Schengen calculator for US citizens: the 90/180 rule

Yes, you can visit visa-free. With a valid US passport you can stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, for tourism or business visits. The 90 days cover all 29 Schengen countries together, not each one. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the day you plan to leave.

The 90/180 rule in short

On any day you're in the area, look back over the last 180 days, including today. The days you spent in Schengen countries in that window must not add up to more than 90. Arrival and departure days both count as full days. The window rolls forward one day at a time, so there is no fixed date when your count resets. For the details, read the 90/180 rule, explained and how Schengen days are counted.

The Entry/Exit System

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) started gradually on 12 October 2025 and has been fully running since 10 April 2026. It replaced passport stamps. The State Department's guidance for US travelers says the EES takes your fingerprints, a facial image, your passport details and your entry and exit dates, that there is no fee, and that you don't need to do anything before you travel.

What it means for you: the border now has an exact record of your days, and overstays are detected automatically. Without stamps, you also lose the easy way to check your own dates. Keep a log of every entry and exit. Our EES guide explains the EU's official check and how to request your record.

ETIAS: not yet

ETIAS is a travel authorization that visa-free visitors, including US citizens, will need before traveling to 30 European countries. As of September 2026 it is not in operation. The EU's official ETIAS site says no applications are being collected and that the start date will be announced several months before launch. No date has been confirmed. The State Department's page, last updated in November 2025, said it was planned for late 2026; the EU has not confirmed that. When it starts, it will cost EUR 20 and be valid for up to 3 years or until your passport expires. It won't change the 90/180 count. See ETIAS in 2026.

Bilateral agreements with the US

Before Schengen existed, several European countries signed visa-waiver agreements with the United States. Some are still notified to the EU as allowing a longer stay in that one country. The Danish Immigration Service, for example, says US citizens may stay in Denmark for up to 3 months counted from their first entry into Denmark, whatever time they spent in other Schengen countries before, minus any time in Denmark in the previous 6 months. The EU's most recent published list (2019) names US agreements with several other states too. Poland isn't among them, despite a popular belief.

Staying longer than 90 days

To stay more than 90 days, the State Department's advice is to apply for a visa through the embassy of the country where you'll spend most of your time. Students, interns and workers should check with that embassy even for shorter stays, and wait for the visa before traveling. A national long-stay visa or residence permit only stops your days counting in the country that issued it: long-stay visas and residence permits explains which days still count.

Use the calculator

Enter your past and planned trips in our free Schengen calculator to see your days used, days left and the first day you can come back. It counts on the rolling 180-day window, like the border does. With a free account you keep your trips and get an email before you run short. If you've already used your days, read when you can return.

Not legal advice. This guide explains the published rules as we understand them on the date above. Rules and how they're applied change, and border officers make the final decision. Check the official sources below, and get professional advice for your own situation.