Christelle Gonthier, the director of the Duke in Paris summer program, takes an afternoon shot of the Eiffel Tower.

New EU Travel Program Requiring US Citizens to Register

The program, initially slated for 2021, will soon go into effect in 2024

-By Charles Givens

July 27, 2023

The European Union is implementing a new travel authorization program called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which will require U.S. citizens to register and pay a fee before traveling. The program is intended to strengthen border security and will officially begin in October 2024.

For members of the Duke community, this new requirement can have a major impact. In 2022, 1,246 individual trips were taken by members of the Duke community to EU countries.

Christelle Gonthier, the director of the Duke in Paris summer program, takes an afternoon shot of the Eiffel Tower.
Christelle Gonthier, the director of the Duke in Paris summer program, takes an afternoon shot of the Eiffel Tower for the OGA Global Baton Instagram project.

The ETIAS will apply to U.S. citizens and citizens from 60 other countries who currently travel to Europe visa-free. This includes countries like Australia, Canada, Mexico, and New Zealand. The full list of affected countries can be found via this link: etias.com/etias-requirements

The application fee is estimated to be €7 for adults between the ages of 18 and 70, with some exemptions. The application will be available online and is expected to take roughly 10 minutes to complete. Applicants will need to provide passport information, travel dates, contact information, and answer some security-based questions.

“DUKE TRAVELERS WILL HAVE TO DO A BIT MORE PLANNING”

Once an application has been submitted, an email confirmation should arrive within 96 hours.  However, an approval can take longer and travelers are cautioned to allow up to three weeks for the approval.  If a traveler does not have an ETIAS authorization, they will not be allowed to travel to countries within the European Union.

“This will definitely mean Duke travelers will have to do a bit more planning in advance of visiting the EU than in the past,” notes Christy Parrish, Director of Global Travel Policies and Incident Management in the Office of Global Affairs. “Coming out of the pandemic, we’re experiencing record travel numbers. One thing we’ve learned is that countries are instituting new entry requirements, so it’s not surprising the EU is making this change as well,” said Parrish.

ETIAS authorization is valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Travelers can visit EU countries multiple times within the three-year period without needing to reapply. Those wishing to apply for ETIAS online can do so up to 90 days before the scheduled travel date.

However, it is important to stress that the ETIAS is not a visa. It is a travel authorization that allows visa-free travelers to enter the Schengen Zone.

For more information, head to the ETIAS website via this link: etias.com