European Countries for Americans: All 29 Compared (2026)

In short

We cover 29 European countries: 27 EU members plus Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Americans can visit the Schengen area for 90 days in any 180 without a visa, but living in a country needs that country's residence permit — and each country offers different routes. 14 of them have a digital nomad visa, 13 a retirement or passive-income route, 7 an open investor (golden) visa and 12 a startup or founder route, which we cover in separate guides; employees can use the EU Blue Card in every EU country except Denmark and Ireland. Living costs range from about €1,280 a month in Bucharest to €3,800 in London (single person, central 1-bedroom included).

29
Countries with verified guides: 14
Offer a digital nomad visa: 13
Offer a retirement or passive-income route: 7
Investor (golden) visas open in 2026

All 29 Countries

Where in Europe Will You Live?

Every country we cover, grouped by region, with the visa routes it offers Americans and the monthly cost in its capital. Search or filter, then open the country.

Western Europe 6 countries

Central Europe 8 countries

Southern Europe 7 countries

South-East Europe 2 countries

Nordic 3 countries

Baltic 3 countries

Monthly cost: single person in the capital, central 1-bedroom plus everyday costs (Numbeo, 2026). Visa routes: our nomad, retirement, golden visa and startup guides.

European countries: key factsLast verified 28 September 2026

Visits	US citizens can stay visa-free up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, without working; entries are registered in the Entry/Exit System (fully running since 10 April 2026) Source: Entry/Exit System (EES) – European Commission Migration & Home Affairs
Schengen area	29 countries — 25 EU states plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein; Bulgaria and Romania became full members on 1 January 2025. Ireland and Cyprus are in the EU but not (fully) in Schengen Source: Schengen Area – European Commission Migration & Home Affairs
EU Blue Card	For highly qualified workers: salary of 1 to 1.6 times the national average (each country sets its figure), a contract of at least 6 months, and a move to another EU country after 12 months; not used by Denmark and Ireland Source: EU Blue Card: new rules to attract more highly-skilled workers (European Parliament)
Euro	Since 1 January 2026 (21st member; €1 = 1.95583 lev); lev not legal tender since 1 February 2026 Source: ECB: Bulgaria introduces the euro (1 Jan 2026) · Bulgarian National Bank: dual circulation period
Social Security abroad	US citizens can keep receiving Social Security payments while living in European countries (payments cannot be sent to a few countries such as Belarus) Source: Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States (SSA)

Where to Start

Start With Your Situation, Not the Country

Remote worker

You work for US clients or a US employer

14 countries offer a digital nomad visa; income bars range from about €24,800 a year (Italy) to about €5,200 a month (Romania).

Compare nomad visas →

Retiree

You live on a pension or savings

13 countries have a retirement or passive-income route — Portugal from €920 a month.

Compare retirement visas →

Investor

You want residence through investment

7 golden visa programmes are open in 2026, from €50,000 in a Latvian company to €800,000 in Greek property.

Compare golden visas →

Founder

You want to build a company

Startup and self-employment routes in 12 countries, and company formation in all 29.

Compare startup visas →

Employee

You have a job offer

For highly qualified workers: salary of 1 to 1.6 times the national average (each country sets its figure), a contract of at least 6 months, and a move to another EU country after 12 months; not used by Denmark and Ireland.

Work routes →

Heritage

You have European ancestors

Citizenship by descent can skip the visa entirely — for example in Ireland, Italy, Poland and Lithuania.

Citizenship by descent →

How to Choose

Four Questions Before You Pick a Country

Which route do you qualify for?
Income, savings, a job offer or an investment — the route narrows the list more than anything else. The visa finder gives a first answer.
Can you apply from inside the country?
US citizens can get any residence permit (Blue Card, skilled worker, freelance, study) at the local foreigners office after visa-free entry; Portugal and Italy need a consulate visa first.
What will you pay in tax — in Europe and in the US?
The US taxes its citizens wherever they live. Every country guide covers the tax treaty, Social Security and US filings.
Where in the country will you live?
Costs differ a lot between capitals and smaller cities — compare the 29 capitals.

Guides by Topic

Every Country Guide and Comparison

Which Countries Offer Which Visa?29 countries · click a tick for the details

The visa route decides where you can live. This table shows the main routes for Americans who are not moving for a local job — click a tick for the details.

Country	Nomad visa	Retirement	Investor	Startup	Schengen	Euro
Austria	–	✓	–	–	✓	✓
Belgium	–	✓	–	–	✓	✓
Bulgaria	✓	✓	–	–	✓	✓
Croatia	✓	–	–	–	✓	✓
Cyprus	✓	✓	✓	–	–	✓
Czechia	✓	–	–	✓	✓	–
Denmark	–	–	–	–	✓	–
Estonia	✓	–	–	✓	✓	✓
Finland	–	–	–	✓	✓	✓
France	–	✓	–	–	✓	✓
Germany	–	–	–	✓	✓	✓
Greece	✓	✓	✓	–	✓	✓
Hungary	✓	–	✓	–	✓	–
Ireland	–	✓	–	✓	–	✓
Italy	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Latvia	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Lithuania	–	–	–	✓	✓	✓
Luxembourg	–	✓	–	–	✓	✓
Malta	✓	✓	✓	–	✓	✓
Netherlands	–	–	–	✓	✓	✓
Poland	–	–	–	✓	✓	–
Portugal	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Romania	✓	–	–	–	✓	–
Slovakia	–	–	–	–	✓	✓
Slovenia	✓	–	–	–	✓	✓
Spain	✓	✓	–	✓	✓	✓
Sweden	–	–	–	–	✓	–
Switzerland	–	–	–	–	✓	–
United Kingdom	–	–	–	–	–	–

✓ = the route exists (click for the details) · – = no such route in our guides. Investor: programmes open in 2026 (Spain's closed on 3 April 2025). Not in Schengen: Ireland, Cyprus and the UK.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How many European countries can Americans move to?

Any of them, with the right residence permit. We cover 29 — the 27 EU countries plus Switzerland and the UK — with verified guides for each.

Which European countries have a digital nomad visa?

Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Malta, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Czechia — 14 in our guides.

Which European countries have a retirement visa?

Portugal, France, Latvia, Spain, Austria, Greece, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Belgium, Luxembourg and Ireland have a retirement or passive-income route.

Which golden visas are still open in 2026?

Portugal (funds and other non-property routes), Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Italy, Hungary and Latvia (company share capital only). Spain's closed on 3 April 2025 and Ireland's in February 2023.

Can I live anywhere in Europe with one visa?

No. A residence permit lets you live in the country that issued it; from a Schengen country you can visit the others for short stays, but not live or work there.

Written by US GO EU TeamResearched from official sources in each country · How we research and update

✓ Facts verified 28 September 2026

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