Tips and Resources for Destination Specific Visas

Depending on your destination, there may be additional considerations when planning your outbound travel. Please see below for some common examples of destination-specific visas and travel regulations.

Schengen Visa

The Schengen area covers 26 EU countries without border controls between them.  The Schengen visa is an authorization issued by a Schengen State that allows transit through or an intended stay in the territory of the Schengen States for no more than 90 days in any 180 day period (short stay visa).

Please consult the official Schengen Visa information site for a full list of countries whose citizens require a Schengen visa. US citizens do not require a Schengen visa, but will need to receive ETIAS authorization starting in May 2025.  

ETIAS

Starting in 2025, US citizens traveling to EU member countries must register with the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. The intention of forming the system was to improve the security of EU member states within the Schengen region by capturing data on travellers that currently visit the area without a visa. More information on who needs ETIAS and application requirements can be found at the ETIAS official website.

Outbound China Visa

Travelers to China are encouraged to apply for a visa at least 2-3 months prior to departure, and should review the Entry and Exit Requirements section of the U.S. State Department’s country page for China. Please note that while no application result is guaranteed, applying as early as possible is strongly recommended.

Each Chinese consulate has different visa application requirements and processes. Visa applicants must apply to the consulate assigned to their consular district, which is based on the applicant’s state of residence.  The applicant’s state of residence must be proven using either a state-issued driver’s license, a state ID, an official lease, or a utility bill (gas, water, or electric) in the applicant’s name. Residents of Pennsylvania will use the Chinese Consulate of New York.

An invitation letter is often required as part of the Chinese visa application. A sample introductory letter and request form for an invitation letter from the PWCC is available on the Penn Global website.

Travelers may apply directly to the Chinese consulate in their consulate district, or they may elect to use a visa service provider. Using a service provider can be helpful to navigate the complexities of the visa process, though it does come with additional fees. Penn travelers may wish to use CIBT Visas or VisaHQ. More information is available on our Outbound Travel Visa page.

Further guidance for Penn travelers to China about travel to China is available on China Travel Guidance page.