Ridgid Did Not Know You Have To Register Within 90 Days?

Last Updated: 9/13/21 | September 13th, 2021

When I planned my motility to Sweden a few years ago, I tried to effigy out how to get by the 90-solar day limit placed on tourist visas in the Schengen Area. This is a problem encountered by thousands of travelers every twelvemonth and a question that regularly (especially this time of year) pops upward in my inbox.

"How can I stay in Europe for more than 90 days?"

It's a simple question with a very complicated reply.

I always knew it was complicated, but until I started researching how to stay at that place longer, I never knew merely how complicated.

Fortunately, in the process of this research, I came to learn there are a few ways to stay in Europe longer than ninety days; they merely aren't well known.

This post will teach y'all the options for staying in Europe over xc days as well as give you tips on how to movement to Europe. Simply starting time a few things:

It'south important to note that Europe isn't only one identify — there are varying visa rules throughout the continent. When people talk about the "90-twenty-four hour period limit," they're talking most restrictions on the Schengen Expanse, which is the visa policy that governs 26 countries in Europe. It includes all of the European Spousal relationship — except Republic of ireland — as well equally a few non-EU countries.

Note: While I call it the "Schengen Visa," it's not an bodily visa yous necessarily demand to apply for. Depending on your residency status and land of citizenship, you may need to apply in advance for a Schengen Visa, however, those with an American passport do not demand to apply in advance.

What is the Schengen visa?

The Schengen visa is a ninety-24-hour interval tourist visa for Schengen Area countries, which are:

Austria
Belgium
Czechia
Kingdom of denmark
Republic of estonia
Finland
French republic
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Republic of lithuania
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Kingdom of norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland

Additionally, there are several microstates that are de facto members of the Schengen Surface area. These are Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican Metropolis.

These Schengen countries have a border-free visa understanding that lets residents movement throughout the Area without needing to show their passport every fourth dimension they cantankerous a border. Essentially, it'southward as if they're ane country, and you can move every bit freely as you desire.

Citizens of many countries are immune to enter the Schengen Surface area without having to get a visa beforehand. Your passport but gets stamped upon your arrival and departure from Europe. You're allowed to enter and get out from any country yous desire — they don't have to be the same.

Here is a map of the countries with visa waivers that tin enter the Schengen without requiring a visa in accelerate.

Well-nigh visitors (including Americans) are allowed to spend ninety days in the Schengen Area in every 180-mean solar day period. The easiest way to call back of it is that yous tin visit for 3 months and and then you have to leave for iii months earlier you can return.

Yet, y'all can likewise bounciness back and forth between Schengen and not-Schengen countries — y'all simply demand to keep track of all your dates of entry/get out.

When I visit Europe, I fly in and out of different countries all the time. Your first entry in the 180-mean solar day menstruation is when your 90-day counter starts. These days don't need to be consecutive — the total is cumulative. Once 24-hour interval 181 hits, the count resets itself.

For example, if I come to the Schengen Area in January and stay for 60 days and so come back in June for x days, that counts as 70 days in 180 days. Only days you are in the zone during the period count. If y'all go on January 1st and stay 90 straight days, you accept to leave and technically can't come back until July 1st.

Withal, not all travelers are immune such freedom.

Citizens from many countries need to employ for a Schengen visa alee of time. Y'all'll be required to fill out paperwork beforehand and fly in and out of the country for which your visa is issued.

Fifty-fifty and so, you still might not be granted a visa. Spoiler warning: citizens from African and Asian countries get screwed.

So, with that being said, how Do y'all stay in Europe longer? How practice you get around that dominion? Let me suspension it down for yous.

Part 1: Staying or Moving to Europe the Piece of cake Manner

With and then many visa rules, it's easy to stay in Europe beyond ninety days equally a tourist — you lot just need to mix up the countries you visit. The United Kingdom has its own rules that allow y'all to stay 180 days in a calendar twelvemonth.

Well-nigh non-Schengen countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, Croatia, Republic of ireland, and some Balkan countries allow you to stay for up to lx or ninety days. Republic of albania even lets American's stay upward to a year!

