How to check if a border fee payment portal is official

Begin on a government page

Find the immigration authority through a government home page or official embassy page. The UK ETA page sends applicants to apply-for-an-eta.homeoffice.gov.uk or the UK ETA app. It says another website or app cannot provide a faster decision ¹.

Do not treat the first search result as proof. Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority warns that misleading sites can appear in search results and may look official. ICA says its official web addresses contain .ica.gov.sg ³.

Match four details before paying

• Domain: compare every part of the address with the government link. A familiar flag or seal is not proof ³.
• Fee: compare the amount and currency. Canada's eTA costs CAN$7 on the government application page ².
• Payment route: check whether the government uses a website or official app. Australia requires eligible applicants to use the Australian ETA app ⁶.
• Service status: check that the system is open. A page taking payment for a system that has not started cannot be the live government service.
• Contact route: use details published by the authority, not a phone number supplied in an advert or message ³.

A government portal can use a service provider

A government notice may direct you to a platform with a different-looking address. That alone does not make it unofficial. The useful test is whether the responsible government body names that exact platform and links to it.

Keep the government notice open. Match the domain and amount. If the payment page claims a different fee, return to the government page. Do not assume a registrar, payment company or content delivery network owns or operates the border system without official evidence.

Worked checks from official notices

If the checks do not match

Do not enter more information. Note the address without revisiting it, then report it through your national cybercrime or consumer protection route. Singapore asks users to report fake ICA sites to the police and gives the anti-scam helpline 1800 722 6688 ³.

If you paid, call your bank or card issuer. Check the application on the real government system before starting again. A middleman may have filed a real application, so a second application can create confusion.