British travelers going to EU countries have been told not to apply for the new Etias travel permit, because the system is not open yet, the Guardian and The Times reported on Tuesday.

Etias is an online permit that visitors from outside the EU will need before they travel to most of Europe. It will be linked to a traveler's passport and work much like the U.S. Esta system. It was due to start this year. But it depends on the EU's new entry-exit system, known as EES, which has had many problems. The permit has now been pushed back until at least 2027, The Times reported.

The warning came from Abta, the UK travel association. European authorities believe more than 150 websites already claim to offer Etias, the group said. "What I can't stress is enough that you can't – and shouldn't - apply for an Etias now," Luke Petherbridge, Abta's director of public affairs, told the Guardian.

People who use these sites risk losing money and having their personal data stolen. Frontex, the EU's border agency, has warned that some fake sites copy the look of the official site and use web addresses that seem real, The Times reported. Some sites are run by firms that will apply on a traveler's behalf once the system opens, but others may be run by criminals.

The fee to apply has risen from €7 to €20, the Guardian reported. People over 70 and under 18 will not need to pay. Abta says Etias should not start until EES is working properly. Abta's research found that awareness of the new rules has grown from 41% in 2024 to 56% now, the Guardian reported.

When it does launch, travelers should apply only through the official EU site.

What we know: Etias is delayed, no launch date is set, and more than 150 websites already claim to sell it.
What we don't: When the EU will finally open the system.