How Long Can I Stay in Europe?

Updated October 23, 2025

As an American, your length of stay in Europe depends on which countries you plan to visit. If you’re traveling to one or more of the 29 countries in the Schengen Area, which includes most of mainland Europe, then you can stay 90 days out of 180. This is known as the 90/180 rule or the Schengen Visa, even though no actual visa is required for Americans.

You can travel from one Schengen country to another without border checks or the need to show your passport. The 27 Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Traveling to or out of the Schengen Area is where the 90/180 rule kicks in. Basically, you can stay for three months out of every six months in the Schengen area. But your visits do not need to be consecutive. You can travel to a non-Schengen country and return to a Schengen country as long as your time in the Schengen area is 90 days or less within a 180-day period. The 180-day timeline starts from the first day you enter a Schengen country. The best way to keep track of the 90/180 rule is to use a Schengen calculator. I find this one the easiest to use.

Don’t overstay the Schengen Visa

Avoid overstaying the 90 days at all cost if you want to return to Europe. Penalties depend on the number of days you have overstayed, and the country where you’re caught. If passport control discovers you have overstayed your visa, you will most likely be fined and immediately deported, and you may be banned from entering the Schengen area for several years.

The new European Union (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) is a digital border management system that replaces traditional passport stamping with secure biometric records. The new system means your entry and exit from the Schengen area will be even more closely monitored. So don't take the risk.

How to legally stay longer than 90 days in Europe

If you want to extend your European stay beyond the 90 days, you can do what’s known as the “Schengen Shuffle.” It’s simply a matter of following the 90/180 rule and spending time in countries outside of the Schengen Zone. For example, you could spend three months in Germany, then fly to London and spend three months exploring the UK, Ireland and Northern Ireland. Then travel through Sweden for three months. Or you can alternate between spending one month in the Schengen area and one month out of the Schengen area. As long as you follow the 90/180 rule, you can keep traveling through Europe and surrounding countries indefinitely.

The only EU countries not in the Schengen area are Cyprus and Ireland. The United Kingdom and Albania are not a part of the EU nor the Schengen area. As an American, you can spend up to six months in the UK and one years in Albania without a visa. Other non-EU, non-Schengen countries are: Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, the Holy See, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, San Marino and Ukraine. Check out each non-Schengen country’s visa requirements, length-of-stay restrictions and travel advisories before visiting.

Apply for a long-stay visa

If you want to legally stay longer, mainly in one country, you can apply for a long-stay visa. Every country's visa requirements are different, and the type of visa you apply for will depend on whether you’re going as a tourist, a student, an entrepreneur or for a job. Be aware of whether the visa is a resident or non-resident visa. France offers a four to six-month non-resident tourist visa. However, its one-year visa is a resident visa which obligates you to abide by France’s income tax laws on your worldwide income, as well as banking and inheritance laws. Before applying for a visa, be sure to consult a tax accountant, financial planner and estate planner who are experienced in helping expats in the country where you are seeking a visa.

With careful planning, you can enjoy an extended stay in Europe.