Americans don't need a visa to visit Europe for short trips, but there are rules to follow. Here's everything you need to know about passport requirements, the 90-day limit, upcoming ETIAS changes, and when you actually do need a visa.
Planning a trip to Europe? Here's the good news: as an American, you don't need a visa to visit most European countries for a vacation. You can hop on a plane to Paris, Rome, or Barcelona with just your passport. But there are some rules you'll need to follow, and a few changes coming in 2026 that are worth knowing about before you book.
The Short Answer: No Visa Required for Tourist Trips
US passport holders can visit most of Europe without applying for a visa ahead of time. This applies to tourism, visiting family, short business trips, and attending conferences or events. According to the EU's official guidance, "there is no visa obligation for U.S. citizens" for short stays.
The catch? Your stay is limited to 90 days within any 180-day period. That's about three months of travel time across the Schengen Area. If you're just going for a two-week vacation, you won't come anywhere close to that limit.
Bottom line: For a typical tourist trip to Europe, just bring your valid passport. No visa application, no embassy visit, no extra paperwork required.
Which European Countries Can Americans Visit Without a Visa?
Americans can travel visa-free to all 29 countries in the Schengen Area, plus several other European destinations. Here's the full list of Schengen countries where your US passport gets you in without a visa:
Americans can also visit Cyprus and Ireland without a visa. Ireland has its own immigration rules separate from Schengen, allowing stays up to 90 days.
Recent change: Bulgaria and Romania became full Schengen members with land border integration in January 2025. Your days in these countries now count toward your overall 90-day Schengen limit.
What About the UK?
The United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) is not part of the EU or Schengen Area. Americans don't need a visa to visit the UK, but you do need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
The UK ETA became mandatory for American travelers on January 8, 2025. According to the UK Government, starting February 25, 2026, "eligible visitors without an ETA will not be able to board their transport and cannot legally travel to the UK."
UK ETA Quick Facts
- Cost: £16 (about $22 USD)
- Validity: 2 years or until your passport expires
- Stay allowed: Up to 6 months per visit
- Processing: Apply at least 3 days before travel; most approvals within minutes
The UK ETA is completely separate from the EU's upcoming ETIAS system. If you're visiting both the UK and mainland Europe, you'll eventually need both authorizations.
Passport Requirements
The US State Department notes that "your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the EU." This means if you're planning to leave Europe on July 15, your passport needs to be valid until at least October 15.
Your passport also needs to be machine-readable (almost all current US passports are) and ideally have a few blank pages for stamps.
Pro tip: If your passport expires within six months of your planned trip, consider renewing it before you go. This gives you a buffer in case your travel plans change or you decide to extend your trip.
Understanding the 90/180 Day Rule
The visa-free travel allowance for Americans in the Schengen Area is based on a rolling calculation: you can spend up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This sounds simple enough, but it trips people up when they're making multiple trips.
Here's what matters:
- The 90 days applies to the entire Schengen Area combined, not per country
- Both your entry and exit days count toward your total
- The 180-day window is rolling, meaning it's calculated looking backwards from today
For a deep dive into how this calculation works, check out our complete guide to the 90/180 rule.
Planning multiple trips? Tracking your days across several visits can get confusing. The Days Monitor app automatically calculates your remaining days based on your travel history, so you're never caught off guard at the border.
What's Changing in 2026?
Two new systems are affecting how Americans enter Europe:
Entry/Exit System (EES) - Already Active
Since October 2025, European borders have been collecting fingerprints and facial images from non-EU visitors. This replaces the old passport stamps with digital records. It's rolling out gradually across all border crossings and should be fully operational by April 2026.
ETIAS - Coming Late 2026
The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will require Americans to get pre-approved online before traveling to Schengen countries. It costs €20, is valid for 3 years, and works like the US ESTA system.
Important: ETIAS is still not a visa. It's just a pre-travel authorization. For the full details on ETIAS, including how to apply and what to expect, read our complete ETIAS guide.
When DO Americans Need a Visa for Europe?
The visa-free rules cover tourism and short business trips. You'll need to apply for an actual visa if you're planning to:
- Stay longer than 90 days in the Schengen Area
- Work for a European employer (even some remote work situations)
- Study at a European university or school
- Move or establish residency in a European country
The State Department recommends that "students, interns and workers should check with the embassy of the country before traveling" to determine visa requirements.
Options for Staying Longer Than 90 Days
If you want to spend more than three months in Europe, you have several options depending on your situation:
Working Holiday Visas
Americans can get 12-month working holiday visas in Portugal and Ireland. These are available to current students or recent graduates, with some age restrictions.
Student Visas
If you're enrolled in a European university, you can apply for a student visa that allows you to stay for the duration of your studies, typically with permission to work part-time.
Digital Nomad Visas
Several countries (Portugal, Spain, Croatia, and others) now offer visas for remote workers employed by companies outside Europe.
Non-Schengen Alternatives
You can extend your time in Europe by visiting countries outside the Schengen Area, which have their own separate limits:
- UK: 180 days allowed (with ETA), remote work permitted
- Albania: Up to 1 year visa-free
- Georgia: 1 year visa-free
- Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, North Macedonia: 90 days each (separate from Schengen)
Your Europe Trip Checklist
For most American tourists heading to Europe, here's what you need:
- Valid US passport (at least 3 months validity beyond your trip)
- UK ETA if visiting Britain (£16, apply before travel)
- ETIAS authorization (once it launches in late 2026)
- Awareness of the 90/180 day limit if making multiple trips
If you're making multiple trips or planning an extended stay, use our free Schengen calculator to figure out exactly how many days you have available. Or let the Days Monitor app track everything automatically in the background.
Entry requirements can change. Always verify current rules with the US State Department or the embassy of your destination country before traveling.
Track Your Schengen Days
Don't let visa calculations stress you out. Our free Schengen calculator tracks your 90/180 days automatically.
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