The 90 days in 180 rule
What this means for UK travellers
Since the UK left the European Union (a customs trading area, not to be confused with Europe as a land mass), our freedom of movement has changed. There has been much confusion about what, where and for how long a UK passport holder can travel in those areas. So, here’s a guide to explain the rules.
First of all, you need to know that not all EU countries are in the Schengen Zone and not all Schengen countries are in the EU. Confused already? Let’s break it down into easy-to-digest bites.
Travelling to countries in the Schengen Zone
You do not need a visa if you are travelling to one of these countries if you are staying for 90 days or fewer in a 180-day period. The countries in the Schengen Zone are:
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
As of 31 March 2024, Bulgaria and Romania will have become the latest Member States.
Travelling to countries in the EU which are not in the Schengen Zone
You do not need a visa if you are travelling to one of these countries if you are staying for 90 or less in a 180-day period. The countries in the EU but not in the Schengen Zone are Cyprus and Ireland.
Your time spent in either of these countries does NOT count towards the 90 out of 180 in the countries that ARE in the Schengen Zone. For example, you could spend 90 days travelling through France, Italy, Slovenia and Hungary, spend a further 90 days in Cyprus (to reset your Schengen clock) and then travel back through Europe for 90 days.
What if I need to travel for more than 90 days?
If you are travelling for more than 90 days for work, you need to follow the guidelines for the specific country you will be visiting. If you are travelling for more than 90 days but not for work reasons, you need to check you meet the relevant entry requirements for the country or countries.
What if I have an EU passport? Can I travel for longer than 90 days?
The answer is yes AND no. If you have an EU passport, you can of course travel freely around the Schengen zone. But, if you plan to stay for more than three months in any one country, you do have to apply for the necessary visa or start a residency application.
So what is the difference between having an EU passport and a UK one?
If you have a UK passport, you can only spend 90 days out of a block of 180 days in any of the Schengen zones in total. After 90 days in the Schengen Zone, you must leave and return to the UK or leave the Schengen Zone entirely for 90 days.
If you have an EU passport you can spend up to three months in one Schengen country and then move to another for up to three months and so on.
To simplify: with an EU passport, each country is counted as a separate entity. If you have a UK passport, the Schengen Zone is treated as one whole entity.
How do I work out the 90 days out of 180?
This is where some of the confusion lies. The 90 days in any 180 is a rolling 180 days. So it is a moveable block. The easiest way to work out if your travel plans are within the 90-day limit, do the following steps.
- What is the date of your last day on your latest trip? This is the date you will leave the Schengen area and return to the UK
- Count back 180 days from that date to get to the start of the 180-day period
- Add up the number of days you have already spent in the Schengen area in that 180-day period. (Use the dates stamped in your passport which will show when you entered and left a country)
- Work out how many days you will spend in the Schengen area on this latest trip. Add this number to the number of days in step 3
- If the number is less than 90, you are OK. If it is more, you will not be legally allowed to travel and stopped from boarding at passport control
Schengen calculators
Remember, not all calculators are created equal! There have been some glitches and some of them may not be completely accurate. So, my best advice is to work it out manually, then cross reference using a couple of calculators. If you are still in doubt, err on the side of caution. It is best to leave a few days buffer in case of travel disruptions such as flight delays or ferry cancellations.
Here are links to a few of the more popular calculators:
https://www.visa-calculator.com/
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/visa-calculator/
https://schengenareacalculator.com/
Though this may add some frustration to your travel plans, it is now necessary. Plan ahead to avoid disappointment or even worse, fines and long-term bans. The UK government website is regularly updated and will always have clear and correct information. Always check there first to be 100% sure.
