Islamabad : The Embassy of France in Islamabad has issued a warning to travellers regarding fraudulent websites falsely claiming to offer Entry and Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) services.
According to the embassy, the EES and ETIAS mechanisms have not yet been implemented, so any website currently offering such procedures is a scam. It added that those systems were designed to enhance the security of Schengen member states by modernising external border management, but they're not yet operational. The French embassy advised travellers to remain cautious, as engaging with fraudulent websites could lead to the theft of personal information or financial loss.
"As these systems are not yet up and running, no website can issue you any document. You are therefore at risk of having your personal information or money stolen," it said. The embassy said that once the official date of entry into force was confirmed, verified information would be provided through official channels, including its website and social media platforms, on how to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation.
The European Union, too, has alerted travellers about EES and ETIAS scams and said the EES had yet to be implemented and it was due to start sometime this year.
It said ETIAS, too, was not in operation and no applications were collected at this point and that it was due to start 6 months after EES. According to the EU, the EES is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of any of the European Union countries using the system. "Starting six months after EES, some 1.4 billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries are required to have a valid ETIAS travel authorisation to enter 30 European countries for a short stay. With this authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays - normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period," it said on its website.