Schengen 90/180 Day Rule
How to calculate your allowed stay in the Schengen Area
The 90/180-day rule limits short stays in the Schengen Area to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period. All 30 Schengen countries count together — not individually.
- Max Stay
- 90 days
- Period
- 180 days rolling
- Scope
- All 30 countries
- Method
- Rolling window
How the rolling window actually works
The 90/180 rule isn't a calendar reset every January — it's a rolling 180-day look-back. On any given day, count the days you've been inside Schengen across the previous 180. If that total exceeds 90, you've overstayed. Entry and exit days both count as full days, and the clock keeps moving — a day burnt in March drops off in September.
Understanding the Rule
The Schengen 90/180 day rule is the cornerstone of short-stay limits in Europe. It states that non-EU visitors can stay in the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day rolling period.
This rule applies to everyone who is not an EU citizen — whether you are traveling visa-free with ETIAS, on a Schengen visa, or from a visa-exempt country. The key word is rolling: this is not a calendar-based reset on January 1st. Instead, it is calculated backwards from any given day.
How to Calculate Your Days
- 1
Pick your reference date
Start with the day you want to check (for example, your planned entry date or current date).
- 2
Count back 180 days
Look at the 180-day window ending on your reference date. This is your calculation period.
- 3
Add up all days spent in Schengen
Count every day you were physically present in any Schengen country during those 180 days. Both entry and exit days count as full days.
- 4
Check against the 90-day limit
If your total is under 90 days, you can stay for the difference. If it is at or over 90, you cannot enter legally.
Calculate Your Days
Do not do the math manually — use our free calculator to track your trips, see remaining days, and plan future travel without risking overstay.
Key Facts About the Rule
- Applies to
- All 30 countries
- Day counting
- Entry + exit
- Reset date
- None
- Who it affects
- Non-EU visitors
Schengen + associated states
Both count as full days
Rolling window, no fixed reset
Visa-free, ETIAS, and visa holders
Practical Examples
Example 1: Single long trip
You spend 60 days in France from March 1 to April 29. On April 29, looking back 180 days, you have used 60 days. You have 30 days remaining that you could use immediately, or save for later.
Example 2: Multiple short trips
You visit Germany for 14 days in January, Spain for 21 days in March, and Italy for 10 days in April. By late April, you have used 45 days in the last 180 days, leaving 45 days available.
Example 3: Reaching the limit
You stayed 90 days straight from January 1 to March 31. On April 1, you must leave. You cannot re-enter until July 1 — that is when your first day (January 1) finally drops out of the 180-day window.
Who Does This Rule Apply To?
Visa-free visitors: Citizens of countries like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan who do not need a visa for short stays
ETIAS holders: From late 2026, visa-exempt travelers will need ETIAS but still follow the 90/180 rule
Schengen visa holders: Even with a visa, you are limited to 90 days in 180 days (unless you have a long-stay visa)
Third-country nationals: Anyone who is not an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen