Norway is the latest European country to update its travel information for the United States, informing its citizens of stricter entry conditions and changes related to gender recognition. Read more about the Norwegian travel update for the US.
A growing number of countries are issuing travel advisories for the US, including Canada and several European nations, prompting some visitors to reconsider their trip plans. While most government advisories don’t specify why they were added, the timing suggests that they were influenced by the Trump administration’s executive orders regarding immigration and the tightening of border policies.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the updated advice in March. Included in the updated advice is a section on the entry rules. The foreign ministry said that a visa or an ESTA waiver no longer guaranteed entry and that the final decision would be made by immigration officials.
It reads: “The ESTA or visa does not guarantee entry. It is the immigration authorities on arrival who make the final decision. The Norwegian authorities cannot intervene in this decision.”
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Many of the European countries that have issued US travel warnings have flagged the White House’s executive order that states “it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female,” potentially causing issues for transgender travelers with self-identified or “X” gender markers on their passports.
It suggests that travelers whose current gender identity differs from the gender listed on their birth certificate should contact the U.S. Embassy before traveling.
“Violations of US law, false statements about the purpose of your stay, or previous overstays in the US may result in you being rejected at the border,” the advice says.
The recent uptick in travel warnings is already having a significant impact on US tourism, as several of the advisories were issued by countries that are top drivers of inbound travel to the US, including Canada, the UK, and Germany.
Travelers from Norway and other visa waiver programs typically have visa-free access to the US for up to 90 days. This is in addition to a valid passport.
The same applies to other non-US nationals who travel to the US from Norway. However, some foreign nationals would also need a visa, depending on their nationality.
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Related: Vaccinations for Safe Travel
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Norway joins a growing list of European countries that have revised their information for citizens traveling to the U.S.
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Norwegian Travel Update For the US, compiled by Tor Kjolberg.
Feature image (top) © Avinor.