Do Canadians need a visa for Europe?

Canadians can visit the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave. Some countries let Canadians stay longer under older bilateral agreements.

Checked against official sources on 10 November 2026. Not legal advice.

How long can Canadians stay in Europe?

Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all 29 Schengen countries. The Government of Canada explains that the 180-day period is counted backward from today’s date, and your 90 days include all stays in the Schengen area during the last 180 days. See how to count your days.

What are the entry rules for Canadians?

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure.
The Entry/Exit System is fully operational and records your entries and exits.
ETIAS is not live yet. The EU will announce the date several months ahead.

Can Canadians stay longer than 90 days without a visa?

The Government of Canada says some countries allow Canadians to stay beyond the 90-day limit, and that you may need to stay in that one country and not travel to others during the extra time. The European Commission’s 2019 list of agreements that can extend a stay includes Canada for:

Country	Stay under the agreement
Austria	3 months
Belgium	2 months
Denmark	3 months
France	90 days
Germany	3 months
Greece	90 days
Hungary	90 days
Iceland	3 months
Italy	3 months
Netherlands	90 days
Norway	90 days
Portugal	60 days
Spain	90 days
Sweden	3 months

Each country decides whether and how it still applies its agreement, so confirm with its embassy before you plan around it. The EU’s short-stay calculator does not count these agreements, and neither does Tally.

How does France’s agreement with Canada work?

The Embassy of France in Canada explains that under a 1950 agreement, Canadians can stay 90 days in metropolitan France regardless of earlier time in the Schengen area. The order matters: you can spend 90 days in other Schengen countries and then 90 days in metropolitan France, but not the other way round. You need to say you are using the agreement when you cross the French border.

What if you overstay?

The Government of Canada warns that overstaying could lead to fines, deportation or future entry bans. If no agreement applies, apply for the right visa before you travel. See what happens if you overstay.

Questions

Do Canadians need ETIAS?

Not yet. Once ETIAS starts, Canadians will need it before entering Schengen countries or Cyprus for short stays.