How the Schengen 90/180 rule works
If you visit the Schengen Area visa-free — as US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens can — you may stay up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. It isn’t “90 days, then leave for 90 days.” On any given day, look back 180 days (including today): if you’ve been in Schengen for more than 90 of them, you’re over the limit.
Because the window rolls, the days you spent five months ago drop off one at a time. That’s why two people with the same total days can have very different answers about when they can return — it depends on when those days were. This calculator does the rolling count for you.
Which countries count?
All Schengen members count toward the same 90 days, including Bulgaria and Romania, which became full members in 2025. Ireland is not in Schengen, so time there doesn’t count; Cyprus applies Schengen rules but isn’t yet a full member. Days in the UK, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia or Turkey don’t count either — which is why long-term travelers often “reset” there.
What happens if you overstay?
Overstaying can mean fines, an entry ban and trouble getting a visa or residence permit later. The EU’s Entry/Exit System now records your entries and exits digitally, so overstays are easier for border officers to see. If you want to stay longer than 90 days, you need a national long-stay visa or residence permit — see our visa comparison and the digital nomad visa guide.
For the full explanation with worked examples, read our guide to the Schengen 90/180 rule.