Schengen visa calculator: The 90/180 rule explained

Name : Axel Strauss
Date : 12/11/2024

If you’re traveling to one (or more) of Europe’s many Schengen countries, there’s a good chance you’ve already heard of what’s commonly referred to as the 90/180-day rule. Or, more specifically — the 90-day within any 180-day period rule. Admittedly, the math behind this somewhat ambiguous formula can feel a bit tricky at first. And yet, understanding the 90/180-day rule is essential for anyone going to the Schengen Area for more than a few weeks — and especially so if you’re planning multiple entries and exits.

Fortunately, the European Union offers a comprehensive tool to help travelers calculate their allowed days in the Schengen. And AXA has all you need to know about that —as well as the 90/180-day rule from start to finish — below!

• What is the 90/180-day Schengen visa rule?
• Who does the 90/180-day rule apply to?
• How to calculate the number of my remaining days in the Schengen
• The EU’s official Schengen-calculator
• Examples of how the 90/180-day rule calculations work
• How else can AXA help?

What is the 90/180-day Schengen visa rule?

The 90/180-day rule is basically a requirement that limits the maximum duration of stay for non-EU travelers in the Schengen Area. As such, it dictates that visitors can stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period — and that’s across all the Schengen countries.

The 180-day period, meanwhile, functions as a “rolling window.” In other words, you must calculate your days based on your travel history over the past 180 days — not just the previous three months.

So if you’re visiting the Schengen Zone for a significant period of time, it is crucial that you track your days accurately (but don’t worry — we’ll tell you how to do that in a sec).

Because by adhering to the 90/180-day rule you avoid not only overstaying your welcome but also some possibly serious penalties — such as fines or even re-entry bans.

Who does the 90/180-day rule apply to?

Firstly, the 90 days within any 180-day period limit applies to anyone granted a short-stay (aka Type C) Schengen visa* — from tourists to family visitors to business travelers.

But it’s equally important to know which countries don’t need a Schengen visa (i.e., whose home countries are visa-exempt) and which travelers are not allowed to stay in an EU and/or Schengen country for longer than 90 days within a 180-day period either.

Because no matter your visa status, if you decide to stay in the EU and/or the Schengen for longer than three months, you’ll generally need to apply for a long-term (aka Type D or “national”) visa with the consular authorities of the particular country you wish to stay in.

In short, unless you are a citizen of either the EU or the Schengen zone — visa or no visa — if you’re visiting Europe, the 90/180-day rule applies to you.

AXA can help you apply for a Schengen visa (as well as tell you who needs and doesn’t need one).

*PRO-TIPS: And if you apply, make sure you also understand what type of Schengen visa you need, your Schengen visa’s validity, and the number of entries to the Schengen you are allowed to make with it. Because most Schengen visas are valid for one year — meaning you will not be allowed to enter the Schengen area after this period (even if you have not yet completed the full 90 days allowed by the 90/180-day rule). Meanwhile, if you want to, say, enter and leave the Schengen multiple times — you’ll probably want to opt for a multiple-entry visa. So click around!

What is the difference between my length of stay and my Schengen visa’s period of validity?

Good question. Because — along with the 90/180-day rule — this bit has caused many a traveler a headache in the past too. And that subtle but important difference is as follows:

The Period of validity is the period from which you are allowed to enter and stay in the Schengen zone. When your Schengen visa is issued by the embassy or consulate of a Schengen state, you will find the period of validity of your visa on your visa label.

The length of stay, meanwhile, indicates the maximum number of days you are allowed to stay in the Schengen area (within the validity of your visa).

For example, say your Schengen visa is valid from January 1st to December 31st, 2025 (i.e., that’s its period of validity). During this period, you may only stay in the Schengen — with a “short-stay”, aka Type C or “tourist” visa, that is — for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period (i.e, that’s its length of stay).

Hopefully, that helps clear things up a bit!

How to calculate the number of my remaining days in the Shcengen

As for the math — well, you can of course use traditional methods of pen, paper, and/or calendar (Google or other) to track how many days of your 90-day limit in Europe you’ve already used up.

For said calculation, every day of stay in the last 180 days must be considered. And that includes all the days of entry and exit (whether consecutive or not) and in all the Schengen countries you visited.

Here’s a quick step-by-step breakdown of the exact calculation:

-Determine the start date (i.e., your planned entry date);

-Count backwards from this date to determine the 180-day period;

-Add up all the days you spent in the Schengen area during this 180-day period;

-Make sure that the total number of days of stay does not exceed 90.

If that made your head hurt, don’t worry — we’ve got a few practical examples of how it all works below too. But first, here’s something to help save you some time.
 

