US passport · Schengen area
Do US citizens need a visa for the Schengen area?
In brief
No. US passport holders can visit the Schengen area visa-free (90 days in any 180).
Schengen visa-free stay for US citizens: 90 days in any 180. Official rule. Source: European Union, Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, checked .
Schengen visa fee for US citizens: 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 | Not stated by the official source |
| Official fee | None for visa-free entryOnce ETIAS starts, it will cost EUR 20 (some travellers are exempt) and be valid for up to three years or until the passport expires.4 |
| Official processing | Nothing to apply for |
| Where to apply | Nothing to apply for to visit visa-free |
Do US citizens need a visa for the Schengen area?
The European Union, Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (EUR-Lex consolidated text of 30.12.2025) lists the US 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
You can stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period: count back 180 days from each day of your stay, and the total must not exceed 90.
If you are visiting any country in the Schengen Area, you are usually allowed to stay for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. This is known as a “short stay”. You must count back 180 days from each day of your stay and ensure the total number does not exceed 90.
European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs · checkedAt the external border the EES records your name, passport data, fingerprints and facial image, and the date and place of each entry and exit.
The EES is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of 29 European countries using the system. The system registers the person's name, travel document data, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images) and the date and place of entry and exit, in full respect of fundamental rights and data protection.
European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs · checkedYour passport must be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave, or you can be refused entry (exceptions apply).
Make sure your passport is valid for three months after your intended departure from the European countries requiring ETIAS - you will be refused entry at the border if it is not ( exceptions apply ).
European Union, official ETIAS website · checked
Fee
Visa-free entry costs nothing.
Once ETIAS starts, it will cost EUR 20 (some travellers are exempt) and be valid for up to three years or until the passport expires.
European Union, official 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
- The Entry/Exit System (EES) started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational since 10 April 2026, replacing passport stamps. European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs · checked
- ETIAS, the coming travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors such as US citizens, is not yet in operation and takes no applications; the EU will announce its start date several months before launch. European Union, official ETIAS website · checked
- Checked against the official sources on this page: the rule above still holds.
FAQ
Is the Schengen area visa-free for US citizens 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 US citizens?
Visa-free entry costs nothing. Once ETIAS starts, it will cost EUR 20 (some travellers are exempt) and be valid for up to three years or until the passport expires.
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 US 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
- European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs: entry conditions
- European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs: changes and entry conditions
- European Union, official ETIAS website (travel-europe.europa.eu): changes, fees and entry conditions