Consumer advocates warn of travel permit scams

Consumer protection agencies, specifically the Verbraucherzentrale Brandenburg, are warning travelers about fraudulent third-party providers offering travel authorizations like the UK's ETA and the US's ESTA at inflated prices. These unofficial websites often appear as top results in search engines and can closely mimic official government portals.

In one reported case, a traveler paid approximately 310 euros for three UK ETAs, whereas the official cost is roughly 70 euros. The UK ETA has been mandatory for travelers without a visa or residence permit since April 2025 and costs approximately 20 pounds (about 24 euros) per person.

Experts advise travelers to apply exclusively through official government websites or official state-sanctioned mobile apps for Android and iOS. If a consumer falls victim to these scams, they are advised to immediately request a refund, secure all documentation and screenshots, and contact their bank or credit card provider to explore potential chargebacks.