The visa-free European journeys that U.S. citizens get to enjoy won't last much longer. But those suffering from wanderlust shouldn't stress too much.
The European Union announced on Friday that beginning in 2021, American travelers will need to apply for a visa to to visit the Schengen Area — a 26-country zone on the continent that does have internal borders. Popular tourist destinations like France, Italy, and Spain are all in the Schengen Area.
Americans, who can currently spend up to 90 days in the Schengen zone without a visa, will need a valid passport, an email account, and a credit or debit card to apply for the visa. But once the paperwork is retrieved, traveling likely won't be all that different than it is today. The visa will remain valid for three years and carriers will be able to enter Schengen countries as many times as possible within that span. Minors will still only need their normal passport to travel. Registration will take place online.
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The EU said it "has recently decided to improve their security level to avoid any further problems with illegal migration and terrorism." The decision may also stem from a dispute between the United States and the European Commission, CNN reports. Currently, the U.S. requires travelers from five EU member states — Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Romania, and Cyprus — to apply for a visa to enter the U.S. EU rules require equal treatment for all member states.
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