Visa Vista: European Visa requirements

If you come across this article, it is because you are pouring over countless websites to try and understand simply how long you can stay in the European Union (EU) or United Kingdom (UK).

You are in luck because I have spent too much time researching for you! The below information assumes US Citizens are travelling abroad for longer periods of exploration.

The EU has created a strategically important passport-free travel zone called the ‘Schengen’. It includes almost all European countries, more than just the EU. The list of Schengen countries simplifies the tracking of travel days because rules apply to all of them.

You can spend 90 days out of 180 days in any combination of the Schengen countries. The initial day of entry is when the 180 day period starts. Is it critical to track days and not months because months do not have the same amount of days. Once you depart the Zone, there is a 90 day no entry period. Once the 180 days elapses from that initial entry date you can return starting a new 180 day period.

Example: You enter France on January 1st. You then have 179 additional days to visit a Schengen country. Easiest method is to spend 90 days straight, then have the 90 day no entry.

Post-Brexit, the United Kingdom has its own travel policy where people can visit up to 180 days or 6 months. After that you must leave. There is no guidance about cool-down time for when you can enter again but the UK-Government website indicates not to be a habitual, repeat stayer over a short period.

To maximize travel time in Europe it is best to overlap these two policies to continue exploring while the ‘cooldown’ occurs. It is best to stay first in Schengen area for 90 days and then go to the UK for 90 to 180 day maximum, and then return to the Schengen area.

Important Concepts and References:

Schengen Area