What this calculator actually checks
The short-stay rule is a rolling test, not a simple “90 days every six months” allowance. For each day you are present, look back across that day and the previous 179 days. The total presence in the Schengen Area must not exceed 90 days. Entry and exit days both count as days of stay.
Worked examples
One continuous trip
If you enter on 1 March and leave on 30 March, that is 30 days, not 29. Both border dates are counted.
Two trips that overlap the rolling window
Suppose you spent 45 days in Schengen in January and February, then plan another trip in June. Some of the earlier days may still sit inside the 180-day look-back when the June trip starts. As old days fall outside the window, room can reopen one day at a time. This is why adding 90 days to your last exit date is not a reliable planning method.
Past check versus future planning
Use a past-date check to reconstruct whether you were within the limit on a particular date. Use planning mode to test a proposed future entry after adding all completed short stays that can still fall inside the relevant look-back period.
Cases this tool does not decide
A long-stay visa or residence permit can change how time is treated. A short-stay visa can also authorise fewer than 90 days. Bilateral arrangements, nationality-specific rules, border decisions and periods that should be excluded require separate verification. Do not enter periods spent under a residence permit or long-stay visa as ordinary short stays without checking the applicable rule.
Common mistakes
- Counting nights instead of calendar days.
- Counting only the current trip and forgetting earlier stays.
- Treating the rule as two fixed 90-day blocks per year.
- Assuming a visa sticker always grants the full 90 days.
- Using the calculator as proof of a legal right to enter or remain.
FAQ
Do entry and exit days count?
Yes. For the ordinary short-stay calculation, both count.
Can I plan a trip months ahead?
Yes, provided you enter the completed stays that are relevant. Future travel before the planned date can alter the answer and should be rechecked.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a planning implementation of the general 90-in-180 framework. Border and immigration authorities apply the law to your actual status and documents.