Should I apply for a tourist visa as a US citizen traveling to the Schengen area this summer?

Should I apply for a tourist visa as a US citizen traveling to the Schengen area this summer? - Side view of crop anonymous female applying sunscreen lotion on body before swimming in pool on sunny day

I have planned travel to Iceland, Germany and Spain this summer, from July 1st to July 21st. I see that EU Commission is now considering visa requirements for US citizens and may come to a decision by mid June.

How do I apply for a visa when there is no current requirement?



Best Answer

A visa is not currently required so you simply cannot apply for one now. Also, if and when it would be required, there will almost certainly be an explicit delay before implementation so you would have time to apply at this moment.

But I don't think it's actually going to happen. The EU Commission cannot decide this alone and member states whose citizens have access to the US Visa Waiver Program are keen on preserving the status quo and don't want to risk that by confronting the US on this matter. This has been going on for years now, with the EU always finding subtle means to step up the pressure to placate the member states that are (understandably) unhappy about the ways their citizens are treated (and especially Poland) while always finding a way to postpone any actual retaliation.




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Can U.S. citizens travel to Europe visa?

American citizens are currently granted entry into Europe without a visa. For this reason, they do not need to check visa requirements. This only applies to short-term trips, so if US nationals decide to move to Europe permanently, they need to obtain the relevant visa first.

Can Americans enter the Schengen Area?

With a valid U.S. passport, you can stay up to 90 days for tourism or business during any 180-day period. Do not overstay! You must wait an additional 90 days before applying to re-enter the Schengen area. To stay longer than 90 days, you must have a visa.

Is Schengen Visa open for tourism?

Over a year since the European Commission recommended to the Member States to impose a ban on all arrivals from the EU, travel and tourism in the Schengen Area and the rest of the EU countries have been put at a halt.

When can Americans travel to Europe?

European Coronavirus Travel Restrictions for US Visitors Most member states now allow any traveler who has been fully vaccinated with an EU-approved COVID-19 vaccine to enter. Most European countries began allowing passengers traveling from the States to enter in June 2021 after a previous entry ban.




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Armin Rimoldi, Rachel Claire, Armin Rimoldi, Marianne Tang