Visa Requirements

[DWillowBay]

We just booked the WBTA , 2024. The scheduled ports are Spain, Portugal, Azores and Lighthouse Point. Will we need Visas for Euro ports?

 

[Lesverts]

Loaded question because the answer is determined by your passport. 63 countries have 'visa-free' access to the EU's Schengen Area, but as of 2024 you will need to apply for an ETIAS that costs 7 euros to gain entry into the Schengen Area. If you are not a citizen of one of those 63 countries you need to apply for a Schengen Visa from the first port of call.

 

[Geomom]

Also note that the UK will likely have its own visa waiver system in place by 2024. So you'll need to fill that and the ETIAS out ahead of time. We're doing the Norwegian fjords cruise out of Southampton, England this summer, so I've been keeping an eye on this. Everything keeps getting pushed out further (which is good for us!). US citizens currently only need Visas for European travel over 90 days. (Had done some research as my oldest was hoping to do a semester abroad in Fall 2020 and would have needed a student visa...all moot as the semester abroad never happened due to Covid.)

 

[Flossbolna]

Info about the ETIAS can be found on the official website: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en

It would be required for Spain and Portugal (the Azores are part of Portugal).

Be careful to only use the official site. There are websites who appear official, but are third party and will charge an extra fee and you don’t want to give them personal information. The official website can be recognized by the domain ending in .eu - it’s similar to .gov in the USA.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Also note that the UK will likely have its own visa waiver system in place by 2024. So you'll need to fill that and the ETIAS out ahead of time. We're doing the Norwegian fjords cruise out of Southampton, England this summer, so I've been keeping an eye on this. Everything keeps getting pushed out further (which is good for us!). US citizens currently only need Visas for European travel over 90 days. (Had done some research as my oldest was hoping to do a semester abroad in Fall 2020 and would have needed a student visa...all moot as the semester abroad never happened due to Covid.)

Do you have a website for the UK waiver system?

 

[Geomom]

Do you have a website for the UK waiver system?

No, I looked earlier and didn't find anything. Maybe it's been delayed more? I definitely saw stuff about it 6+ mths ago when I was researching for our trip this year, and I know it was not going to be available this summer...

 

[DWillowBay]

Also note that the UK will likely have its own visa waiver system in place by 2024. So you'll need to fill that and the ETIAS out ahead of time. We're doing the Norwegian fjords cruise out of Southampton, England this summer, so I've been keeping an eye on this. Everything keeps getting pushed out further (which is good for us!). US citizens currently only need Visas for European travel over 90 days. (Had done some research as my oldest was hoping to do a semester abroad in Fall 2020 and would have needed a student visa...all moot as the semester abroad never happened due to Covid.)

Many thanks. I would not have known that.

 

[DWillowBay]

Info about the ETIAS can be found on the official website: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en

It would be required for Spain and Portugal (the Azores are part of Portugal).

Be careful to only use the official site. There are websites who appear official, but are third party and will charge an extra fee and you don’t want to give them personal information. The official website can be recognized by the domain ending in .eu - it’s similar to .gov in the USA.

Much obliged! I never heard of this before, so would not even known about pursuing it.

 

[Geomom]

Do you have a website for the UK waiver system?

Just found this on the UK government site. Looks like it will start with certain countries (Gulf/Jordan) in February, and to others throughout 2024, so you'll want to keep an eye on things next Spring to see what the status is at that point. I wouldn't be surprised to see the worldwide part pushed out to Fall 2024 vs Summer just due to the number of summer visitors, doing a slow ramp up of their systems.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gulf-and-jordanian-visitors-to-pay-10-for-an-eta
Actual info on ETA UK:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

 

[disneyfaninaz]

No, I looked earlier and didn't find anything. Maybe it's been delayed more? I definitely saw stuff about it 6+ mths ago when I was researching for our trip this year, and I know it was not going to be available this summer...

Thanks. We're looking into going to Scotland next year. I'll keep my eyes open.

 

[soniam]

Did you found the answer actually? Do you mind sharing?

To which question are you specifically looking for an answer? Visa, ETIAS. What is the country that issued your passport?

 

[Girl of the South]

The Europe visa waiver program ETIAS is now not expected to be in operation until Mid 2025.

 

[pjacobi]

The Europe visa waiver program ETIAS is now not expected to be in operation until Mid 2025.

ETIAS was first proposed in 2016 and officially adopted in 2018. It's been "coming soon" since 2018! There have been so many missed implementation dates that no one knows for sure when it will happen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Travel_Information_and_Authorisation_System


-Paul

 

[Girl of the South]

This is from the 'official' ETIAS website - so I think until mid 2025, you'd be good to go - after that, who knows?

 

[DCLMP]

ETIAS was first proposed in 2016 and officially adopted in 2018. It's been "coming soon" since 2018! There have been so many missed implementation dates that no one knows for sure when it will happen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Travel_Information_and_Authorisation_System


-Paul

Sounds the travel ID’s that keep getting pushed back.

 

[RedHead0186]

Did you found the answer actually? Do you mind sharing?
Is that true that most countries issue evisas these days and they can be obtained here https://visafly.com? I traveled with the visas many years ago and in order to receive those i had to visit an actual embassy. I am very happy that travels become easier now.

Personally, I would only ever obtain visas directly from the countries (or I guess the governments of the countries) I was planning to visit. That site looks legit, but lots of those sites will charge you extra money (on top of what the actual visa costs), and some will even steal your personal info and leave you viasless.

You have to determine your own level of risk, but for me, I would stick to the government that actually requires (and issues) the visas.