The USA Visa holders are the most privilege people in the world. They can travel to any country without a visa. But unfortunately it is only for USA citizens, Canada and Bermuda passport holder. We are sorry for that. If you have travel documents of these countries, then you don’t need a visa to visit Schengen zone countries. The main reason is that all these 3 counties belong to Europe Union and Schengen. Currently, there is no Schengen visa for India, China, Russia and other nationals.

Are you a citizen of the USA, but currently under a VISA to visit any Schengen Area country? Or are you planning to apply one in the near future? In today’s post, we’ll be looking at whether US Citizens can get a Schengen Visa for any non-Schengen Area country as well as how to go about it.

There is something about traveling that we all love. We love it either because of what we are going to see for our eyes, or for the luxury hotel we will be staying at, or simply because of getting to know new places. Everyone likes to travel. However, you should know that in this world there are places that you cannot visit on your own terms. There are particular countries that do not allow some people from other nations entry inside their country without a visa, one of them being the Schengen region.

Schengen Visa For Us Visa Holder

If you are a U.S. citizen planning to travel abroad, and you must go through the process of applying for a visa, there is a particular visa that you may need to apply for in advance, called the Schengen visa. This can be confusing though because the term “Schengen Visa” refers to 3 different types of visas: 1) A short stay Schengen visa for tourism or business trips, 2) An airport transit visa which allows travelers to pass through and make layovers at international airports located throughout Europe but remain technically outside of Europe and 3) A long-stay Schengen or residency permit which allows you to spend several months or years in any one European country.

Americans Traveling to Europe – EU Visa and Entry Requirements for US Citizens

Traveling to Europe has never been easier, for most of the world countries. After most of the European countries have abolished the borders between each other, and require no visa from a lot of nations, their capitals are among the top tourism destinations around the globe.

American citizens and residents remain just as interested to visit Europe, as Europeans are interested in visiting the 50 North American states. However, due to the bureaucracy that exists in many countries when it comes to traveling, people in the US are often confused about whether they need to apply for an EU visa prior to their trip to the Schengen Zone, the procedures they shall follow, or the documents they need to obtain.

If you are a US national or a foreigner residing in the US, following this article, you can learn more about what you need to do to visit Europe, according to your case.

Do US Citizens Need an EU Visa to Enter Europe?

Citizens of the United States with a valid US passport can travel to 26 European member countries of the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days without having to apply or obtain a Schengen visa for short-term tourism or a business trip.

However, this changes when it comes to US residents of another nationality. Non-Americans residing in the US, that wish to visit Europe, may need or not need a visa, depending on their nationality.

• US residents coming from countries that have established visa-free regimes with the EU do not need to obtain a visa to enter Europe.
• On the other hand, US residents coming from countries that have not established a visa-free regime with the EU will have to apply for a Schengen visa in the US, in order to be able to enter any of these countries.

Note: (Starting from November 2023, US citizens will have to apply for an ETIAS prior to their travel towards Europe, in order to be allowed to enter the territory.)

What Documents Do Americans Need to Enter the Schengen Area?

Despite the fact that US citizens do not need to obtain an EU visa prior to their travel to Schengen, they still need to have some documents with them in order to be allowed to enter Europe visa-free zone.

When American travelers show up at the border to enter the Schengen Zone, they will be asked by the border guard to present the following documents:

• A US Passport. It must not be older than 10 years and it should be valid for at least three more months beyond its intended date of departure from the Schengen Area.
• Evidence on their purpose of entry. Documents that show why the US citizen is traveling to the Schengen Area.
• Proof of sufficient financial means. Documents that prove that the US traveler has the financial means to support themselves during their whole stay in Europe.

Please keep in mind that the border guard has the final say on whether a traveler should be permitted to enter the Schengen Zone or not. If you are rejected from entering any of the EU member states, then you will have to go back to the United States and apply for a regular Schengen visa.

If your entry is approved, you will receive a stamp with the date indicating your arrival in the country.

Which EU Countries Can Americans Visit Without a Visa?

Americans are among the lucky world travelers, permitted to enter and travel throughout the whole territory of the Schengen Zone/EU without having to obtain an EU visa.

The European countries where Americans can travel without having to obtain a short-term Schengen visa are:

Austria	Hungary	Norway
Belgium	Iceland	Poland
Czech Republic	Italy	Portugal
Denmark	Latvia	Slovakia
Estonia	Liechtenstein	Slovenia
Finland	Lithuania	Spain
France	Luxembourg	Sweden
Germany	Malta	Switzerland
Greece	Netherlands

How Long Can a US Citizen Stay in Europe Without a Visa?

Americans can stay in the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.

Please keep in mind that:

• The date of entry is considered the first day of stay
• The date of exit is considered the last day of stay.

Pay attention to the period you spend in the Schengen, since overstaying always results in consequences such as fines or deportation, even when it is unintentional.

Many people get confused when it comes to the 90/180 rule. But, the rule is very simple. The 180-day period keeps rolling. Therefore, anytime you wish to enter the Schengen, you just have to count backward the last 180 days, and see if you have been present there for more than 90 days throughout that period.

