Frequently Asked Questions

The rule allows non-EU visitors to spend a maximum of 90 days in any rolling 180-day period inside the Schengen Area. The 180-day window is not fixed to a calendar period — it moves forward every day. On any given day, you look back exactly 180 days and count how many of those days you spent inside Schengen.

There are 27 Schengen 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 Schengen members but not EU members.

No. The clock does not reset when you leave. It resets gradually — as days from your previous stay fall outside the rolling 180-day window. For example, if you used 90 days ending on June 1, you cannot re-enter Schengen until your oldest day (from ~December of the prior year) exits the 180-day window. Our calculator shows exactly when that happens.

Yes. Both the day you enter and the day you exit Schengen count as full days, regardless of the time of day. A trip that starts Monday and ends Wednesday uses 3 days, not 2.

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a pre-travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers, similar to the US ESTA. It is expected to launch in mid-2025. It will apply to nationalities that currently enter Schengen visa-free (e.g., US, UK, Canadian, Australian passport holders). It costs €7, is valid for 3 years or until your passport expires, and does not change the 90/180-day limit.

No. Ireland and the United Kingdom are not part of the Schengen Area. Days spent there do not count toward your 90-day Schengen limit. Each has its own separate entry rules.

Overstaying is a serious violation. Consequences can include fines, detention, deportation, a re-entry ban (typically 1–5 years), and difficulty obtaining future visas or entry to any Schengen state. Border officers can review your passport stamps going back 180 days. If you realize you are about to overstay, contact your country's embassy or consulate immediately.

Not under the standard 90/180-day rule. However, some countries offer national long-stay visas (Type D visas) that allow stays beyond 90 days. These are country-specific and do not automatically grant access to other Schengen states as a tourist. Examples include France's 'Visa de Long Séjour' and Germany's freelancer visa.

A Schengen visa (Type C short-stay) generally allows you to travel freely within the entire Schengen Area for tourism. However, the visa is usually issued by the country you plan to stay in longest or enter first. Always check the specific conditions printed on your visa sticker.

The SchengenAI calculator implements the standard rolling 90/180-day algorithm as defined in EU Regulation 2016/399 (Schengen Borders Code). It counts both entry and exit days as full days. However, it is a tool for informational purposes only. For legal certainty — especially before long stays, visa applications, or if you are close to the limit — always consult official sources or an immigration attorney.

The EU (European Union) is a political and economic union of 27 countries. The Schengen Area is a zone of 27 countries with open internal borders — but the members are not identical. Ireland is EU but not Schengen. Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein are Schengen but not EU. Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania joined Schengen in 2024.

Yes! Our Visa Checker page lets you select your passport nationality and see entry status (visa-free, visa required, eVisa, or visa on arrival) for 45 European countries, including max stay allowed and notes like ETIAS requirements. Use the link in the navigation or the button on the calculator results.