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The Schengen 90-day rule for US citizens.
How long Americans can stay · Updated 29 October 2026
The short answer
- 90 days in any 180, no visa needed. That's for tourism, visiting family or short business trips.
- It's 90 days for the whole Schengen area. Not 90 days in France and another 90 in Italy.
- Leaving doesn't reset the clock. Only time does: days stop counting once they're 180 days old.
- The UK and Ireland don't count. They're a common way to stretch a long Europe trip.
How the rule works for Americans
US citizens can visit the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. On any date, look back 180 days (including that date) and add up every day you were in a Schengen country. If the total is 90 or less, you're fine on that date.
Two details trip up a lot of people: the day you arrive and the day you leave both count as full days, and the 180-day window rolls forward every day. Our 90/180 rule guide walks through the count with five examples.
Where it applies
The 29 Schengen countries, together
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. There are usually no border checks between them, but every day still counts.
Countries that don't count
- The UK and Ireland. The UK asks Americans for its own Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
- Cyprus, which is in the EU but not in Schengen.
- Most of the Balkans and Turkey, such as Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia.
Each of these sets its own entry rules and limits, so check them before you go.
Passport rules
When you enter Schengen, your US passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave, and have been issued within the last 10 years. A valid adult US passport always meets the second rule. Many travellers allow 6 months of validity to avoid problems with airlines.
At the border
Since 10 April 2026, the Entry/Exit System (EES) has replaced passport stamps. The first time you arrive, you register your passport, a photo and fingerprints, often at a kiosk. After that, every entry and exit is logged and your days are counted automatically.
Border officers can ask for a return or onward ticket, where you're staying and proof you can pay for your trip. Have them on your phone.
Later, Americans will also need ETIAS, an online travel authorisation. It hasn't started yet and no date has been announced.
Example: a summer in Europe
Four months, within the rules
You want to spend June to September 2027 in Europe. You can't do it all in Schengen: that's more than 90 days. So you split it:
| Leg | Dates (2027) | Schengen days |
|---|---|---|
| Italy, France | 1 Jun – 29 Jul | 59 |
| UK, Ireland | 30 Jul – 20 Aug | 0 |
| Spain, Portugal | 21 Aug – 20 Sep | 31 |
When you come back on 21 August, the whole first leg is still in the window: 59 days used, so 31 left. You can stay until 20 September, and not a day longer. The three weeks in the UK and Ireland didn't give any days back; they just didn't use any.
Check this in the calculatorStaying longer
The 90 days are for visitors. To stay longer, to study, to work, or to live in Europe as a remote worker or retiree, you need a long-stay (national) visa or residence permit from the country you'll live in. Several countries offer digital nomad or non-working residence visas, each with its own rules. Time on one of these doesn't count towards your 90 days.
A few Schengen countries have older bilateral agreements with the US that can allow extra time in that one country. They're applied inconsistently at borders, so don't plan around one without confirming it with that country's embassy first.
Dual citizens
If you also hold a passport from an EU country, travel on it. EU citizens aren't limited to 90 days in Schengen, so use that passport both to enter and to leave.
Overstaying
An overstay can mean a fine, removal and an entry ban that applies to all Schengen countries. With the EES counting automatically, an overstay is flagged when you leave.
Questions
How long can a US citizen stay in Europe without a visa?
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area, counting all 29 Schengen countries together. Longer stays need a visa or residence permit from the country you're staying in.
Can I leave Schengen and come back to reset my 90 days?
No. Leaving doesn't reset anything. Days only stop counting once they're more than 180 days old. Time outside Schengen, for example in the UK or Ireland, just doesn't add new days.
Do the UK and Ireland count towards my 90 days?
No. The UK and Ireland are not in the Schengen area, and neither are Cyprus and most of the Balkans. Each has its own entry rules.
How long must my US passport be valid?
At least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area, and issued within the last 10 years. Many travellers allow 6 months to be safe.
Do Americans need ETIAS?
Not yet. US citizens will need ETIAS once it starts, but no start date has been announced.
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