Schengen 90/180 rules for US citizens
US citizens can visit the Schengen Area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The count covers all 29 Schengen countries together, not each country separately.
Facts checked 28 September 2026. Entry rules change. Confirm them with the official source linked in each section before you travel.
Visa-free, but only for short stays
With a US passport you do not need a visa for tourism, family visits or business meetings of up to 90 days in any 180. Working, or staying longer, needs a national visa or permit from the country concerned.
Your passport must be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen Area, and under Schengen rules it must have been issued within the last 10 years. The US Embassy in France recommends six months of validity to be safe.
Sources: US Embassy Romania: entry and exit requirements; US Embassy France: travel to France; Schengen Borders Code, Article 6
EES: your days are now counted at the border
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational at every external Schengen border since 10 April 2026. It applies to US citizens on short stays and replaces passport stamps.
On your first entry it records your passport details, a facial image and four fingerprints. After that, every entry and exit is logged with its date and place. Children under 12 are not fingerprinted.
The system counts your days for you. If you stay past 90 days in any 180, you are listed as an overstayer automatically — no stamp needs to be read.
Sources: EU: EES FAQ; EU: data held by the EES; European Commission: EES fully operational (10 April 2026); US Embassy Poland: Entry/Exit System
ETIAS: not in operation yet
ETIAS is a travel authorisation, not a visa. When it starts, US citizens will need one before travelling to Schengen countries and Cyprus. It will cost €20 (no fee under 18 or over 70) and last three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
As of 28 September 2026 it is not running and no applications are being taken. The EU has said it will announce the start date several months in advance, followed by a transition period in which travellers without ETIAS are not refused. ETIAS will not change the 90/180 rule.
Sources: EU: what is ETIAS; European Commission: ETIAS will cost EUR 20; EU: ETIAS timeline explained
Denmark: a separate agreement for US citizens
Denmark has an older bilateral agreement with the United States. Denmark's immigration service says US citizens may stay in Denmark for up to three months counted from their first entry into Denmark, regardless of time spent in other Schengen countries before. Only earlier time in Denmark within the previous six months is deducted.
It covers Denmark only. It does not add days you can spend anywhere else in Schengen. Plan to leave the Schengen Area directly from Denmark, keep proof of when you arrived there, and confirm with the Danish authorities before you rely on it.
You may also read that US citizens can stay extra time in Poland under a 1991 agreement. Since EES started on 12 October 2025, Poland is reported to no longer apply it at the border. Do not plan on it.
Other countries appear on an EU list of bilateral agreements for US citizens, but we could not confirm how each applies them today. Our bilateral agreements guide explains what to check.
The 90/180 count itself does not change
Whatever passport you hold, the count works the same way. On every day you are inside Schengen, look back 180 days. The days you were present must not exceed 90. The day you arrive and the day you leave both count. All 29 Schengen countries share one pool of days.
See it worked through with real dates in the Schengen calculator for US citizens.
Check your own dates
Add your past stays and see how many of your 90 days you have used, and the last day you can stay if you entered today. Built for US citizens and anyone else on a visa-free short stay.
Common questions
- How long can a US citizen stay in Europe without a visa?
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all 29 Schengen countries combined. Time in non-Schengen countries such as the UK or Ireland does not count toward those 90 days.
- Do US citizens need ETIAS right now?
- No. As of 28 September 2026 ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are being taken. When it starts it will cost €20 and last three years. The EU will announce the date several months ahead.
- Can a US citizen stay longer than 90 days in Denmark?
- Denmark's immigration service says US citizens may stay up to three months in Denmark counted from first entry there, regardless of earlier time elsewhere in Schengen. It covers Denmark only. Confirm with Danish authorities before relying on it.