Note: Periods of the previous stay authorized under a residence permit or a long-stay visa are not taken into account in the calculation of the duration of a visa-free stay.

Check the Schengen calculator, to calculate your legal short-stay days in Europe.

Can a US Citizen Stay in Europe for More Than 90 Days?

If you need to remain longer than 90 days in Europe, then you must apply for a residency permit.

Is Travel Health Insurance Mandatory for US Nationals Traveling to Europe?

Travel medical insurance for Europe is not required for US citizens who do not need a visa to enter the Schengen zone. Nonetheless, it is highly recommended for travelers (both US citizens and non-US citizens) visiting Europe for business, tourism, and other purposes as well.

Travel Insurance in Europe will cover any medical emergencies such as illnesses or accidents, that occur throughout your trip.

How Do I Get Travel Insurance for Europe from the USA?

It is very easy to buy travel insurance for Europe from the USA.

1. Go to the website of AXA Assistance or Europ Assistance
2. Choose the travel insurance coverage area (Schengen only or Extended Europe).
3. Fill in the dates of your travel to Europe.
4. Get the price.
5. Pay online.
6. Get your travel insurance certificate via email.

Getting your travel visa insurance from AXA Assistance or Europ Assistance will allow you to fully enjoy your trip from the USA to Europe with peace of mind.

US Citizen Rejected from Entering Europe Visa-Free

As previously stated, if you were rejected from entering the Schengen Zone, despite being a US national or a national of a country that has established a visa-free regime with the European Union, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa in the United States.

You can apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate of the main country you wish to visit, located in the US.  Sometimes embassies outsource visa submission to the embassy or consulate of another Schengen country or third parties that offer visa services.

For more information, read the article “How and Where to Apply for a Schengen Visa in the US?“.

Americans to Apply for EU Travel Authorization starting 2023

US citizens will have to apply for an ETIAS prior to their travel towards Europe, in order to be allowed to enter the territory, by May 2023.

The ETIAS visa waiver stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System, which will require US passport holders to apply online for an entry permit in Europe before entering the area, similar to the ESTA that the United States use.

This process allows EU authorities to pre-screen all travelers and confirm their status before permitting them to enter or even board a flight to Europe, thus improving security measures throughout Europe.

US travelers will have to pay an amount of €7 when applying for an ETIAS. It is estimated that the application process takes around 10 minutes to complete. An ETIAS can be issued for three years and can be used to enter and remain in Europe for 90 days within a six-month period.

Travel Tips for Americans visiting Europe

Whether this is your first or second time traveling from the US to Europe, some extra tips for the trip are always handy. Listed and explained below, find some of the top tips for US citizens traveling to Europe, that will make your traveling easier and more pleasant.

Travel Off-Season

Most Americans visiting Europe want to see the Swiss Alps during winter and the Greek islands during summer. However, that is the time everybody else will be there as well. No overcrowded destination is fun and worth visiting.  That is why, if you travel off-season, you may find fewer people at the top European touristic sites and you will be able to enjoy them more. You will also be able to find cheaper accommodation and train tickets and tours.

Use Budget Airlines

When traveling from one European country to another try booking Budget Airlines.  Especially if you are traveling short distances. A few services less, the absence of most of which you will not even notice, will be better for your pocket.

Travel by Train

Though traveling by train is not so popular in the US, Americans traveling in Europe are highly advised to travel by train, especially between the Schengen states and cities. Traveling by train is among the cheapest means of transport in the old continent, and you will be able to enjoy the trip more since trains give you the chance to see more of Europe.

Befriend the locals

By all means, no one knows the cheapest and tastiest food shops better than the locals do. Try to chitchat with some of the locals, and they will show you where you can have a finger-licking meal, without having to spend too much. They will also show you interesting places to see, that not all tourists are aware of.  American tourists are always welcomed in Europe; therefore, you will be quite successful at doing this. In addition, you will make some new buddies that are a must to have a more memory-lasting journey.

Make reservations in advance

They are always cheaper, and not only. If you make reservations in advance as an American on a Europe trip, you will avoid wandering from one hotel to another to find a place to sleep, in case of overcrowded hotels. At the same time, you will avoid the risk of having to lose time, by waiting for the next flight, bus, or train, since the previous was full or even in long lines at tourist attractions.

Keep cash with you

If you are planning to use credit cards while traveling Europe as a tourist from the US, you should know that there are places in the old continent that only accept cash. In addition, having cash with you to pay for taxi rides, tips, and purchases at local markets will save you quite a lot of money on foreign transaction fees.

Not all European countries use the Euro

All US states use the American dollar but not all EU countries use the Euro. Despite the belief that the Euro is the common currency for all European countries, there are actually a lot of countries that use other currencies. For example, the Czech Republic uses Koruna, Liechtenstein uses the Swiss Franc and Poland uses Zloty.

Bring an umbrella

All Americans visiting Europe are highly advised to take an umbrella, which folds and can be kept in a backpack. In many European cities, especially in those located in Southern Europe as Ljubljana in Slovenia, Naples, and Turin in Italy, rain is always forecasted.