So, all y'all demand to do to stay in Europe longer than 3 months is spend 90 days in the Schengen Surface area and and so visit the UK, become to the Balkans, hang out in Ukraine, beverage vino in Moldova, and take a pint in Republic of ireland. If you align your schedule right, you can easily be out of the Schengen Expanse for 90 days and and so head back into the Schengen Area with a make new Schengen visa.

Years ago, to go around this limit, I spent three months in Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and England every bit I waited for my clock to reset. After that, I headed back into the Shengen expanse for Oktoberfest.

If you desire to travel the continent for a long time without having to go through the various visa processes described beneath, vary your travel past visiting non-Schengen countries. There's enough of countries to cull from while yous await for your Schengen Visa clock to reset. This is the piece of cake, hassle-complimentary way of doing things.

—-> Need more than tips for Europe? Visit my destination guide and get in-depth data on what to see and exercise and how to save money.

Role 2: Staying in the Schengen Area Past 90 Days

Just what if y'all practise want to stay longer in the Schengen Area? What if the half dozen months yous want to be in Europe is all in Schengen Area countries? What if you want to live and piece of work in Europe?

After all, the Schengen Area spans 26 countries and visiting so many destinations in xc days tin exist a little rushed (yous would have an average of only 3.5 days per land).

If you want to stay longer to travel, live, acquire a language, or autumn in dearest, then the "motion around" selection suggested above isn't going to piece of work for you. You need something else.

Luckily, there are a few ways to do this — and I can't stress enough the importance of the word "few." Because staying more than xc days in the Schengen Area isn't easy.

Starting time, allow's understand the rule:

The Schengen law states that y'all can't stay in the Area for more than xc days. If y'all do, yous're subject to a fine and maybe deportation and being banned from re-entering the Schengen Area. How that rule is enforced, though, varies greatly from one state to some other. Overstaying by a day might not be the end of the earth, however, some countries do non mess effectually with visitors overstaying.

For example, Frg, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, and Scandinavian countries are all very strict nigh entry and exit rules. If you overstay your tourist visit, there's a skillful gamble they'll pull yous aside. 2 Australians I know were detained leaving Switzerland due to overstaying their visa by two weeks. They were allowed to get with just a warning, but they missed their flights and had to book new flights.

I know of someone who overstayed by six months, tried to leave from Amsterdam, and now has an "illegal immigrant" stamp on her passport. In lodge to enter Europe once again, she must apply for a visa at an diplomatic mission and be preapproved:

I fabricated the error of attempting to leave from the Netherlands after overstaying a Schengen visa and was caught. I overstayed by about a calendar month, and they mitt-drew some sort of insignia in my passport to note my overstay. They told me I'd accept to contact the IND and detect out if I would exist able to enter the Schengen states over again.

Another blogger told me this happened to them too and then don't overstay your visa!

That being said, if you leave from Greece, France, Italian republic, or Spain you may exist less likely to encounter an outcome, provided you lot (a) haven't stayed over too long and (b) didn't catch the immigration officer on a bad day.

When I left Greece, no one even looked at my passport. One of my friends met a guy in France, fell in love, and decided non to leave. A year after, when she finally did, the French officials didn't even expect twice. Some other friend flew into French republic and didn't fifty-fifty get an entry stamp. Kingdom of spain is some other identify notorious for non caring and Americans who determine to overstay for months mention that as the easiest country to get out from.

Of form, I don't remember it's wise to overstay. A day or ii? Likely not the end of the world. But, Matt, tin I extend simply extend my Schengen visa/stamp?
Unfortunately non. Simply put, you lot cannot extend your tourist visa or entry postage stamp. There'due south a 90-day limit, and that's that.

And so what's a tourist to do?

1. Go a Working Holiday Visa

Working vacation visas are easy to get and the best way to extend your stay — even if yous don't want to piece of work. These visas are designed for young travelers who desire to work and travel abroad. Citizens of Commonwealth of australia, Canada, and New Zealand (and oft South Korea, State of israel, Hong Kong, and Nihon) are eligible for one- to 2-twelvemonth working vacation visas from near of the Schengen countries.

There is no single "working holiday" program for the Schengen or EU and so applicants must apply for this visa from a specific country. Applicants must also be younger than 30 (though, in some cases, similar for Canadians working in Switzerland or Ireland, y'all can be every bit old equally 35).

