure.
6. It asks for unusual extra documents or fees.
7. Customer service is only by chat or WhatsApp.

Real Versus Fake at a Glance

If You Already Paid

• Contact your bank or card provider to dispute the charge.
• Check whether a real application was submitted on the official site.
• Apply again on the official site if needed.
• Report the site to consumer protection or cybercrime authorities.

Why These Sites Rank So Well

Copycat sites often pay for advertising, so they can appear above the official site in search results. They use words like official, online and fast in their names, and copy the colours and layout of government pages. Some are not illegal, because they do submit your form, but they charge far more than the real fee.

The simplest protection is to type the official address yourself, or use the official app. Do not click adverts for visa or travel permits. If you are unsure, compare the fee on the page with the official fee in the table above.

Words You Will See

New to these terms? Here is what they mean in plain English.

Before You Rely on Any Figure

The fees and sites above reflect official information as of October 2026. Rules, fees and dates change, so check the official government website on the day you act. For questions about your own case, speak to a licensed immigration lawyer or an authorised representative. World Visa Academy is a training academy; it does not file applications or guarantee any visa or outcome.

The Honest Summary

If a site is selling ETIAS today, it is not official. For every permit, use only the government site or app, compare the fee, and never pay for a guarantee.

Key takeaways

• The Visa Integrity Fee is 250 dollars per person for most nonimmigrant visas.
• It is paid at visa issuance, after approval, and some posts are already collecting it.
• Visa Waiver Program travellers and immigrant visa applicants do not pay it.
• A refund process exists in law, but it has not been launched.