Since April, EU citizens have needed an electronic travel authorization to travel to Great Britain or Northern Ireland. Applicants should be careful, warns the Lower Saxony consumer advice center. Applications are possible both on the $(LEhttps://www.gov.uk/eta:offiziellen government website for the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and from online advertising service providers. Although the application process is similar there, the consumer advocates warn, iVisa.com, for example, charges around five times as much at around 100 euros.

Despite the hefty surcharge, users do not receive any added value, warns the consumer advice center. Revocation is usually impossible as soon as the data has been transmitted. Travelers should therefore not use such online services. Applying via the official website or app costs around 19 euros.

The British government estimates a processing time of up to three working days for the check. It is usually much quicker. British ETAs are valid for two years, even for multiple trips.

The tricky business model is not new: consumer advice centers have long been receiving complaints about providers who pass on online services at a high surcharge. The services affected include forwarding orders, various official procedures, changes of address with the German Broadcasting Authority and Schufa information.

In the case of ETA intermediaries – also for other countries – the high costs are compounded by the risk of abuse. After all, sensitive data such as a passport photo and credit card details have to be provided when applying. Police authorities have already issued warnings about fraud and phishing sites relating to ETAs.

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