Additionally, y'all can get consecutive working holiday visas. An Australian reader of mine got a two-year Dutch working holiday visa and then got ane from Norway to stay two more than years. While she and her boyfriend (who also got one) did odd jobs in Holland for a bit, they generally used it as a way to travel effectually the continent.

Note: This type of visa won't allow you to piece of work in any other country than the one that issued it.

For Americans, there are just two options for working holidays in Europe: Ireland (non-Schengen land) and Portugal (Schengen land). The Portuguese working vacation visa is for travelers aged 18-thirty and lasts two years. The Irish ane also lasts two years and is adept for those aged 18-xxx, nevertheless, y'all must have graduated within 12 months of applying (or be a pupil).

2. Get a Long-Term-Stay Visa

Unfortunately, the majority of Schengen countries do not offering long-term-stay visas for tourists/visitors. Generally speaking, if you want a long-stay visa, yous'd have to apply for residency.

Schengen allows for a C- or D-class visa (the letter of the alphabet varies on the country), which is a temporary residence visa for up to one yr. But the specific visa and requirements vary from country to country. Some countries are harder, some are easier, and others are nearly impossible despite existence in the same visa treaty zone.

However, there are a few countries that do offer long-term visas that aren't too hard to get:

France

French republic offers a long-term company visa for a period of upwardly to one year. The application procedure takes up to one calendar month. According to the French Embassy, "The 'visitor' visa (or visa 'D') allows y'all to enter France and stay for more than three months. Long-stay visa holders will be allowed to reside in France for up to 12 months according to the validity of their visa and purpose of stay."

To get this visa, y'all must set upwards an appointment at the French consulate nearly you. You can't walk in — y'all must make an appointment.

At this appointment, y'all'll demand the following documents:

One awarding form filled out completely and signed
Iii passport photos
Your original passport, which must have been issued less than 10 years ago, be valid for three months after your return, and accept at least two blank pages left
A letter certified by a notary public that promises you won't engage in piece of work
A letter of employment stating current occupation and earnings
Proof of income (you'll need bank statements or copies of your investment portfolio)
Proof of medical insurance that includes evacuation insurance
Proof of accommodation in France. (The French consulate never returned my emails, and so I was unsure how you lot could accept this before you even get to France. One could employ a friend's address or, lacking that, rent a place (1 where you tin get a refund) for the purposes of the interview. It's a little fuzzy.)

Notation: You can't employ for this visa more than three months before your arrival engagement.

You can visit the French Embassy website for links to local embassies and consulates for more information. This mail service likewise has some helpful data to go you started.

Sweden

Sweden likewise offers a long-term stay tourist visa for a maximum menstruum of 1 twelvemonth. The process is easy usually takes around 2 weeks to process when practical for in Sweden. Hither'south a brief overview of what you need:

Residence permit for company's application class
Notarized copies of the pages of your passport that show your identity and the validity of your passport, as well equally copies of all the other visas/stamps you have. Your passport too needs to exist valid for three months after your stay.
A depository financial institution statement showing your ways of supporting yourself for the duration of your stay (yous need at least $52 USD per mean solar day for each solar day saved in your account)
A return airplane ticket
A letter of the alphabet from your insurance visitor stating y'all're covered overseas

Applications can be delivered in person during visiting hours (no appointment needed) or mailed to a Swedish consulate.

After your documents are received, you'll be required to accept an interview with one of the immigration officers. Most people who employ for this visa have family in Sweden. If you don't, you'll demand to take clear reasons as to why y'all need to stay longer and show ample proof that yous tin can support yourself (i.e., "I want to meet Swedish guys/girls" won't cutting information technology!). If you're applying in Sweden, y'all'll need to put a local's address on your application form, and that person volition have to accompany you to your interview.

You lot tin learn more well-nigh the process on this government page.

Spain

Spain offers a long-term visa targeting retirees chosen the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa. It requires that you lot spend at least 183 days in Spain, which would make you a legal resident for revenue enhancement purposes here. During this time, y'all are unable to work in Kingdom of spain (so yous'll need to have enough savings to go you past). Nevertheless, studying and unpaid internships are permitted.

