What happens if the Schengen visa exceeds 90 days?

You can apply for a Schengen Visa to travel as a third-country national for short stays within the Schengen Area, such as for visits, tourism, or business purposes. However, with a Schengen visa C, you are not allowed to stay longer than a maximum of 90 days within 6 months in Germany or any other Schengen country. If you exceed this, you have overstayed your Schengen visa.

Are you in the Schengen area and have exceeded your 90-day Schengen Visa limit? We’ll show you how to act correctly now.

How do I know how long my Schengen visa is valid for?

When you receive a Schengen visa, it usually has a validity of one year. This is the period during which you may stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within 6 months (180 days). The Schengen visa sticker in your passport provides information about the latest date by which you must enter the Schengen area.

Your Schengen visa is invalid if:

• The validity period has expired.
• You have exceeded the stay duration of 90 days within 6 months in the Schengen area.
• You have exceeded the number of allowed entries.

To determine when you have overstayed your Schengen visa (i.e., stayed more than 90 days within 6 months in Schengen countries), the backward calculation method has been in place since 2013, according to Article 6(1) of the Schengen Border Code. In other words, if you want to enter the Schengen area, you must calculate backwards from the day of entry for 180 days and check if you have already spent 90 days in the Schengen area during that period. If you are unsure whether you have overstayed your Schengen visa and would like to know how many days you have left in the Schengen area, you can calculate the remaining days using the stay calculator.

The backward calculation method does not apply if you are a national of Brazil, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, Mauritius, or Seychelles. Due to an agreement with the European Union, the old forward calculation method applies here: i.e., 90 days within 6 months calculated forwards in time.

Note: If you leave the Schengen area after the 90 days (or earlier) and re-enter a member state at a later date within the validity period of your Schengen visa, the 90/180-day rule applies again, retrospectively from the new entry.

How do I read the Schengen visa sticker in my passport?

When you enter the Schengen area, you will receive a sticker in your passport when entering the first country. Therefore, your passport should have at least two consecutive empty pages. The Schengen visa sticker contains many important details, including the expiration date of your Schengen visa. The information is provided in English, French, and German.

The Schengen visa label in your passport contains extensive security features and is structured as follows:

Will I be fined if I overstay my Schengen visa by 90 days?

If you stay longer in the Schengen Area than your visa allows, your stay is illegal. This applies to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as the entire Schengen Area. If you stay longer in the Schengen Area without reason than your visa allows, it can lead to a entry ban. Depending on the Schengen country, a fine may also be imposed.

If you realize that you have exceeded the 90-day limit on your Schengen visa, you are required to:

• report to the local immigration office in Germany,
• report to the local authority, magistrate, or district office in Austria,
• and report to the Swiss representation responsible for your place of residence in Switzerland.

If you do not leave voluntarily, the immigration office may issue an exit order, which could lead to deportation.

How can I extend my Schengen visa?

The extension of your Schengen visa is only possible in exceptional cases:

• if you are unable to leave the Schengen Area due to force majeure, humanitarian reasons, or serious personal reasons before your Schengen visa expires after 90 days.
• if your entry into Germany or another Schengen state was delayed, and you could not fully use your Schengen visa.

In these cases, you can apply for an extension at the competent authorities of the member state you are in. This is set forth in Article 33 of the EU Visa Code. In Germany, you can apply for an extension free of charge in cases of force majeure. For serious personal reasons or delayed entry, an extension fee of 30 euros will be charged. Please contact the immigration office of the municipality for this.

Note: An expired Schengen visa cannot be extended.

Checklist for extending your Schengen visa

• Passport with valid visa
• Authorization with passport or ID card: If a personal appearance is not possible
• Completed application for Schengen visa extension
• Proof of sufficient financial means
  • Declaration of commitment and proof of sufficient financial means from the inviting person (bank statement / last three salary slips / for self-employed persons, income certificate from the tax consultant) or
  • Proof of own sufficient funds or
  • Possibly a reference letter from the competent embassy guaranteeing living expenses
• Health insurance
  • Travel health insurance for the duration of the stay to be extended or
  • Reference letter from the competent embassy with coverage of travel health insurance.
• Accidents and acute illnesses must be covered by the insurance in both cases.
• Other evidence

How can AXA help?

You can get your health and travel insurance with AXA online starting at 22 € per week. A certificate proving your insurance will be issued immediately, so you don’t have to wait with your visa application. AXA travel insurances are accepted at all embassies and consulates of Schengen countries.

These articles might also interest you

• Who needs a Schengen visa?
• What types of Schengen visas are there?
• Is the Schengen visa a visa for the European Union?
• What documents do I need for a Schengen visa application?
• How long is a Schengen visa valid?
• Which countries issue Schengen visas most easily?
• How can I extend my Schengen visa?
• Schengen visa refused: What can I do and how can I prevent it?
• EU Visa Regulation 2020: What's new with the Schengen visa?
• ETIAS or Schengen visa?
• Business visa for Germany: How to apply for your business visa

Frequently asked questions about overstaying the Schengen visa

Can a Schengen visa be extended?

A Schengen visa can be extended if there are reasons of force majeure, humanitarian reasons, or serious personal reasons. Additionally, you can extend your Schengen visa if your entry into Germany or another Schengen state was delayed and you could not fully use your Schengen visa.

When does a visa become invalid?

Your Schengen visa becomes invalid when the validity period has expired or if you have exceeded the 90-day stay within 6 months in the Schengen Area. It also becomes invalid if the allowed number of entries has been exceeded.

How often can a Schengen visa be applied for?

A Schengen visa can be reapplied for after its validity period has expired. However, you must first return to your home country and apply for your visa from there.