U.S. citizens travelling to Europe will shortly need to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) visa waiver which is the new travel authorisation for Europe that will come into effect by the end of 2022. Similar to other countries and regions in the world, Europe has recently decided to improve its security level to avoid any further problems with illegal immigration and terrorism.

This means that, by the end of 2022, all Americans travelling to a European country in the Schengen Zone will be in need of an ETIAS. The Schengen Area is composed of 22 European Union countries like France, Italy, Germany, Sweden, and Spain, as well as 4 non-EU countries: Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. ETIAS will permit travel to all Schengen countries for short stays during its validity.

How Long Can a US Citizen Stay in Europe?

At the moment, there is no Europe visa waiver for U.S. citizens for periods of less than 90 days. However, this will change by the end of 2022, when American citizens travelling to Europe from the U.S. will require an ETIAS visa waiver to travel to any of the Schengen zone countries for short stays.

The ETIAS visa waiver for Americans is a multiple-entry travel authorisation valid for a total of 3 years from the moment of approval. During the 3-year validity of the ETIAS for U.S. travellers, it is possible to enter any of the Schengen Zone European countries which apply to the travel authorisation as many times as necessary.

The total stay allowed in a Schengen country with each entry with ETIAS is 90 days within every 180-day period. ETIAS permits travel to Schengen countries for short stays for tourism, business, medical treatment, or transit purposes. To stay for longer periods of time or other purposes, American citizens are required to apply for a Schengen visa from an embassy or consulate.

Visa waiver bilateral agreements between the US and EU Member States

Citizens of the United States of America can take advantage of bilateral visa-waiver agreements with several EU countries. These arrangements allow US passport holders to stay for a specified period beyond the 90-day Schengen limit.

The Schengen Area nations with bilateral visa-waiver reciprocal agreements with the US are listed below along with the maximum permitted length of stay in each case:

Belgium (3 months)

Denmark (3 months)

Italy (3 months)

Hungary (90 days)*

Portugal (60 days)*

Spain (90 days)*

France (90 days)

Latvia (90 days in half a year)*

The Netherlands (90 days)*

Schengen-associated country with a bilateral agreement:

Norway (90 days)

*Only ordinary passports are permitted

US passport holders who take advantage of one of these visa waiver bilateral agreements must exit the Schengen Area from that EU nation. On departure, it is necessary to fly directly to a third-country or transit in a non-Schengen airport.

In addition, US travellers are required to remain in that particular EU Member State, it is not possible to move freely around Europe under the bilateral agreements. To do so, they will need an ETIAS instead.

Bilateral agreements between the United States and European Union Member States are subject to change.

ETIAS Required Currently, there are 22 European countries that form part of the Schengen Area: Austria

Belgium

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Germany

France

Spain

Portugal

Sweden

Finland

Denmark

Lithuania

Latvia

Estonia

Poland

Slovakia

Hungary

Slovenia

Italy

Greece

Czech Republic

Malta EU Schengen

Non-EU Schengen States

Non-Schengen EU States ETIAS Required Non-EU Member States: Iceland

Liechtenstein

Norway

Switzerland Micro-States de facto part of Schengen Area: Monaco

San Marino

Vatican City ETIAS Non-Required Non-Schengen EU States United Kingdom

Republic of Ireland

Romania

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

What Do Americans Need to Go to Europe?

To obtain the Europe visa waiver for Americans, U.S. citizens will need to have a valid passport, a credit or debit card to pay the ETIAS fee, and an email account. These are the main ETIAS requirements for U.S. citizens which each applicant must have on hand when applying. Without the right travel document, applicants could have their application denied.

When applying for an ETIAS, applicants must ensure that the passport used is valid for 3 months beyond the period of intended stay of each person. It is possible that passports over 10 years old may not be accepted as a valid travel document.

Applicants with dual nationality, and so multiple passports, should ensure they use the same passport to complete the ETIAS application as that which they will later use to travel to the Schengen Area, as the ETIAS will be electronically linked to an individual passport.

When applying for an electronic visa waiver for Europe, it is necessary to provide a current email address at which to receive a copy of the approved ETIAS. As an approved ETIAS is electronically linked to the traveller’s passport, it will not be mandatory to print a copy of the visa waiver, although travellers are nonetheless advised to carry a copy with them to Europe in case of any problems with the electronic system.

