Days Allowed

By passport

Schengen rules for US citizens

With a US passport you can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area for tourism or business, without a visa. The 90 days cover all 29 countries together, not each one.

Last checked 3 Nov 2026 against the official sources below.

How the 90 days work

  • One count. France, Italy, Spain, Germany and the other Schengen countries share the same 90 days.
  • A moving window. On any day, look back over the last 180 days. Each day you spent in the area drops out 180 days later; there is no fixed reset date.
  • Entry and exit days both count.
  • Outside the count: Cyprus has its own separate 90 days. Ireland and the UK are not in the Schengen area. The State Department notes that US citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for short trips to the UK.

The full method, with an example: the 90/180 rule explained.

Passport

  • Valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the EU (US State Department).
  • Issued within the last 10 years on the day you enter (EU).

At the border

The Entry/Exit System (EES) collects your fingerprints, a facial image, your passport details and your entry and exit dates. There is no fee and nothing to do in advance. Border staff may also ask for documents such as proof of lodging or a return ticket. More: EES explained.

ETIAS

US citizens are on the EU’s list of travellers who will need ETIAS. It isn’t running yet and the EU hasn’t announced a start date. See ETIAS.

Longer stays, study and work

  • More than 3 months: the State Department says to apply for a visa through the embassy of the country where you’ll spend most of your time.
  • Students, interns and workers: check with the embassy before you travel. If you need a visa, wait until you have it before travelling anywhere in the Schengen area.
  • A few Schengen countries have older bilateral visa waiver agreements with the US. The EU publishes the list countries have notified, last in 2019. Each country decides how its agreement works, and our calculator doesn’t apply them.

More: staying longer than 90 days.

Questions

Do US citizens need a visa for Europe?

Not for short trips to the Schengen area. With a valid US passport you can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism or business. For longer stays you apply for a visa through the embassy of the country where you’ll spend most of your time.

Is it 90 days per country?

No. Days in all 29 Schengen countries add up to one count. Cyprus has its own separate count, and Ireland and the UK are outside the area.

How long must my passport be valid?

The US State Department says at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the EU. The EU also requires it to have been issued within the last 10 years.

Do I need ETIAS?

Not yet. US citizens will need an ETIAS travel authorisation once it starts, but it isn’t running and the EU hasn’t announced a start date.

More guides

Sources

Last checked 3 Nov 2026.

A planning tool. Border officials decide.