EES, ETIAS and the €20 Fee: Confusion Over Europe’s New Border Systems Fuels Visa Scam

Since 10 April 2026, the European Entry/Exit System (EES) has recorded non-European travellers on short-stay visas, including Nigerians, using facial images and fingerprints, at no cost. ETIAS, which will cost €20 once launched, applies only to visa-exempt travellers and is not required for Nigerians who need a Schengen visa. Yet agents in Nigeria are charging travellers up to 250,000 naira for the systems, while unofficial websites imitate European portals. ETIAS is not yet operational, so applications and payments are not currently possible.