Travelling to Europe From the U.S With ETIAS

When submitting an ETIAS application, it is important to remember that all U.S. citizens will be required to obtain an ETIAS to travel to Europe from 2022, including minors. It is necessary to submit a separate visa waiver for Europe application for all U.S. children under the age of 18. Parents or legal guardians are able to submit an European visa waiver application on behalf of a minor, although every child is required to have an individual approved ETIAS.

It is also important to note that an approved ETIAS for American citizens does not guarantee entry to Europe, it merely grants the holder permission to travel to Schengen countries. The final decision for entry will be made by an immigration officer at Schengen border control. The traveller may be asked to prove they do not intend to spend longer in Europe than the period allowed with ETIAS, by providing evidence of:

Return flight tickets to the United States or tickets to an onward destination

or tickets to an onward destination Proof of travel health insurance

Proof of sufficient funds to cover the stay

There will also be other regulations and restrictions to bear in mind when travelling to Europe from the U.S.A. which are similar to those in place at the moment, such as the right to carry weapons, importing and exporting large quantities of tobacco, alcohol or perfume, and declaring large amounts of currency.

Finally, it is important to note that an ETIAS may be revoked when the conditions for the issuing of the visa waiver for Europe are no longer met, particularly when there is reason to believe that the visa waiver for Europe was obtained by providing misleading or fraudulent information. For this reason it is essential to ensure that all of the information provided on the ETIAS form is correct before submitting the application, as even small errors may result in the revocation of an ETIAS.

Travellers whose passport expires during the validity of the ETIAS are also required to submit a new application for a Europe visa waiver from the United States in order to continue to travel to the Schengen Area, as an ETIAS is specifically linked to the travel document used to complete the original application.

Do American Citizens Need a Visa for Europe (Schengen Visa)?

As the United States is one of the visa-exempt countries for Europe, American citizens do not currently require a visa for the Schengen Area for short stays up to 90 days. From 2022, however, they will be required to obtain an Europe visa waiver to stay in Schengen countries for any less than 90 days. There is no need to apply before every trip, as ETIAS permits travel to all Schengen countries during its 3-year validity.

American citizens who intend to stay in Europe for longer periods, or for purposes other than those permitted with ETIAS, will be required to apply for a Schengen visa. The length of a Schengen visa for Europe is determined on an individual basis, and it may be issued as a single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry visa. Unlike ETIAS, a Schengen visa is issued for one specific Schengen country, and applicants are required to apply in person from an embassy or consulate in the United States of the country they wish to visit.

Schengen Visa Requirements for US Citizens

It is necessary to attend an consular appointment for a Schengen visa with the following documentation in order to guarantee approval of the visa:

A completed Schengen Europe visa application form

Copies of any previously issued Schengen visas

A valid US passport containing at least 2 blank pages

containing at least 2 blank pages Any accommodation bookings the traveler has made for their stay

the traveler has made for their stay Round trip flight tickets , or tickets to an onward destination

, or tickets to an onward destination Proof of sufficient financial means to cover the stay in Europe

to cover the stay in Europe Travel insurance which covers medical care in the Schengen Area

which covers medical care in the Schengen Area A recent, passport-sized, photograph of the traveller, taken against a white background

American citizens who apply for a Schengen visa are required to submit the application at least 15 working days before the intended date of entry to Europe at the latest, to allow for sufficient time for the visa to be processed.

How Can Americans Apply For ETIAS to Visit Europe?

U.S. citizens can apply online for an ETIAS by completing an online ETIAS registration. The enrolment will be a quick and simple process, similar to the ESTA for eligible citizens travelling to the U.S. and will take an average of 20 minutes to complete. Applicants will need to fill out an online form with their contact details and passport information, including:

Name and surname

Nationality

Date, place, and country of birth

Current address

Contact phone number

Email address

Passport number

Passport issue/expiry date

This process allows European immigration and customs authorities to pre-screen all travellers and confirm their status before permitting them entry or even to board a flight, thus identifying any potential threats and improving security measures throughout the Schengen Area.