Earlier this month, members of the European Union’s Parliament approved a measure calling for the EU Commission to urge full visa reciprocity. The United States and a few other countries still require citizens of Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania to obtain visas before visiting. If the U.S does not change their policy, visas will soon be required by Americans to enter these countries as well.
Facts about the potential visa reinstatement:
- This push stems from a two-year warning period to these countries to change their visa policies. The initial warnings went our in April 2014, which expired last year.
- The other countries warned were Canada, Australia, Brunei and Japan.
- Australia, Brunei and Japan have since lifted their visa requirements.
- Canada will lift their requirements by December 2017.
- These countries asking to change the visa policy were all formerly communist.
Next steps:
- A two-month deadline has already been established for the EU Commission to act if the U.S. does not change its policies. Though the commissions has said they may not respond until this summer.
What does this mean for business travelers?
- At this time nothing has changed. We will know more within the next few months.
- If the U.S. does not change their policy and visa requirements are reintroduced, it would likely be temporary, the EU says.
- If you travel frequently to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland or Romania, we will keep you posted via the blog.
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