Questions answered
Schengen Visa FAQ
Common questions about the Schengen Area's 90/180-day rule, visa requirements, and how to count your days.
What is the Schengen 90/180-day rule?
The 90/180-day rule allows non-EU/EEA nationals to stay in the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day period. The limit applies to the entire Schengen Area combined — not per country. A week in France and a week in Germany both count toward the same 90-day limit.
Is the 180-day window a fixed period or rolling?
The 180-day window is rolling, not tied to calendar dates. There is no reset on January 1st or every six months. Every single day, immigration looks back exactly 180 days and counts how many of those days you spent inside the Schengen Area. As each new day arrives, the oldest day drops off the back of the window.
Can I stay 90 days, leave, and immediately come back for another 90?
No. The 90 days are cumulative within the rolling 180-day window, not consecutive. Leaving the Schengen Area for a few days does not reset your allowance. If you used 85 days and leave for a week, you still only have 5 days remaining — not a fresh 90. Previous days only "reset" when they fall outside the 180-day rolling window.
Do entry and exit days both count as full days?
Yes. Both the day you enter and the day you leave the Schengen Area count as full days of presence. Even arriving at 11:55 PM uses that entire calendar day. Days are counted as calendar days, not 24-hour periods.
Is three months the same as 90 days?
No. Calendar months vary between 28 and 31 days, so three calendar months can be anywhere from 89 to 92 days. The Schengen rule specifies exactly 90 days — not "three months." Always count actual calendar days to avoid accidentally overstaying.
Which countries are in the Schengen Area?
The Schengen Area consists of 29 member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Note that Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are in Schengen but are not EU members.
Are Ireland and Cyprus part of the Schengen Area?
No. Ireland has a permanent opt-out from the Schengen Area (it maintains its own Common Travel Area with the UK). Cyprus is legally obligated to join but has not yet done so. Time spent in Ireland or Cyprus does not count toward your 90-day Schengen allowance.
Does the 90/180 rule apply per country or for the whole area?
The 90/180-day limit applies to the entire Schengen Area as a whole, not per individual country. If you spend 30 days in Spain, 30 in France, and 30 in Italy, you have used all 90 days — even though you only spent 30 in each country.
What happens if I overstay the 90-day limit?
Overstaying is a serious matter. Consequences vary by country but can include fines (typically several hundred to over a thousand euros), entry bans of 1–5 years across the entire Schengen Area, deportation, and a permanent record in the Schengen Information System (SIS). With the Entry/Exit System (EES), every entry and exit is tracked biometrically and even a single day of overstay is automatically flagged.
What is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a biometric border management system operating across all Schengen external borders. After a phased rollout that began in October 2025, it became fully operational on 10 April 2026. It electronically records the entry and exit of non-EU nationals, replacing manual passport stamping. The system automatically calculates remaining days under the 90/180 rule and flags overstays.
What is ETIAS, and does it change the 90/180 rule?
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors to the Schengen Area, similar to the US ESTA. It is expected to launch in late 2026, with a transitional period before it becomes mandatory in 2027. ETIAS does not change the 90/180-day rule — you will still be limited to 90 days in any 180-day period. It is an extra entry requirement, not a longer-stay allowance.
Do I need a visa to enter the Schengen Area?
It depends on your nationality. Citizens of around 60 countries (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and others) are exempt from visa requirements for short stays up to 90 days. All other nationalities need a Schengen short-stay visa (Type C). Even visa-exempt travellers must follow the 90/180-day rule.
How do I calculate my remaining Schengen days?
To calculate your remaining days: take today's date, look back 180 days, count every day you spent inside the Schengen Area during that window, then subtract from 90. The result is your remaining allowance. You can use our free calculator on the homepage — just enter your trips and it does the maths for you.
Does transit through a Schengen airport count toward my 90 days?
If you pass through immigration and enter the Schengen Area (even briefly), that day counts. However, if you stay in the international transit zone of the airport without clearing immigration, it generally does not count. Some nationalities need an Airport Transit Visa (ATV) even for airside transit.
Can I extend my stay beyond 90 days with a long-stay visa or residence permit?
Yes. A national long-stay visa (Type D) or residence permit issued by a Schengen country allows you to stay in that country beyond 90 days. Days spent under a valid long-stay visa or residence permit do not count toward your 90/180-day short-stay allowance. You can also travel to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in 180 days on top of your permit.
I have a Schengen visa — can I enter any Schengen country or only the one that issued it?
A valid Schengen visa allows travel across all 29 Schengen member states. However, you should enter through (or your main destination should be) the country that issued the visa. If visiting multiple countries for equal durations, enter through the issuing country.
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