Just this week, the European Commission confirmed that Americans will need to apply for a new travel permit to travel to 29 European countries starting in 2026 (you can see the full list here).
Called the ETIAS, this new document is what we call an online travel authorization, and it essentially functions as an e-visa: once implemented, unless you hold a valid permit, you will not be allowed to board flights to much of Europe.
Be that as it may, there are 7 European countries that will not be slapping similar requirements on Americans in the future, either due to having opted out of this controversial policy, or the fact that they do not need to follow directives from Brussels.
Starting with a long-time favorite for U.S. travelers across the pond:
Ireland
A hugely popular destination for Americans, particularly those who claim Irish ancestry, the Emerald Isle is one of a handful of European destinations that have refused to adhere to the new ETIAS.
Ireland has always had some interesting opt-outs in the grand scheme of things, that is, the European Union, from not being a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, which has essentially removed borders across participating states, to having its own border agreements with the U.K..
Now, they’re choosing not to tighten travel rules for American visitors.
From 2026, Americans can continue flying unimpeded to Ireland without applying for permits in advance, as long as they bring a valid passport, with an expiry date set for at least 6 months following the date of entry, and they’re not staying longer than 90 consecutive days.
That being said, different rules apply when visiting Northern Ireland, as it is a part of the United Kingdom, which has recently brought in its own ETA.
Albania
A former hidden gem and arguably one of the fastest-rising destinations in the Old Continent, Albania is wooing a growing number of tourists thanks to breathtaking nature, comprising alpine peaks and a turquoise coast, and cultural appeal.
Its quirky capital, Tirana is one of the most vibrant city breaks in Europe, and possibly the only place where you can find a concrete pyramid, an imposing Ottoman-style mosque, and communist-era bunkers all within a 3-mile radius.
The laid-back coastal settlement of Ksamil has been dubbed ‘Maldives of Europe‘ due to its white sands and teal waters, and for the history buffs out there, there is a charming Gjirokaster, a UNESCO-listed medieval town built entirely out of stone.
You could literally spend an entire year in Albania and still not see all that it has to offer, and lucky for you, you actually can stay a whole 365 days here without a visa as a U.S. passport holder—and must we add, Albania has no plans to roll out an ETA anytime soon.
Serbia
A much-overlooked landlocked country in Southeastern Europe, Serbia is best known for its sprawling capital Belgrade, a riverside metropolis on the banks of the Danube combining medieval heritage and modernist sights.
In case you weren’t aware, you can even fly nonstop to Belgrade from 2 U.S. cities, New York and Chicago, but hey, don’t just stay locally.
The Serbian countryside is absolutely beautiful and worth exploring, from the fairytale fortress at Golubac, to the Tara Mountains, with its steep cliffs, high-elevation meadows and alpine lakes—just like Switzerland, except Serbia has rakija.
Opa!
We suppose it’s a good time to mention Serbia, too, isn’t too keen on pushing Americans away with stricter entry requirements: from 2026, you can keep flying to this offbeat yet amazing country on a valid passport alone, as long as you’re not staying longer than 90 days at a time.
Kosovo
Kosovo is Europe’s youngest nation-state, having declared its independence unilaterally from Serbia less than two decades ago. Despite its recent struggle and tiny size (it’s only roughly four times larger than Rhode Island), it has boundless Old World charm.
Pristina is a youthful mid-size capital filled with locally-run cafes serving Turkish-style coffee and Albanian byrek for under $3, and Prizren is your typical cobble-paved town straddling a crystalline river, littered with medieval fortifications and Ottoman mosques.
If you’re a nature enthusiast, make sure you don’t miss out on the Sharr Mountains, a national park crisscrossed with hiking trails that lead to sweeping panoramas of the Kosovo plains, or the dramatic Rugova Canyon near Peja, with its footpath flanked by towering cliffs.
Traveling to Kosovo in 2026, your main concern is still being sensitive to the newborn country’s complicated past and relationship to Serbia (find out why you could be barred from Serbia for visiting Kosovo here), as there are no ETAs in sight.
North Macedonia
One of Europe’s most mysterious countries, as well as one of the least-visited, though we can’t fathom why, North Macedonia is best represented by its statue-littered capital, Skopje, and the peaceful, lakefront Ohrid:
Called Jerusalem of the Balkans, it has a whopping 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and some of those are incredibly ancient, including the 9th-century Church of Saint John at Kaneo, overlooking the lake.
Fortunately for Macedonia-bound Americans, they do not need to worry about applying for digital permits online before flying or crossing the land border:
Local authorities have not announced any plans as of yet to mimic the European Union’s ETIAS system, and as North Macedonia lies outside the EU, they’re not bound to impose the digital permit rule on Americans, at least until they join the bloc.
Based on how slow accession talks have been going, this status should be maintained for a looong time.
Montenegro
We’re sure you’ve heard of Croatia, but did you know if you keep driving south past the fortified town of Dubrovnik, to the very end of the Dalmatian heartland, you’ll hit the lesser-known, equally-beautiful country of Montenegro?
An extension of its most famous sister in many ways, Montenegro speaks a similar language (not to say the same language with dialectal differences), and its beach towns are also built of stone, with teal seas crashing against medieval walls.
Kotor is a mini Dubrovnik with smaller crowds, and a picture-perfect cobbled maze where narrow alleys lead to cafe-bordered plazas and Romanesque churches, and if you’re hoping for a relaxing time by the coast, look no further than the resort hotspots of Budva and Tivat.
In spring, this 4-star hotel in the heart of Budva, within walking distance of the main pebbly beach and the historic center, will set you back by only $35.50 per night per adult.
Oh, and guess what?
In 2026, and until Montenegro officially joins the European Union, a process that should take many more years, you won’t be required to obtain any additional permits to travel to the Balkan nation.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
A hidden gem of the Western Balkans, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a fascinating multi-ethnic state home to Muslim Bosniaks, Orthodox Serbs, and Catholic Croats, and with a diverse cultural landscape that reflects that.
You could find Ottoman-era mosques, monumental Orthodox basilicas, and Neo-Gothic basilicas all in one city (hello, Sarajevo), and if you’ve ever wondered where exactly in Europe that quaint riverside town with an ancient bridge spanning an aqua-colored stream is located, that would be Mostar:
A historically-significant city on the banks of the fast-flowing Neretva, it is littered with medieval sights, and it is the distinctive postcard of Bosnia.
Underrated as it is, Bosnia’s affordability should be yet another big draw for Americans going to Europe, with grilled meat, or ćevapi costing as cheap as $5 in some restaurants, and a whole jug of local beer priced at a nearly-negligible $3.
Last but certainly not least, U.S. citizens aren’t being targeted with tougher visa rules traveling to Bosnia in 2026:
As the country is not a participating member of the European Union, nor the Schengen Zone, you get a whole 90 days there without an ETIAS.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
