The Schengen 90/180 day rule, with calculator
How long visa-exempt travellers can stay in Europe, how the rolling window works, and a calculator to check your days. ETIAS does not change this limit.
In brief
ETIAS at a glance
- Status
- Not live yet
- Expected launch
- Last quarter of 2026
- Applications open
- Not yet
- Official fee
- Expected €20
- Validity
- 3 years or until passport expiry
- Stay limit
- 90 days in any 180-day period
- Official application route
- Official EU ETIAS website / app when live
- Private help
- ETIAS Pro may offer optional support when applications open
What is the 90/180 rule?
Visa-exempt travellers, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders, can stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. It applies to the whole area combined, not to each country separately, and it covers tourism, family visits and most business trips. Longer stays need a national visa or residence permit.
Check your days
Enter your recent and planned Schengen trips below. The calculator counts the days you have used inside the 180-day window ending on the date you choose, and shows how many of the 90 days remain. It runs in your browser, and nothing you type is sent or stored.
Your recent and planned Schengen trips
0 of 90 days used
In the 180-day window from 3 Dec 2025 to 31 May 2026, you have 90 days remaining of the 90-day allowance. Stays must keep within 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.
This is an estimate to help you plan. ETIAS does not extend the 90/180 limit. Always confirm against your passport stamps and official sources before you travel.
How the rolling window works
The 180-day window is not a fixed calendar block. For any given day, you look back 180 days and count how many days you were in the Schengen area during that period. As old days drop out of the back of the window, they free up again. This is why two shorter trips spread across the year are easier to manage than one long stay.
Does ETIAS change the 90/180 rule?
No. ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation, not permission to stay longer. The 90 days in any 180-day limit is unchanged. An ETIAS is expected to be valid for up to 3 years or until your passport expires, but within that time you still cannot exceed the 90/180 allowance.
Which countries count toward the 90 days?
Every country in the Schengen area counts toward the same total. Days in France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the rest are added together. See the full list of ETIAS countries for which destinations are included.
What happens if you overstay?
Overstaying the 90/180 limit can lead to fines, an entry ban or problems on future trips, and digital entry and exit records now make overstays easier to detect at the border. If your planned trips are close to the limit, build in a margin and confirm against your own travel history.
Get one email when ETIAS opens
Get one email when ETIAS applications open. No passport details. No payment before launch.
90/180 rule FAQs
What is the 90/180-day Schengen rule?
ETIAS-eligible travellers can stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day window. ETIAS does not extend that limit; it only authorises short stays within the existing rules.
How long will ETIAS last?
An approved ETIAS is expected to be valid for up to 3 years, or until the passport it is linked to expires, whichever comes first. It allows short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period within ETIAS countries.
Is ETIAS a visa?
Technically no. ETIAS is a travel authorisation, not a visa. Many travellers search for “ETIAS visa” or “Europe visa waiver”. The closest comparison is the US ESTA system. You still need a valid passport, and ETIAS does not guarantee entry: border officers always make the final decision.
Can I apply for ETIAS now?
No. The official ETIAS system is not open yet, so it is not possible for anyone to apply. Any website claiming to issue ETIAS today is not legitimate.
Related pages
Get ready for ETIAS before it becomes mandatory
ETIAS is not live yet. Check whether you’re likely to need it and get one email when applications open.