Do I need a Visa to go here? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

scorpricorn · 06-10-2005, 06:52 PM

I'm confused about visas...if i were to take a trip through Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, and possibly Denmark or Poland, would I need a visa for each of these countries or what? How can I get more info on which type of visa I need and for which country? Thank you :D

**Esterina** · 06-10-2005, 07:25 PM

To give you a proper answer, we would need to know where you're from.

scorpricorn · 06-11-2005, 12:27 AM

oops, sorry! i'm from the USA.

**tumblezweedz** · 06-11-2005, 03:40 AM

Generally, for tourist (short term) travel you wouldn't need a visa for any of the countries you listed, but you can check the current requirements on line (check the state dept website, those of the embassies of the countries you want to visit, or my personal favourite, look at a current let's go/lonely planet/whatever guide book and they have all the information, plus the websites if you want to double check.

**space virgin** · 06-11-2005, 12:55 PM

If you're a US citizen and you're planning to visit EU countries, or even some outside of the EU like Norway, you do not need a visa *unless* you're trying to get legal work. And getting a work visa is very, very difficult unless you're a student.

**Esterina** · 06-11-2005, 01:19 PM

Poland and Czech Republic will allow you to stay if your passport is still valid for a few months, and maybe also that you either have a travel medical insurance or enough money to provide for medical fees. Like Tumblezweedz said, check the travel books or state dept site, or click here :

Polish Embassy in the U.S.

Czech Embassy in the U.S.

**tumblezweedz** · 06-12-2005, 04:25 AM

Oh yeah, thanks Atchoum, I forgot about the health insurance. You MUST have proof of health insurance now to get into many of the new EU countries, so don't leave home without it. I have seen people denied entry to Lithuania and have heard stories about the same thing happening in other countries. If you don't have a stateside plan, buy a travel package (click "Cheap Travel Insurance" above for links.)

**worldwidemike** · 06-12-2005, 08:38 AM

That's a new one on me! I've never been asked to provide proof of health insurance. Maybe it's a new thing, then?

worldwidemike

**TheJake** · 06-12-2005, 01:55 PM

yeah same here, never heard that before.

showtimestafford · 06-12-2005, 02:10 PM

I think im un-insurable.

**tumblezweedz** · 06-12-2005, 09:39 PM

STS, being from an EU member state, maybe you don't have to worry about it.

WWM, JTP, yes, it is a new thing - we first encountered it coming back from Greece last March, when a traveller from Asia was denied entry because he didn't have proof of health insurance. He protested that he'd been to Lithuania lots of times before without this evidence, but they said, "rules have changed". (You can take the border guard out of the Soviet Union, but you can't take the Soviet Union out of the border guard!) Since then, many of our friends here have recounted similar stories.

Again, it's just one of those things that's cheap and easy to do before you leave, and prevents a problem upon arrival. Plus, once I had to cancel a trip to Morocco due to illness, and travel insurance got me my money back, so I'm a believer.

**MeTurk** · 06-13-2005, 02:20 AM

Quote:

STS, being from an EU member state, maybe you don't have to worry about it.

Yup, we don't need health insurance, infact you should aply for an E111 (it might just be called the medical card now) and you get free (or half payed for) medical treatment all over Europe (depending on how free their health system is) it also entitles you to step on one cat over a two week period.

(except in nordic countrys they like cats aparently)