Canadian passport · Schengen area
Do Canadians need a visa for the Schengen area?
In brief
No. Canadian passport holders can visit the Schengen area visa-free (90 days in any 180).
Schengen visa-free stay for Canadians: 90 days in any 180. Official rule. Source: European Union, Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, checked .
Schengen visa fee for Canadians: none for visa-free entry.
LIST OF THIRD COUNTRIES WHOSE NATIONALS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO BE IN POSSESSION OF A VISA WHEN CROSSING THE EXTERNAL BORDERS OF THE MEMBER STATES FOR STAYS OF NO MORE THAN 90 DAYS IN ANY 180-DAY PERIOD
European Union, Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (EUR-Lex consolidated text of 30.12.2025)
Checked 6 Nov 2026Source: European Union, Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (EUR-Lex consolidated text of 30.12.2025)Report a change
Independent reference, not a government website. We don't issue visas or sell visa services.
ContentsIn brief
At a glance
| Access | Visa-free · 90 days in any 180 |
|---|---|
| Stay | 90 days in any 180 |
| Validity and entries | An ETIAS will be linked to your passport and valid for up to 3 years or until the passport expires, for any number of short stays within the 90/180 limit.5 |
| Official fee | None for visa-free entryOnce ETIAS starts, the application fee will be EUR 20 (raised from EUR 7); applicants under 18 or over 70 will not pay it.6 |
| Official processing | Nothing to apply for |
| Where to apply | Nothing to apply for to visit visa-free |
Do Canadians need a visa for the Schengen area?
The European Union, Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (EUR-Lex consolidated text of 30.12.2025) lists Canada among the countries whose nationals can visit without a visa. Stay: 90 days in any 180.
“LIST OF THIRD COUNTRIES WHOSE NATIONALS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO BE IN POSSESSION OF A VISA WHEN CROSSING THE EXTERNAL BORDERS OF THE MEMBER STATES FOR STAYS OF NO MORE THAN 90 DAYS IN ANY 180-DAY PERIOD”
Conditions and exceptions
Canadians need no visa for the Schengen area for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and days in every Schengen country add up.
Canadian citizens do not need a visa to travel to countries within the Schengen area. However, visa-free travel only applies to stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Stays are cumulative and include visits to any Schengen area country.
Government of Canada, Global Affairs Canada · checkedYour passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave the Schengen area and must have been issued within the last 10 years.
Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave the EU and it must have been issued within the last 10 years.
European Union, Your Europe portal · checked
Schengen visa types for Canadians
An ETIAS will be linked to your passport and valid for up to 3 years or until the passport expires, for any number of short stays within the 90/180 limit.
European Union, official EES/ETIAS website · checked
Fee
Visa-free entry costs nothing.
Once ETIAS starts, the application fee will be EUR 20 (raised from EUR 7); applicants under 18 or over 70 will not pay it.
European Union, official EES/ETIAS website · checked
These are government fees as the official sources state them. Agencies add their own service fees; those are not visa fees, and we don't list them.
Processing time
Nothing to apply for to visit visa-free (90 days in any 180). For visas, the official sources we read state no processing time.
Documents and entry checks
What changed
- Since 10 April 2026 the Entry/Exit System registers your fingerprints and facial image at the external border instead of stamping your passport; it started on 12 October 2025. European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs · checked
- ETIAS is not in operation yet and no applications are taken; the EU will announce the start date several months before launch. European Union, official EES/ETIAS website · checked
- Canadians will need an ETIAS once it starts, applied for online and paid only on the official EU website; dual citizens of Canada and an ETIAS country must travel on their European passport. Government of Canada, Global Affairs Canada · checked
- EU ministers endorsed a timeline in which ETIAS is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026, followed by transitional and grace periods of at least 12 months; the exact date will be announced by the European Commission. European Union, official EES/ETIAS website · checked
- Checked against the official sources on this page: the rule above still holds.
FAQ
Is the Schengen area visa-free for Canadians now?
Yes: visa-free (90 days in any 180). Checked on 6 Nov 2026 against the European Union, Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (EUR-Lex consolidated text of 30.12.2025).
How much does a Schengen visa cost for Canadians?
Visa-free entry costs nothing. Once ETIAS starts, the application fee will be EUR 20 (raised from EUR 7); applicants under 18 or over 70 will not pay it.
Can I get a Schengen visa in 7 days?
There is nothing to apply for to visit visa-free (90 days in any 180). The official sources we read state no processing time.
Other trips on a Canadian passport
Sources
Official sources only. Each was checked on the date shown.
- European Union, Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (EUR-Lex consolidated text of 30.12.2025): entry rule
- Government of Canada, Global Affairs Canada (travel.gc.ca travel advice): entry conditions, documents and changes
- European Union, Your Europe portal (europa.eu): entry conditions and documents
- European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs: changes
- European Union, official EES/ETIAS website (travel-europe.europa.eu): changes and visa types
- European Union, official EES/ETIAS website (travel-europe.europa.eu): fees
- European Union, official EES/ETIAS website (travel-europe.europa.eu): changes