The EU’s official Schengen-calculator

Because no matter how good your math is — doing all the specific calculations can get overwhelming. Especially when you’re in a foreign place, on the road, applying for a visa and/or residency, and so on. And mistakes with the 90/180-day rule — although often quite gut-wrenching — are, therefore, not as uncommon as one might think.

So, thankfully, to assist travelers in calculating their remaining days in the Schengen Area, the EU’s official website now provides a hefty little tool they call:

The Schengen-calculator .

Based on your previous entries and exits to the Schengen, this little online gadget allows you to input your travel dates and determine how many days you have left in seconds. And AXA encourages you to give it a go!

PRO-TIP: To use the calculator effectively, you’ll need to have your travel history handy — including all your entry/exit dates* for the Schengen. These will help you ensure that you don’t break — well, you know, the rule (and/or exceed your Schengen visa validity, of course).

*IMPORTANT NOTE: The Schengen-calculator website explains that these are “dates of entry/entries on the basis of entry stamp(s) affixed by the authorities of the Schengen States in the past 180 days. And, therefore, “periods of stay authorised under a residence permit or a long-stay visa (Type D) shall not be taken into account in the calculation.”

Examples of how the 90/180-day rule calculations work

If you’re still feeling a bit lost, the online calculator above does include a “User’s Guide” section. But just in case, we’ve also compiled three simple, quick, practical scenarios to help you better understand your future 90/180-day calculations:

Example 1

Imagine you go to France for a short vacation and then decide to come back.

-Arrival: January 10
-Departure: January 20 (i.e., 10 days in the Schengen)
-Next planned entry: March 5

Calculation:

-Total Days Used: 10 days
-Days Remaining: 90 - 10 = 80 days available for the next stay.

Result:

By March 5, the calculator confirms that you have 80 days remaining — within the current 180-day period — to use for future travel.

Example 2

Or you spend some time in Italy and decide you want to see some more of sunny Europe.

-Arrival in Italy: March 15
-Departure from Italy: March 31 (16 days in Schengen)
-Arrival in Spain: April 5
-Departure from Spain: April 20 (15 days in Schengen)
-Next planned entry (Portugal maybe?): July 1

Calculation:

-Total Days Used: 16 (Italy) + 15 (Spain) = 31 days
-Days Remaining: 90 - 31 = 59 days available for the next stay.

Result:

The calculator tells us that on July 1, you will have 59 days remaining within the current 180-day period to use for future travel — be it for Portugal or anywhere else.

Example 3

Or maybe you opted for an extended holiday on the Spanish coast — and then decided you want to come back in the summer.

-Arrival: February 1
-Departure: April 30 (90 days in Schengen)
-Next planned entry: no sooner than August 1

Calculation:

-Total Days Used: 90 days
-Days Remaining: 90 - 90 = 0 days available.

Result:

The calculator shows that you used all 90 days by April 30. You will, therefore, not be able to re-enter until after July 30 — when the previous stay falls outside the 180-day calculation window (which started February 1st).

TIME-SAVING PRO-TIP: How to enter the dates

Oh, and the calculator’s “User’s Guide” has the following nugget of wisdom too — that the calculator uses the following date format:

dd/mm/yy

For example, “01/01/25” for January 1st, 2025. And there’s also no need to enter "/" either (i.e., you can just put "010125" too).

IMPORTANT NOTE: The official Schengen-calculator website also reminds visitors that “the calculator is a helping tool only” and that “it does not constitute a right to stay for a period resulting from its calculation.” In other words, make sure all your other legalities are in order too.

How else can AXA help?

And while Schengen visa (and other) travel rules are one of our areas of expertise, the best way AXA can help with your stay in the Schengen — and your subsequent adherence to the 90/180-day rule — is by providing you with some top-quality, affordable Schengen travel insurance.

For example, not only do our plans meet all the requirements for being granted your Schengen visa — but they also offer up to 180 days of coverage. And that’s throughout the entire Schengen (and sometimes beyond).

But there are plenty of other benefits too. So learn all about and compare our 3 comprehensive plans today, get a free Schengen Travel Insurance quote, and be one big step closer to making your next trip to the Schengen — whenever that happens to be — a safe and worry-free one!
 

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• Schengen visa costs
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FAQ

Does the 90/180-day rule apply to U.K. nationals?

Yes. Ever since Brexit (i.e., January 1st, 2021), all U.K. nationals have to abide by the 90/180-day rule as well.

Can I reset my 90-day allowance by briefly leaving the Schengen Area?

No, briefly exiting the Schengen Area doesn’t reset the 90/180 rule. The rule follows a rolling 180-day period — meaning all days spent in the Schengen Area within any 180-day window count toward the 90-day allowance. So crossing non-Schengen borders (and/or returning home briefly) will not rest your 90 days.

Can I extend my Schengen visa?

Yes, but only under exceptional circumstances. And AXA can tell you more about Schengen visa extension too.