WHAT COUNTRIES REQUIRED A SCHENGEN VISA TO VISIT THE SCHENGEN AREA?

 

If you are not one from one of the next 62 countries, you will need a Schengen visa: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macau, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Montenegro, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu and Venezuela.

However, in 2021, the European visa situation will change. Travelers from certain countries will need an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System), while others will need a Schengen Visa. The whole situation can be rather complex and confusing, so to help you, below is an explanation of the Schengen Visa vs. the ETIAS.

SCHENGEN VISA VS. ETIAS

The Schengen Visa currently allows travelers who can’t visit Schengen countries without a visa to travel around Europe. This visa will continue to serve that purpose even after 2021.

On the other hand, the ETIAS is an electronic travel authorization designed to strengthen travel security in Europe (not only in the Schengen Area).

It is specifically geared toward citizens of the 62 countries mentioned above who do not currently need a visa to travel to and around Europe.

Starting in 2021, these travelers who can currently travel to Europe without a visa will need authorization in order to travel to Europe. This will be a big change for citizens of countries like the United States, who can currently travel to Europe without even having to worry about any kind of visa.

Basically, travelers who have always used the Schengen Visa to travel to Europe will still need a Schengen Visa after 2021. However, travelers from the 62 countries who, prior to 2021, never needed a visa to travel to Europe will, starting in 2021, need to obtain either ETIAS approval or a Schengen Visa. Travelers do not need both.

Note: Citizens of the U.K. will also need ETIAS to visit other countries in Europe if Brexit goes through in October 2019.

 

WHICH EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WILL REQUIRE ETIAS?

ETIAS doesn’t only apply to the Schengen area but to some other countries in Europe too. These are the European countries that will require ETIAS upon arrival: Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Greece, Czech Republic, Malta, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City.

In the next map, you will see all the countries that require ETIAS. Some of them belong to the European Union, some of them to the Schengen Area but not the European Union and some of them to the European Union but not the Schengen area.