The Schengen Area: 90 days in any 180
The 29 Schengen countries share one allowance: 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. Moving between France, Spain and Italy doesn't reset it. On any day you're in the area, look back 180 days (including today). You can't have been there on more than 90 of them. Both entry and exit days count.
The Schengen Area is Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Check your own trips with the Schengen 90/180 calculator, or see five worked examples.
European countries outside Schengen
| Country | Visa-free stay (US, Canadian, Australian citizens) | British citizens |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Up to 90 days, separate from Schengen | No limit (Common Travel Area) |
| United Kingdom | Up to 6 months per visit, with an ETA | Not applicable |
| Cyprus | Its own allowance, separate from the Schengen 90 days | Its own allowance, separate from Schengen |
| Albania, Serbia, Montenegro and other non-EU Balkan states | Each has its own national rules | Each has its own national rules |
Days in these countries don't use up your Schengen 90 days. Rules for specific nationalities can change, so check the country's official immigration website before you travel.
British citizens since Brexit
Since 2021, British citizens have been treated like any other visa-free visitor in the Schengen Area: 90 days in any 180. That is the single biggest change for UK second-home owners and long-stay travellers. Ireland remains unlimited for British citizens.
New border checks: EES and ETIAS
The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) started in October 2025. It records non-EU travellers' entries and exits digitally (with fingerprints and a photo) instead of passport stamps, so overstays are flagged automatically. ETIAS, a separate online travel authorisation for visa-free visitors, is planned to follow. Check the official ETIAS website for its start date before you travel.
How to stay longer than 90 days
- National long-stay (type D) visas: Schengen countries issue their own visas and residence permits for longer stays, such as digital nomad, retirement or non-lucrative visas, work, study and family. Time on these generally doesn't count toward your 90 days.
- Split your time: spend time in Ireland, the UK or other non-Schengen countries while your Schengen days roll off.
- Bilateral agreements: some countries have old agreements with certain nationalities that allow extra time in that one country. These are exceptions and are applied inconsistently, so get written confirmation from the embassy first.