The Schengen Visa 180/90 Day Rule

The Schengen Visa 180/90-Day Rule And Why It Doesn’t Reset

If you have a short-stay multiple Schengen visa with 90 days stay, you can stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. But many people wrongly think that this time starts over (or “resets”) when they leave the Schengen Area or at the start of a new month. It doesn’t.

What Does the 180/90 Rule Mean?

You can stay in the Schengen countries for 90 days in total over the past 180 days. These 180 days are always moving, so each day you are in the area, you look back at the last 180 days to count how many days you've already used.

Why It Doesn’t Reset

The rule does not start over when you leave the Schengen Area. For example, if you stay 90 days and then leave, you must stay out of the Schengen Area for another 90 days before you can return. A short trip outside does not give you a new 90 days, the time keeps moving forward day by day.

What Happens If You Stay Too Long?

If you stay longer than allowed, you might face:

• Fines

• A ban from entering Schengen countries again

• Trouble getting a visa in the future

  
  

To avoid problems, it’s important to keep good track of your travel days or use an online Schengen calculator.

Final Tip

Before you travel, count 180 days back from your planned last day in the Schengen Area. Make sure you haven’t used more than 90 days in that period. Careful planning helps you follow the rule and avoid legal issues.