U.S. citizens entering countries participating in the Schengen Agreement do not need a visa for stays of up to three months, only a passport valid for the length of their stay. Schengen countries are members of the European Union and others that have adopted the Schengen laws. The agreement removed all internal borders between countries, allowing citizens of member countries to travel freely with only a passport or national ID card.
These countries are Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Malta, Greece, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus and the United Kingdom are partial members. The USA has an exemption for visas in Schengen countries, allowing movement around Europe without visas.
For less than a three-month stay, U.S. citizens need only present a passport when entering the United Kingdom. Ireland also does not require a visa for U.S. citizens, but some airlines may request that your passport be valid for at least six months after entry into the country. This is not a legal requirement, merely an airline policy. Bulgaria and Romania also waive visa requirements for U.S. citizens for three-month stays. Issues can arise if you leave the country for another European country and try to re-enter. Three-month stays technically apply to traveling through all European countries. Cyprus does not require visas for U.S. citizens for three-month stays. For stays longer than three months in any of these or other European countries, a visa or residence permit is a requirement. Obtain this permit by prior to travel application to the individual country's immigration service.
Outside of the EU, countries such as Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Belarus, Albania, Kosovo, Ukraine, Montenegro, Moldova, Serbia and Turkey still have individual policies for entry of U.S. citizens. Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine allow stays of up to three months without a visa. Albania may collect entry taxes from visitors, and both Albania and Ukraine enforce a minimum passport validity of six months after the entry date. Visas are a requirement for Turkey, and you can purchase these upon entry. Advance visas are necessary for Belarus.
