Last reviewed 23 October 2026
How to use the Schengen calculator
- Add every stay in the Schengen Area from the last six months, plus any trips you have already booked. For a day trip, enter the same date as entry and exit.
- Pick the date to check. Leave it as today to see where you stand now, or choose the day you plan to arrive on your next trip.
- Optionally enter a planned trip length. The calculator tells you whether that trip fits and, if not, the earliest date you could make it.
Your trips are saved in your browser on this device only, so they will still be there next time you visit. Nothing is sent to us.
How the 90/180-day rule works
If you are not an EU citizen and you visit the Schengen Area without a visa (or on a short-stay visa), you can spend up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The important word is any. The rule is not "90 days, then 90 days off". Instead, on every single day you are in the Schengen Area, border guards look back over the previous 180 days, including that day, and count how many days you were there. That total must never be more than 90.
Two details catch many travellers out:
- Partial days count as full days. Arriving at 11pm and leaving at 6am the next morning uses two days.
- The days do not reset when you leave. Each day you spent in the area stays on your record until it is more than 180 days in the past, then it drops off the back of the window.
All Schengen countries share one allowance. Ten days in France and 20 days in Spain count as 30 days in total, not 10 and 20.
Since 10 April 2026, the rule is enforced digitally. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now records the date and place of every entry and exit for non-EU visitors, along with a facial image and fingerprints, instead of stamping passports. It calculates your days automatically, so overstays are flagged at your next border crossing.
Worked example
Sam, a UK passport holder, spends 1 January to 31 March 2026 in Spain. That is 90 days (31 + 28 + 31), so on 31 March Sam has used the full allowance.
Sam cannot go back on 1 April, because the 180 days up to 1 April still include all 90 January–March days. Days start dropping off from 30 June, when 1 January falls outside the window, so Sam can re-enter on 30 June. In fact, because one old day drops off for each new day used, Sam could stay a full 90 days from that date.
Sam would have a completely clean slate (no days used at all in the window) from 27 September 2026, 180 days after leaving.
Try entering those dates in the calculator above to see it for yourself.
Which countries are in the Schengen Area?
There are 29 Schengen countries. Days spent in any of them count towards the same 90-day limit:
| EU members in Schengen | Non-EU members |
|---|---|
| Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden | Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland |
Not included: Ireland and Cyprus (EU members outside Schengen), the UK, and countries such as Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City have open borders with Schengen neighbours, so in practice you can only reach them through the Schengen Area. Check the latest rules for any microstate you plan to visit.
Who does the rule apply to?
The 90/180-day rule applies to non-EU nationals visiting for short stays, whether visa-free or on a short-stay Schengen visa. That includes travellers with British, American, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand passports, among many others. It does not apply to:
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens (including dual nationals entering on their EU passport).
- People with a residence permit or national long-stay visa, such as a work visa or digital nomad visa, for their time in that country.
- UK nationals covered by the Withdrawal Agreement who were living in an EU country before 2021 and hold the relevant residence document.
EES and ETIAS: what is changing
The Entry/Exit System (EES) started a phased rollout in October 2025 and became fully operational on 10 April 2026. The first time you enter after it starts, you register your fingerprints and a photo. After that, crossings are logged electronically, and passport stamps are no longer used.
ETIAS is a separate online travel authorisation, similar to the US ESTA, that visa-free visitors will need before travelling. It is expected to launch towards the end of 2026, with a transition period before it becomes compulsory, expected around 2027. ETIAS does not change the 90/180-day rule: it is a permission to travel, not extra days.
What happens if you overstay?
Penalties vary by country, but can include a fine, a record on the EU's systems, being removed from the country and a ban on re-entering the Schengen Area. With EES recording your crossings automatically, even a short accidental overstay is likely to be noticed. If you are close to the limit, plan to leave a few days early to allow for delays and cancellations.
Frequently asked questions
Do the entry and exit days both count?
Yes. Any part of a day spent in the Schengen Area counts as a full day, so the day you arrive and the day you leave are both included. A trip from Friday to Sunday uses three days.
Does the 90 days reset after I leave Europe?
No. There is no reset when you leave. The 180-day window rolls forward one day at a time, and days only drop off once they are more than 180 days in the past. That is why you need to count back on every date you plan to be in the area.
Does time in Ireland or Cyprus count?
No. Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area, and Cyprus applies its own separate rules, so days there do not count towards your Schengen 90 days. Time in the UK does not count either.
I have dual nationality with an EU country. Does this apply to me?
If you enter and leave on your EU passport, the 90/180-day rule does not apply to you. It applies to non-EU nationals on short stays. If you hold a residence permit or long-stay visa for a Schengen country, days spent in that country under the permit are generally not counted.
Is this the official EU calculator?
No. This is an independent tool that applies the published rule. The European Commission also provides an official short-stay calculator. For important decisions, such as a long trip close to the limit, check with the official calculator or the embassy of the country you are visiting.
Do I need ETIAS to visit Europe?
Not yet. ETIAS, the EU's pre-travel authorisation for visa-free visitors, is expected to launch towards the end of 2026, with a transition period before it becomes mandatory, expected around 2027. Only apply through the official EU website when it opens, as copycat sites charge extra fees.
Important: this calculator is a planning aid, not legal advice. Rules can change and individual circumstances differ. Before travelling close to the limit, check the European Commission's official short-stay calculator and your government's travel advice (for UK travellers, GOV.UK foreign travel advice).