Entry rules · Schengen area
Germanyentry requirements
U.S. citizens can visit Germany without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across the whole Schengen area. ETIAS isn’t required yet.
Checked against official sources Oct 29, 2026 · Sources
Do you need a visa or travel authorization?
| Passport | What you need | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. citizens | No visa needed | 90 days in any 180-day period |
| British citizens | No visa needed | 90 days in any 180-day period |
| Canadians | No visa needed | 90 days in any 180-day period |
| Australians | No visa needed | 90 days in any 180-day period |
| EU citizens | No visa (EU free movement) | No limit |
ETIAS: Not required yet. The EU has not published a start date; it says it will announce the date several months before ETIAS starts, followed by at least 6 months when it isn’t enforced strictly. What we know so far.
Germany is in the Schengen area. Short stays are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period across all 29 Schengen countries together, not per country. Count your days with the Schengen 90/180 calculator. Your entries and exits are recorded in the EU’s Entry/Exit System: see the ETIAS and EES timeline.
Passport rules
Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area, and must have been issued within the last 10 years.
It must also have been issued within the last 10 years. Check the issue date, not just the expiry date: older passports can be valid on paper and still be refused.
- EU citizens: Your passport must be valid for your whole stay.
- British citizens: Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you leave.
Airlines check this at check-in. If your passport is close to the limit, renew it first: see the 6-month passport rule explained.
Changing planes in Germany
- U.S. citizens, British citizens, Canadians and Australians: Nothing extra if you stay airside. No airport transit visa for this passport, and ETIAS won’t be needed in the international transit area.
- EU citizens: Nothing extra if you stay airside.
More: Do I need a transit visa?
Travel insurance
Not required for entry: Travel insurance is not an entry condition for visitors who don’t need a visa, although border guards may ask how you would cover emergency costs. It is required for Schengen visa applicants (at least €30,000 of medical cover).
Official links
- ETIAS (official EU site)
- EES, Entry/Exit System (official EU site)
- European Commission short-stay calculator
Watch for look-alike sites. Use only the official addresses above. Sites that “process” your application charge extra for the same official form. How to spot a fake visa site.
Where official sources differ
- ETIAS start: European Commission pages from April and May 2026 said the last quarter of 2026; the official ETIAS site (checked October 29, 2026) says no date is set and it will be announced several months ahead. We follow the ETIAS site.
Official sources
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (visa list regulation), original text - EUR-Lex ·
LIST OF THIRD COUNTRIES WHOSE NATIONALS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO BE IN POSSESSION OF A VISA WHEN CROSSING THE EXTERNAL BORDERS OF THE MEMBER STATES FOR STAYS OF NO MORE THAN 90 DAYS IN ANY 180-DAY PERIOD
· checked 2026-10-29 - Main differences between the EES and ETIAS: What travellers need to know - Migration and Home Affairs (28 April 2026) ·
If you are a citizen of the United States and you intend to travel to any of the 30 European countries requiring ETIAS for a short stay, you will need to apply for a travel authorisation
· checked 2026-10-29 - Entry requirements - France travel advice - GOV.UK (page updated 2026-10-22) ·
You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes France, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Frequently asked questions - ETIAS ·
UK nationals, including British overseas citizens (BOC), British protected persons (BPP), British subjects (BS), are required to have a valid ETIAS travel authorisation to travel to any of the 30 European countries requiring ETIAS
· checked 2026-10-29 - Travel advice and advisories for France - travel.gc.ca (last updated 28 October 2026) ·
Tourist visa: not required for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period
· checked 2026-10-29 - France Travel Advice & Safety - Smartraveller (updated 30 October 2026 AEST) ·
There is no confirmed date for the implementation of ETIAS. The European Union will announce the date several months before its launch.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Documents you need for travel in the EU and Schengen countries - Your Europe (last checked by EU 16/06/2026) ·
As an EU national, you have the right to travel freely in the 27 EU member countries
· checked 2026-10-29 - Regulation (EU) 2016/399 (Schengen Borders Code), consolidated text 10.07.2024 - EUR-Lex ·
its validity shall extend at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States. In a justified case of emergency, this obligation may be waived;
· checked 2026-10-29 - Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (Visa Code), consolidated text 02.02.2020 - EUR-Lex ·
Nationals of the third countries listed in Annex IV shall be required to hold an airport transit visa when passing through the international transit areas of airports situated on the territory of the Member States.
· checked 2026-10-29
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