The short version
- Americans can visit the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- The 90 days are shared by 29 countries. Days in the UK, Ireland or Cyprus do not use them.
- Ten Schengen countries have old deals with the US that may allow a longer stay in that one country.
- To stay longer than that, you need a visa or permit from one country.
How long can Americans stay in Europe?
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area, without a visa. This is for short stays, like a holiday or a visit. It is not a way to live there.
The 90 days are not per year, and leaving does not reset them. Read how the Schengen 90/180 rule works to see how the days are counted.
Which countries share the 90 days?
All 29 Schengen countries share one count. That is most of the EU, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Days in any of them add up.
Some of Europe is outside Schengen, so days there do not use your 90:
- The UK and Ireland.
- Cyprus. It is in the EU but runs its own 90-day count.
- Most of the Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.
- Moldova and Turkey.
Each of these has its own rules for Americans, so check them before you go. The Schengen calculator lists every country in and out.
Can Americans stay longer in one country?
Sometimes. Ten Schengen countries signed visa deals with the US before the Schengen rules began. The EU's official list names these for normal US passports:
| Country | What the deal allows |
|---|---|
| Belgium | 3 months |
| Denmark | 3 months |
| France | 90 days |
| Hungary | 90 days |
| Italy | 3 months |
| Latvia | 90 days in any 6 months |
| Netherlands | 90 days |
| Norway | 90 days |
| Portugal | 60 days |
| Spain | 90 days |
A deal only gives time in that one country. The EU rules for using one:
- Ask for it in time. When you arrive, or by the last working day of your 90 days.
- Stay in that country. The extra time does not cover the rest of Schengen.
- Leave from there. You exit Schengen through that country's border.
- Get it recorded. The country must enter it in your EES record. If it is missing, the system can flag you as an overstayer.
Each country runs its deal its own way. Check with that country's embassy before you rely on one.
How can Americans live in Europe for longer?
With a visa or permit from one country. Days in that country on a long-stay visa or residence permit do not use your 90. Trips to other Schengen countries still do.
Two routes to start with:
- A working holiday visa. Austria and Portugal run them for Americans, with a cap on places. Austria's is for recent graduates, with 100 places a year. Outside Schengen, Ireland runs one for students and recent graduates. See working holiday visas for Americans.
- Apply from inside Germany. US citizens can enter Germany without a visa and apply for a residence permit there, within 90 days of arriving. You still have to qualify for the permit. While you wait, you usually cannot work or travel.
Will the border know how long you stayed?
Yes. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records each time you enter and leave Schengen. It counts your days and flags you if you stay too long. Staying too long can mean a fine or a ban on coming back.
How do you check your days before you go?
Add your trips to our free Schengen calculator. It shows the days you have used, the last day you can stay and when you can come back. Pick your passport to see the US deals too.