Since Brexit, there was a lot confusion with the the 90/180 day rule within the Schengen Zone. I’ve been getting a whole lot of questions currently on this, so I’ve performed some deep diving – and truly realised I didn’t know as a lot as I ought to have BUT throughout this deep dive analysis I discovered a tremendous web site that makes the “in zone” calculations so easy.
*We work arduous to make this one of the best motorhome journey weblog and street journey web site doable, filled with useful content material for you. The web site is supported by our readers, so in case you purchase by way of hyperlinks on this web site we could earn a commission- at no further value to you. All opinions stay our personal.
In the event you discover this submit helpful, you possibly can additionally deal with us to a espresso – we promise to take pleasure in it whereas creating extra helpful content material like this- we’d even take pleasure in a biscuit (or two!)
The Fundamentals of the Schengen Zone
So the Schengen zone is a set of nations throughout Europe the place you possibly can solely spend a sure period of time in them as a collective. And that is the very first thing that lots of people have gotten unsuitable, or acquired confused with – it’s not 90 days in France after which 90 days in Germany after which 90 days in Spain, it’s 90 days in all of the nations within the Schengen zone, in each rolling 180 day interval.
Do you embody Eire in your calculations?
It doesn’t embody Eire and clearly it doesn’t embody the UK. So in case you have a british passport, you possibly can spend so long as you want in Eire and vice versa. So for instance, once I frolicked in Eire final 12 months, these days don’t depend in direction of days within the Schengen zone – these days labored out to outdoors of my rolling 180 days!
I’ve a Visa – I hear you say?
It’s acquired nothing to do with the ETIAS Visa that’s coming in 2025 (apparently), even when that is available in, the Schengen zone will nonetheless exist as will the 90/180 rule – I imagine.
Even in case you have a visa, you’ll nonetheless need to adjust to the 90/180 day rule. And clearly, it doesn’t apply to all people who’s acquired rights to reside in a rustic within the Schengen zone. It does apply in case you have a second house there, in case you don’t have a residency allow. So, for instance, maybe you personal a second house in France or in Spain and also you don’t have a residency allow, you continue to need to adjust to the 90 day rule.
Calculation Time!
I’ve discovered an internet site – ninety180.com that I like and I’m certain you would discover a manner of utilizing this in your telephone, so that you wont need to have a laptop computer. The web site’s acquired nothing to do with me, not affiliated and it’s completely free to make use of. It really works out days you might have used out of your 90 day allowance and one of the best factor is, it does it in a calendar format with the variety of days used displayed on every of the calendar days – You’ll see what I imply later.
So your 180 day interval will begin on the day that you simply enter the Schengen zone. So, for example – let’s name that the 01 June 2023. In the event you haven’t acquired an app or don’t wish to use one, you possibly can actually simply kind it into your selection of web search engine – “what’s 180 days earlier than the 1 June 2023” = 03 December 2022.
Essential Tip – Working backwards is safer to make sure you wont get caught out by forgetting to incorporate any earlier days within the Schengen Zone – which occurs! Bear in mind that the 180 days is rolling, so your earlier 180 days date will likely be constantly be transferring ahead.
So let’s have a look at this actually and use the web site ninety180.com
Calculations in case you HAVEN’T been to the Schengen Zone inside the 180 days
Let’s imagine, for instance, you’ve acquired a visit the place you’re going from the UK into France on the 01 June 2023 for 3 weeks, and land in France on the 01 June 2023:
So you possibly can see from the calculations above, that 3 weeks within the France from the 01 June 2023 (with no prior days within the zone from the 03 DEC 2022) is displaying that you’ve got the used 22 days out of your 90 day allowance – simple proper!
For the aim of readability let’s give an instance for extending the above mentioned journey – Let’s say you propose to do the journey in France from 01 JUN 2023 for the complete 90 days:
Now you can see the the way it’s calculating your time – based mostly on the calculations, your 90 days will come to finish on the 29 AUG 2023, which implies you must go away the Schengen Zone on the 29 AUG 2023.
Calculations in case you HAVE been to the Schengen Zone inside the 180 days
Utilizing the primary instance – you might be planning 3 weeks in France arriving on the 01 JUN 2023 BUT you had spent 3 weeks in, let’s say Germany from the 01 FEB 2023. Right here is how your calculations will look:
So you possibly can see from the calculations above, that 3 weeks in France from the 01 June 2023 and a earlier journey to Germany for 3 weeks, is displaying that you’ve got the used 44 days out of your 90 day allowance – simple proper! That is why understanding your rolling 180 days earlier than your deliberate journey is crucial – this may also affirm if any earlier journeys fall inside your 180 days.
Let’s give one other instance – so your present journey you’ll be arriving in France on the 01 JUN 2023 for 3 weeks and also you beforehand spent 3 weeks in Germany from the 01 FEB 2023 AND you additionally keep in mind you spent 3 weeks in, let’s say Germany from the 01 NOV 2022 (for the Christmas Markets) – how does this search for calculations?
So you possibly can see that your used days nonetheless stays as 44 out of your 90 day allowance. That’s as a result of we did the 180 days previous to the present journey to France (JUN 2023), we all know that the 180 days began from the 03 DEC 2022. So any days within the Schengen Zone earlier than 03 DEC 2023 doesn’t get counted as a part of your 90 days!!
What if you overstay?
I’ve really heard of individuals saying that borders/customs have been stamping passports as being “overstayed”, even when it’s been one or two days, once you go away the Schengen zone, which implies the following time you enter the Schengen Zone, the borders will have a look at your passport much more rigorously.
But in addition, in case you ever wished to get visas – which I believe we’re all going to need to do within the subsequent 12 months or two (with the ETIAS Visa – planning to come back in 2025) or in case you ever wish to do a residency allow, they’ll use your “overstay standing” stamp as a motive to refuse you entry.
And in case you do it repeatedly, then they’ll begin banning you. And I do know some folks had been fined, like, €200 every for overstaying for 2 days. Now, I don’t know whether or not that’s €100 a day or whether or not that was simply the advantageous, however it’s effectively price figuring out that there are penalties of overstaying your welcome.
Nonetheless confused?
In the event you struggled following all of the above – which I perceive, as it may be data overload and never everybody will get it, I didn’t at first so don’t fear. Right here is the video I did on the subject which can aid you higher perceive.
Conclusion
So utilizing this methodology clearly reveals you what number of days you might have used, once you’re going to overstay and what date to go away.
I hope that has made sense and clarifies the calculations for you. It makes it somewhat bit simpler to know that rolling 180 day interval. In the event you do have any extra questions, be at liberty to get in contact.
And if you’re visiting Europe for the primary time, whether or not that’s in a motorhome, campervan, caravan or a automobile, and also you desire a record of all of the issues that you must take with you and all of the paperwork that you simply want as effectively, then you possibly can it right here, together with the free guidelines.
New to motorhome or camper journey in Europe? You would possibly discover these posts useful:
See all our Europe motorhoming posts right here
NEED GEAR? In the event you want any package or necessities for motorhoming in Europe, right here’s what we advocate and the place to seek out it
