I have been seeing conflicting info online about leaving CPH airport during layover. My son is flying into CPH from Athens, planning on staying at a hostel in Copenhagen and visiting around before returning to the airport for the flight to Iceland then home flight to the US. I see that he wouldn't need a visa as long as he has a US passport and proof of his ticket, because of the limited time he will be there. I also see that he DOES need a visa to leave the airport. Can anyone confirm?
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8247 posts
If he has a US passport, then no visa is needed.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5696 posts
US citizens travelling on a US passport do not need a visa to visit Denmark. For Immigration purposes, his flight from Athens would be treated as a domestic flight, since both countries are within Schengen. He wouldn't even encounter Immigration until the exit Passport Control before his flight to the US.
Posted by
Freedonia
16597 posts
No visa needed. ATH to CPH is within Schengen. CPH to KEF is also within Schengen. (Like domestic flights although he might be asked for his passport by the airline as identification.)
He will need his passport leaving KEF as it will be stamped showing he is leaving Schengen.
I don't know where you read he would need a visa to leave CPH.
Posted by
Malinta, Ohio, usa
50 posts
I'm understanding that by may '25 us citizens will need a visa to travel the schengen areas of Europe. It's been postponed since covid, but I'm in the understanding it will be needed by summer '25, it's good for 3 years and around $30
Posted by
Chicago
1262 posts
Beginning (maybe) sometime in 2025, US citizens may be required to have an ETIAS travel authorization for Europe. This is not the same as a visa. Apply online and pay a fee. No need to send passport off to a consulate or embassy, etc.
This is a current requirement for US citizens entering Australia. Very easily handled.
Just monitor to see when and if the new policy is instituted!
https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en
edit - I missed that the original post is months old........ Presumably the trip has been taken!