Traveling in Europe

If you are planning to travel through Europe, you should be familiar with the requirements of the Schengen Borders Agreement. The Schengen Borders Agreement created Europe's border-free Schengen area, where anyone legally present in the European Union (such as tourists, exchange students, or individuals visiting for business purposes) are guaranteed free movement within the Schengen area without being subject to internal border checks. The Schengen Borders Agreement permits citizens from certain countries - including the United States - to travel freely within the Schengen area for up to 90 days for tourism or business. Today, the Schengen area encompasses most countries in Europe, and also includes four non-EU states: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. We recommend the following:

PASSPORT

• Have at least six-month’s validity remaining on your passport book at the time of entry into the Schengen area.
• Check the expiration date on your passport book carefully before traveling to Europe – especially minors’ passports, which are valid for five years, not 10 years like those issued to U.S. citizen adults age 16 and older.
• Carry your passport book when traveling to another country in the Schengen area. Even if there is no border check at that time, officials may reinstate border controls without notice.

You can find passport validity requirements for your destination country, along with other important information, on our country pages. If your passport does not meet the Schengen requirements, you may be:

• Refused boarding by the airline at your point of origin or while transferring planes. 
• Denied entry when you arrive in the Schengen area, regardless of how long you will stay.

An immigration official will determine if you qualify for visa-free entry to the Schengen area when you first cross any external Schengen border and present your passport. The officer may bar your entry if you do not qualify.

You should also check passport validity requirements if traveling onward from the Schengen area to a country outside the Schengen area in our country pages.

VISA

• With a valid U.S. passport book, you can stay up to 90 days for tourism or business during any 180-day period. You must wait an additional 90 days before applying to re-enter the Schengen area.
• If you plan to stay in the Schengen area longer than three months, contact the embassy of the country where you plan to spend the majority of your time to apply for a visa. 

Schengen area countries may reinstate temporary internal or external border control without advanced notice. U.S. citizens should carry their U.S. passport book at all times when entering or leaving the Schengen area and when traveling between Schengen countries. For additional information on traveling to and within the Schengen area, see our FAQ below.

FAQ

What is the Schengen Borders Agreement?

The Schengen Borders Agreement permits citizens from certain countries - including the United States - to travel freely within the Schengen area for up to 90 days for tourism or business.  

As a U.S. citizen, how long can I stay in the Schengen area without a visa?

With a valid U.S. passport, you can stay up to 90 days for tourism or business during any 180-day period. Do not overstay! You must wait an additional 90 days before applying to re-enter the Schengen area.

To stay longer than 90 days, you must have a visa. Apply for a visa through the embassy of the country where you will spend most of your time.

What do I need to enter the Schengen area?

• A U.S. passport book (with applicable visas, if needed), with at least six-month’s validity remaining at the time of entry into the Schengen area.  
• Sufficient passport validity for each country you will visit. 
• Justifiable purpose of travel.
• Proof of sufficient financial resources for the visit.
• Compliance with other entry requirements for each country you will visit or transit. 

What do I need when traveling to Schengen countries?

• Make sure your passport has sufficient validity or renew it before traveling.
• Carry your passport book with you when traveling to other countries in the Schengen area in case officials reinstate internal borders without notice.

Does the Schengen Borders Agreement apply to students, interns, or workers?

• Check with the embassy of the country before you travel to determine if it requires a visa for the type of activity you wish to pursue.
• If you DO need a visa, wait until you receive it before traveling to any country in the Schengen area. 

How can the U.S. government help me if border officials do not let me enter?

• We can give you the contact information of foreign embassies of the countries you wish to visit.
• We can provide information about hiring an English-speaking foreign attorney overseas if you choose to do so.
• Note: We cannot influence a foreign government’s decision about allowing you to enter, and we cannot intervene in another country’s criminal or administrative procedures. 

What countries are members of the Schengen Borders Agreement?

Click on the country name for more information.

Austria

Belgium

Croatia

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Italy

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Additional Resources

The European Commission’s Schengen Area website

The European Parliament’s Regulation 562/2006

The European Union website