Planning a trip to the European Union (EU) is an exciting endeavor, but it’s crucial to understand the 90 day EU tourist visa to keep track of your visa’s validity to ensure a smooth and enjoyable stay.
If you’re traveling on a 90-day tourist visa, it’s essential to be aware of how many days you have left within the EU out of the 180 they give you. Here’s a guide to help you navigate your 90-day EU tourist visa and calculate your remaining days:
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Understanding the 90 Day EU Tourist Visa
The 90 day EU tourist visa out of 180 day rule is a key regulation for those traveling with a short-stay Schengen visa, allowing tourists to stay in the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. This means that once you’ve spent 90 days in a row within the Schengen Area, you must wait for another 90 days before re-entering.
However if you go in and out of the EU, it gets a little bit trickier to track how many days you’ve been there within 180 days, and also when these 180 days starts and ends! Keep reading for the easiest ways to figure it out.
The 180 Days is “Rolling”
The most confusing part of this 90/180 rule is figuring out when the 180 days starts and ends. Is it from January to June then July to December? Is it from the first day you arrived in the EU?
Both answers could be right, but the most accurate answer is that the 180 days are “rolling”, meaning they are within the last 180 days from the day you are checking.
For example, if you want to check how many days you have left from today onward, you need to check how many days you’ve been in the EU from today through the 180 days BEFORE today.
EXAMPLE: Today is November 5th. The start of my 180 days as of today would have been May 5th. In that time period I was in and out of the EU for 50 days. That means I still have another 40 days I can be there. (The best way to figure this out is with one of the online calculators below).
Tracking Your Stay
To calculate the number of days you have left on your 90-day tourist visa, it’s crucial to keep a meticulous record of your entry and exit dates. Note down the specific dates you entered and left the Schengen Area and make sure to calculate the total number of days you’ve spent within the region.
You’ll need this information to use the online calculators below.
Using Online Calculators
Various online tools and calculators are available to help you effortlessly determine the number of days you’ve stayed in the Schengen Area.
These calculators can simplify the process and provide accurate calculations, allowing you to plan your itinerary accordingly and avoid any issues related to overstaying your visa. However, don’t solely rely on them. If you are unsure, your safest bet is to attempt asking an immigration officer.
Here’s some online EU Tourist Visa calculators to try:
Consulting Immigration Authorities
If you’re uncertain about the remaining days on your 90-day EU tourist visa, consider reaching out to the immigration authorities in the country you’re visiting or a local embassy for guidance. They can provide you with accurate information and clarify any concerns you may have about your visa status by checking your passport information.
To be safe, if you are really unsure, ask the immigration officer when you enter the country, not when you’re leaving, in case you have overstayed the 90 days.
Exiting the Schengen Area on Time:
To comply with the 90/180 rule, ensure that you exit the Schengen Area before your 90-day limit is reached. Plan your departure in advance to avoid any last-minute complications or overstaying, which could lead to penalties or difficulties with future travel plans.
We know many people like to go with the flow when traveling, which is great, just make sure you know which day you need to flow out of there by!
What Happens if You Overstay Your 90 Day EU Tourist Visa?
If you enjoy the ease of traveling to the EU, and how amazing it is to be there, don’t overstay your 90 day visa. Overstaying your tourist visa can result in fines, and even getting completely banned from the EU!
Are There Long Term EU Visas?
There are several ways to get a longer term EU visa, but they usually aren’t easy to obtain. If you’re looking for one just for travel purposes, it usually isn’t worth it, but if you’re looking to live in the EU either short or long term, these are your options, all of which are different in each country, so be sure to look them up depending on where you think you’ll be living:
- Student Visa
- Temporary Work Visa
- Regular Work Visa
- Digital Nomad Visa
- Non-Lucrative Visa
- Domestic Partnership Visa
- Golden Visa
- Marriage 😉
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xx, Alyssa
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