ETIAS Germany visa for U.S. citizens
Citizens of the United States will be required to present an ETIAS visa when travelling to Germany. ETIAS permit can be obtained online, by filling out the ETIAS application form online and receiving your visa via e-mail once the application is approved. The ETIAS permit will allow U.S. citizens to enter Germany for tourism, work, transit, or medical purposes, provided that the duration of the trip is under 90 days, and it will be valid for multiple entries made by air, sea, or land. Also, minors and people over 70 years of age will be able to apply for ETIAS free of charge.
What is ETIAS Germany for U.S. citizens?
ETIAS visa will come into force in 2023, as part of a program of the European Commission aimed at strengthening European borders and keeping a digital track on all people travelling to Schengen Area. Following some terrorist attacks that affected some European countries, this program was already approved in 2016. In the last years, the creation of the ETIAS visa system has been made possible by the expansion of data sharing between countries in the EU, that allows to connect the ETIAS applications with already existing databases from European authorities.
How does the ETIAS Germany visa work for Americans
Starting from November 2023 U.S. citizens must present an ETIAS visa before embarking on a trip to Germany. If the trip is longer than 90 days or has other purposes than those required for ETIAS visa, they will have to obtain a full visitor Schengen visa at the embassy or consulate of Germany, respecting the requirements and timing for the permit they are applying for.
ETIAS destination countries for U.S. citizens
Starting from 2023 ETIAS visa will come into force for U.S. citizens in order to travel to the following countries:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
At the time being, American citizens will not have to obtain ETIAS visa to travel to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania, since these countries are currently not part of the Schengen Area. However, these countries may enter the Schengen Area in the future, so please keep updated with the visa requirements.
ETIAS requirements for Americans and how to apply
To apply for ETIAS, you will need to be a U.S. citizen and hold a valid electronic passport issued by the United States of America. If you are not entitled to an American passport, you will have to apply for a full visitor Schengen permit. The ETIAS visa application can be completed online, entering all required information by following the required steps, and making sure all the data is entered correctly. Once this is done, you will also be required to pay a 7 euros fee, applicable to all citizens aged between 18 and 70 years, using a credit or debit card. Normally, most ETIAS are issued within few minutes, or at most in a few hours, and you will receive the approved visa via e-mail as a PDF file.
How much does ETIAS cost for Americans
The ETIAS application for Americans has a cost of 7 euros for all citizens between 18 and 70 years of age, which has to be paid at the end of the online application process, using a credit or debit card. U.S. citizens under 18 and over 70 years of age are entitled to apply for ETIAS free of charge.
About Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of German, is the largest country in Central Europe. Bordering the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, it shares maritime borders with Sweden and the United Kingdom. Germany has land borders at Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland.
The area of Germany is 357,027 sq. km making Germany the seventh largest country in Europe and it has a population of 82 million people.
The official language is German with about half of the population able to speak English as a second language.
The major religion is Christianity, and their currency is the euro.
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent Reunification are the most prominent events in recent German history.
Germany is the seventh most visited country in the world with the capital city Berlin, the third most visited city in Europe. The European Commision is introducing the ETIAS system in an effort to increase security at Europe’s borders and make for a more streamlined border crossing for visitors.
Germany is recognized as one of the world’s main economic powers, boasting the largest economy in Europe. Despite its relatively small population, it is the second largest country of the world in terms of exports.
Germany enjoys a diverse landscape, from the coasts in the north to the valleys, forests, and vineyards in the center to the splendid towering Alps in the south.
Germany at a glance
Capital: Berlin
Timezone: UTC/GMT +1 hour
Languages: German
Area: 357,021 KM2
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Population: 81,802,257
Calling Code: +49
Travel in Germany
There are 16 National Parks in Germany; additionally, there are 15 Biosphere Reserves, 98 Nature Parks and more than 400 registered animal parks and zoos. Berlin Zoo is the oldest zoo in Germany and has the most comprehensive collection of different species in the world.
The majority of Germany is covered by arable land and forests or woodland. There are many species of tree, fungi, mosses, flowers and ferns grown naturally, and as a result of man’s intervention.
Wild animals abound, including badger, wild boar, fox, hare, mouflon and a very small number of Eurasian beaver. The golden eagle is the national bird of Germany.
Germany is a country that has had a huge impact on the world. The birthplace of Albert Einstein, Karl Marx, Beethoven, and the Brothers Grimm. It has given us precision engineering, the printing press, MP3 technology, and the aspirin.
Association football is Germany’s most popular sport, along with boxing, basketball, handball, tennis and horse riding. Winter sports and water sports are also popular. Germany also enjoys being at the forefront of the motorsports world.
The cuisine in Germany, although stereotyped to be pretzels, sausage and schnitzel, is far more extensive than that. German cheeses account for one-third of all cheese produced in Europe, and German bakers have a repertoire of about 600 main types of bread and 1200 types of rolls and pastries.
The US and Germany
Germany is one of the United States’ strongest and closest allies in Europe. E.U. member states are collectively the United States biggest trading partner, Germany as Europe’s largest economy, is at the heart of that relationship.
Germany and the U.S. share good political, economic and security relationships. They belong to the same following organizations
- United Nations
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
- G-20
- G-7
- International Monetary Fund
- World Bank
- World Trade Organization
Germany is also an observer to the Organization of American States.
Having a central position in Europe, Germany is used as a transport hub for the continent. Germany’s road network is among the densest in the world. The Autobahn, which is the third largest motorway network worldwide in length, is known for its areas of no speed limit.
Reaching Germany is not complicated. Frankfurt and Munich airports are amongst the world’s largest, with several hundred connections to Europe and the world.
For travel within Europe, both road and rail travel are popular means of transport thanks to Germany’s central position. Bordering nine other countries, Germany is the ideal European destination if you wish to explore other parts of Europe.
Once the ETIAS scheme comes into effect, when you have reached Germany, crossing borders into adjoining countries will be a simple matter at passport control.
FAQ about ETIAS Germany visa
List of US diplomatic offices in Germany
The Embassy of USA in Berlin, Germany
Address: Clayallee 170 14191 Berlin Federal Republic of Germany
Phone: +49-30-8305-0
Facts: Richard A. Grenell – Ambassador
Consulate of USA in Düsseldorf, Germany
Address: Willi-Becker-Allee 10 40227 Düsseldorf Federal Republic of Germany
Phone: +49-211-788-89-27
Fax: +49-211-788-89-36
Consulate of USA in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Address: Gießener Str. 30 60435 Frankfurt am Main Federal Republic of Germany
Phone: (069) 7535-0
Consulate of USA in Hamburg, Germany
Address: Alsterufer 27/28 20354 Hamburg Federal Republic of Germany
Phone: (040) 411 71 100
Fax: (040) 411 71 222
Email: HamburgPA@state.gov
The Embassy of Germany in Washington, USA
Address: 4645 Reservoir Road NW Washington, D.C. 20007 United States
Phone: (+1) 202 298 40 00
Fax: (+1) 202 298 42 61
Email: info@washington.diplo.de
Facts: Emily Haber – Ambassador
Consulate of Germany in New York, USA
Address: 871 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA
Phone: +1 212 610 97 00
Fax: +1 212 940 04 02
Consulate of Germany in Los Angeles, USA
Address: 6222 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 500 Los Angeles, CA 90048-5193
Phone: (323) 930-2703
Fax: (323) 930-2805
Consulate of Germany in Miami, USA
Address: 100 N. Biscayne Blvd., Suite 2200 Miami, Florida, 33132
Phone: (+1) 305-358-0290
Fax: (+1) 305-358-0307
Email: info@miami.diplo.de