Entry Requirements Checker

The United States is not part of the Schengen Area, and Schengen visas or rules have no bearing on entry to Washington, D.C. Travelers from visa-waiver countries need ESTA authorization before departure; other nationalities generally need a US visa in advance.

Select your nationality

Good to know

A machine-readable or biometric passport valid for at least three months beyond your departure date is required.
The 90-day limit applies across the entire Schengen Area combined, not per country, so time spent in France or elsewhere in Schengen counts too.
Washington, D.C. is a federal district, not a state, with no voting representation in Congress, even though it sits between Maryland and Virginia and the wider metro area spans all three.
ESTA authorization or a US visa covers entry to Washington, D.C. and travel onward into Maryland and Virginia on the same trip.
Entry is always decided by a Swiss border officer on arrival, even with a valid visa or ETIAS authorization.

Entry requirements can change, and ETIAS implementation dates have shifted before. Always confirm the current rules on the official Swiss State Secretariat for Migration or EU ETIAS websites before booking. travel.state.gov · esta.cbp.dhs.gov