Dreaming of leaving the States, but not sure how or not willing to figure out a visa situation? You may not have to!
As you may know, Americans are able to travel to the Schengen Area (Germany, France, Italy, Croatia, Portugal, Sweden and so on, visa-free for up to 90 days. That is until ETIAS gets launched, which is looking like it won’t be enforced until sometime in 2027.
Thus, for now Americans are still permitted to stay within the Schengen Area so long as they comply with the 90/180-day rule. This means that U.S. travelers can only remain in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period.
So for those looking to stay past the granted three-month span, they’ll need to acquire some sort of visa (i.e. work, student, etc) to legally to do so. And if you aren’t familiar with the process, obtaining a visa can be quite complex.
Though countries like Barbados, Costa Rica, Dominica, and El Salvador lets U.S. travelers stay visa-free for up to six months, some people might be looking for an even longer lodging. In fact, the U.K. also permits Americans to remain in the country for up to six months, however they now must obtain an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) before their arrival.
Nevertheless, there is a dreamy European country that does allow Americans to stay for up to 365 days, visa-free, and that’s Albania. This beautiful country in the Balkans not only has coastlines on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, but features the Albanian Alps.
So long as U.S. citizens have a valid passport with at least one empty page, they’re able to remain within the country without a residence permit, states the U.S. Department of State. According to the Albanian Embassy, Americans who stay for up to one year will have to leave the country for at least 90 days before being able to re-enter the country again. U.S. citizens wanting to stay longer than 365 days must apply for a residency permit.
However, 365 days grants U.S. citizens ample amount of visa-free time to explore the country as they please. Americans can also take advantage of Albania’s low cost of living. Sources show that Albania’s cost of living, including rent, is nearly 48% less expensive than the United States.
So if you’re in dire need of a relocation, Albania might just be the temporary place for you!