The Schengen 90/180 rule: how to count your days

Tourists and short-stay visitors in the Schengen Area are usually allowed to stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period — counted across the whole area, not per country.

The 180-day "rolling window"

On each day you are in Schengen, look back over the previous 180 days: the total number of days spent in that period must not exceed 90. This is a "rolling window"; it does not reset with the calendar year.

Notes

• Both the day of entry and the day of exit count as days of stay.
• Long-term residence permits and national visas fall outside the 90/180 rule.
• Use the EU's official "Schengen calculator" to check before each trip.

Stay rules are an important factor when considering residency by investment in Europe — see also our article on Schengen.