The visa requirement for travel from the United States to Europe is a very pertinent question since visas are essential for international travel, right? Well, here’s a little spoiler for you: you Americans need visa to Europe in 2023, yes. Now, what you need to know about US citizens visa to Europe for your future travels is HOW. That’s right, “how”, because in 2023 there will be some innovations regarding the European visa and you need to know what will be required or not, dates and periods and how to get yours and your family’s visa.
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With that in mind, to make your search easier, we have put together a set of information regarding what you will need to know about US citizens’ visa to Europe in 2023 and some necessary explanations.
AMERICANS NEED VISA TO EUROPE IN 2023: CURRENT SITUATION ON AMERICAN VISA IN EUROPE
American travel to Europe is quite common and even in the current context of social isolation it still is, of course with the proper permissions for such. Currently, the trips of US citizens to Europe require the common visa already known, similar to the one from other times but, with the exception of some more requirements about the region of embarkation and disembarkation, besides negative tests for COVID-19 given the pandemic context, explained in more detail on how are the borders of Europe. However, changes are about to take place regarding the American visa for Europe, which will come into effect in late 2023. And yes, Americans need visa to Europe in 2023.
With complaints and appeals from European citizens, Europe recently decided to follow a similar course as other countries and regions of the world and improve its security level in order to protect visitors at its borders, as well as to avoid future troubles with issues of illegality and danger to its citizens (illegal immigration, terrorism, etc.). Thus a new visa system was designed, similar to the American system, an electronic travel validation, called ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System), where citizens with authorization will be exempt from visa, being able to enter any country of the Schengen Area and move freely between them. That said, see below which countries will request the ETIAS and then a further explanation about this authorization and what it will request.
SCHENGEN COUNTRIES
Schengen Area is the term used to refer to the countries that are part of the Schengen Agreement, which is a convention between some European countries regarding a policy of opening their borders and the free movement of citizens between countries that have submitted to the agreement. It consists of 26 countries in total, 22 of them being countries of the European Union, such as Portugal, Austria, Finland, Belgium and some of the 5 most visited countries in Europe and countries where are 5 other amazing places to visit in the European winter, and 4 countries not belonging to the EU, which are Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, plus some microstates members.
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Below is the list of countries and regions where ETIAS will be required of Americans and where ETIAS will not be required.
ETIAS APPLICATION
- Germany
- Austria
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Slovakia
- Estonia
- Spain
- Finland
- France
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malt
- Monaco
- Norway
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Czech Republic
- San Marino
- Sweden
- Switzerland
NO REQUEST FOR ETIAS
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Ireland
- Romania
ETIAS, HOW WILL IT WORK? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
If it is still unclear how the ETIAS will work, we will explain in more detail and also talk a little about the benefits of this update. The ETIAS will be an authorization that will replace the authorization given by the common visa already known, thus, there will be the exemption of the common visa, which will no longer be necessary in view of the application for Visa Exemption ETIAS, this will be done online and during the process it will be determined whether or not the person can enter the Schengen Area. At the moment, the European Visa Exemption for a period of less than 3 months (90 days) is not yet an option for U.S. citizens, but it will be necessary when the ETIAS comes into effect for visits to Schengen countries for short periods of time, whether for tourism, transit or business. Cool, right? Now that you understand how it works, let’s get to the benefits.
CHECK HERE THE FULL ARTICLE OF EUROPEAN ETIAS VISA
The first and most important is security, as the data of the persons with the ETIAS will be checked among numerous databases for irregularities and or any representation of a potential threat to any Schengen country before the application is accepted. Another positive point is that the ETIAS will last for 3 years from approval, and a full stay of up to 90 days is possible every 180-day cycle, meaning that a U.S. citizen can stay for 3 months in some of the Schengen countries, return home and go
again after 6 months, continuing this way until completing the 3 years. Another great benefit of the visa waiver is that visitors will be allowed multiple entries and can move freely between one member country and another as many times as they wish.
ETIAS REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
To obtain the ETIAS visa waiver for Europe from the U.S., U.S. citizens need to apply using a simple application form. This must include personal information such as first and last name (family name is also allowed), maiden name, gender, date, place and country of birth, nationality, home address, current contact phone number, and a security questionnaire regarding criminal history and travel to any Schengen Area countries and/or conflict zones, education and employment history, and drug use.
It will also be necessary: a valid passport with at least 3 months before arrival and two blank pages, inform the validity and number of it in the application; the most recent photo you can of the applicant with white background and passport size; credit or debit card; details of the trip as the place you want to go, reservations made for the stay and financial proof that guarantees the payment of it, round-trip tickets to the next destination; and a valid email address where the result of the application will be forwarded with the approval of ETIAS. Thus, in possession of these documents, the American citizens must fill out the form with the necessary requirements that will be done in approximately 20 minutes, soon after the application fee must be paid. Then the information is previously analyzed according to eu-LISA, VIS, SIS and EURODAC. The visa will be processed within 15 working days.
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YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH INFORMATION!
In short, there will be many changes to allow U.S. citizens to enter European countries, but all the new changes will bring many benefits for visitors, especially in terms of security and dynamism, seeing from the perspective that the ETIAS Visa Waiver is simple once the applicant is in possession of all documents, besides lasting for a longer period of time, having to worry about visa renewals only every three years or more, depending on when you want to travel and the periods. Moreover, there is still a greater freedom to travel between the member countries of the Schengen State.
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Don’t forget to check How are the Europe borders: what do you need to know and do to travel to Europe in the pandemic
