Greenspoon Marder Immigration Alert: American Tourists Traveling to Europe Will Need Permission to Enter Schengen Countries – July 25, 2023

Jul 25, 2023

By: Patricia Gannon, Esq. and Marcela Bermudez, Esq.

Starting in 2024, U.S. travelers and visitors from countries that are not part of the European Union (EU) will need to apply for authorization to enter the EU Schengen countries through the new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). ETIAS was proposed in 2016 but its rollout has been postponed several times. ETIAS will require U.S. citizens to obtain permission to enter Europe’s Schengen countries. U.S. citizens can currently travel to Schengen countries by presenting a US passport at the border without obtaining prior approval. This is now coming to an end.

The U.S. has a similar program that has been in effect since January 2009 called the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). ESTA was mandated by the Recommendation of the 9/11 Commission Act to support its Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Travelers who are visa exempt must complete and submit an electronic application every two years and pay a fee. The system vets applicants to determine whether the traveler is authorized to enter the U.S. without a visa. There are currently 40 countries that are eligible to enter the US under the VWP.

After ETIAS is in place, all U.S. citizens (as well as travelers from 60 other countries, including Canada and Mexico) will require pre-approval on ETIAS prior to traveling to any of the Schengen-member countries for short stays. U.S. citizens will not be allowed to enter any of the Schengen countries without proof of ETIAS approval, which requires payment of a fee and a detailed registration application. The reason for the ETIAS is to better secure and police the borders. The application will include criminal and other security questions and each application will be checked in certain European databases including SLTD (Interpol).

The new travel authorization applies to those entering any of the below-listed countries, which includes full EU Schengen Member countries, as well as countries that are European Free Trade Association Members, European Microstates with Open Borders, as well as future Schengen members.

Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
San Marino
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Vatican City

In addition to the above countries, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania are in the process of joining the Schengen Zone. Once these countries become Schengen country members, ETIAS will be required.

We will continue to monitor the launch of this program and will provide updates as they become available.

Please reach out to your Greenspoon Marder LLP Immigration & Naturalization Practice Group for any further questions or concerns.

About Greenspoon Marder

Greenspoon Marder LLP is a full-service law firm with over 240 attorneys and more than 20 office locations across the United States. With operations from Miami to New York and from Denver to Los Angeles, our firm attracts some of the nation’s top talent in key markets and innovation hubs. Our core practice areas include Real Estate, Litigation, and Transactional Services, complemented by the capabilities of a full-service firm. Greenspoon Marder has upheld a spot on The American Lawyer’s Am Law 200 as one of the top law firms in the U.S. since 2015, and our goal is to provide exceptional client service by developing a thorough understanding of each client’s business needs and objectives in order to provide strategic, cost-effective solutions.

MEDIA CONTACT

Natalie Villanueva, Director of Marketing
954.333.4308 | [email protected]

This Greenspoon Marder LLP Client Alert is issued for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed or used as general legal advice nor a solicitation of any type. Please contact the author(s) or your Greenspoon Marder LLP contact if you have any questions regarding the currency of this information. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision. Before you decide, ask for written information about the lawyer’s legal qualifications and experience.

Previous Next

News

Greenspoon Marder Immigration Alert: American Tourists Traveling to Europe Will Need Permission to Enter Schengen Countries – July 25, 2023

Share

News & Events

News & Events