Visiting Europe with US passport

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

I have Swiss, Irish and US citizenship, but my Irish and Swiss passports are long expired, and due to kids and finances I haven't visited Europe for many years, so I am no longer an experienced traveller....  I have two questions a quick google couldn't find answers to, so I thought I'd ask here:

-  Do I need a Schengen Visa/ ESTA equivalent for Europe if I am travelling on my US passport but am a citizen of the country I am visiting or a nearby Schengen/ EU country? I can take my old  Irish and Swiss passports with me but like I said, they are expired.
- Does the "US passport needs to be valid 3/6 months past your return travel date" thing still apply if you are a citizen of the country you are visiting (but your EU passport is expired?

[Quarknase 1,072]

I believe you need to apply for a new passport for one of your EU citizenships since you are required to enter with that passport.

[Dashinka 24,513]

I agree, I would look at renewing one of your European passports.  That being said, as a USC, it appears you can visit a Schengen country for up to 90 days for tourism, so you should be fine with just your US passport without the need for a visa.  A Russian co-worker was telling me the other day that she let her Russian passport expire and now when she goes to Russia, she applies for a tourist visa with her US Passport.  My wife on the other hand uses her valid Russian passport when going to Russia, but her US passport for all other travel.

 

 

The Schengen Borders Agreement permits citizens from certain countries - including the United States - to travel freely to 26 European countries within the Schengen area (see list below) for up to three months for tourism or business.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/schengen.html

 

Good Luck!

[igoyougoduke 1,656]

1 hour ago, Penguin_ie said:

I have Swiss, Irish and US citizenship, but my Irish and Swiss passports are long expired, and due to kids and finances I haven't visited Europe for many years, so I am no longer an experienced traveller....  I have two questions a quick google couldn't find answers to, so I thought I'd ask here:

-  Do I need a Schengen Visa/ ESTA equivalent for Europe if I am travelling on my US passport but am a citizen of the country I am visiting or a nearby Schengen/ EU country? I can take my old  Irish and Swiss passports with me but like I said, they are expired.
- Does the "US passport needs to be valid 3/6 months past your return travel date" thing still apply if you are a citizen of the country you are visiting (but your EU passport is expired?

you can use US passport  as long it is valid for at least 90 days beyond your intended date of departure from the Schengen area. Europe assumes you will stay for 90 days. so crunch the numbers.

[alun 73]

@Penguin_ie If planning to stay more than 90 days in a UE country , bring one of your expired passports .  I spent more than 90 days in a UE country ( I ' m a dual citizen ) and couldn ' t check in on line here in US . The airline refused to board me on a US passport and no Visa to the respective country . Good thing I  kept my UE passport even 15 years after it expired . With that one was able to board the flight . 

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

Thanks all!  It's a summer vacation thing, so more like 2 weeks each in Switzerland and Ireland, perhaps a few days in London if we can afford it, so the 90 day thing shouldn't be a problem.