The large take hold of for this visa is that you demand to accept over 27,000 EUR in your banking concern business relationship. That'southward effectually $32,000 USD. Since the visa is designed for retirees, the supposition is that you lot're coming here to rest on your financial laurels afterward a lifetime of saving up — hence the sizeable requirement.

The visa has been denied to people who are remote workers so I wouldn't recommend this visa if y'all're a digital nomad (Spain is currently working on a visa specifically for distal nomads though it's not currently available).

In addition to having sizable savings, yous'll likewise demand to fill out the awarding, submit your passport and additional photos, pay a fee, and provide the post-obit:

Proof of private wellness insurance (from an authorized visitor in Spain)
A doc's note certifying that you're good for you
A criminal groundwork cheque translated into Spanish

You must apply for this visa in your land of residency every bit you lot will be interviewed every bit part of the process. The application varies per country, unremarkably between 120-520 EUR (it's around 125 EUR for Americans and just over 500 EUR for Canadians).

This consulate page has all the specific details you need regarding the application.

Portugal

Portugal has multiple long term stay visas. First, at that place is a Gold Visa, which requires a minimum investment in the country of $300,000 USD. More than realisticly, is the D7 visa, which is like to Spain's retirement visa.

It requires proof of insurance, a groundwork check, an application and interview, etc. The main divergence, however, is that you only need an income of around $9,000 USD instead of the $32,000 USD in savings the Spanish visa required. You still cannot work on this visa, so your income must be passive (investments, pension, rental property, etc.).

The D7 visa can work for digital nomads, though there is a split visa that might work meliorate: the D2 visa.

This visa, known every bit the Immigrant Entrepreneur visa, isn't designed specifically for digital nomads. You'll need to submit a business plan and demonstrate you have enough majuscule to get started. You'll also need to explain why you want to commencement (or motility) your business to Portugal. You'll have a much college take a chance of getting canonical if you accept invested upwards of v,000 EUR in your business and speak some Portuguese besides (it'south not required, simply these visas are regularly rejected and so it will give you a leg up).

In short, there are a lot of steps for a temporary visa that just lasts ane twelvemonth. However, you can get this extended and eventually apply for permanent residency or citizenship after five years.

Yous'll demand to employ for both of these visas in your country of residency.

A annotation of long-term visas: Continue in heed that the information above is just for reference. At that place may be more than requirements needed for your application and non all visas are open up to anybody. You'll want to contact your local embassy for specifics and additional information.

The Bilateral Agreement Hack

In add-on to the standard Schengen visa, most countries have numerous bilateral agreements independent of the Shengen visa. These agreements let travelers stay in a specific country for an boosted flow of time beyond the 90-twenty-four hours Schengen limit. The merely caveat is that can't leave that land during that fourth dimension.

For example, France has a bilateral agreement that allows U.Southward. citizens to stay an additional ninety days beyond the Schengen limit. Y'all can enter from any Schengen country, stay ninety days in France, then fly home. But the catch is you lot have to go home — you tin can't get elsewhere. You accept to leave Europe so y'all can't use your time in France as a sneaky way to reset your Schengen clock.

Now, the France/U.S. rule is tricky. It's based on a mail-WW2 agreement that never was cancelled. Multiple French consulates told me yep, they idea this police force existed but couldn't tell me where to find it. A few visa services told me I was crazy. One consulate told me information technology was possible merely only with a long-term visa.

BUT, afterward many calls, the US, Canda, and Uk French embassies told me that aye, this law does exist and that yes, this is all the same valid. Then they referenced me to the French national archives.

Well, nosotros found the actual diplomatic papers that spell this out. It took u.s. shut to a twelvemonth to find it but nosotros did.

This is the notation from the French authorities about it:

Hi,

In that location is a bilateral understanding between French and the U.Due south. past exchange letters (March 16-31 mars 1949), which allows American citizens to stay in France ninety days over 180 days, irrespective of the stays already made in other Schengen countries.

However, this agreement has been made before the Schengen agreement. Today, as at that place is no more edge command between the Schengen countries, it is very difficult to make up one's mind how long a person has stayed in France and we heard that some people had troubles with the clearing law while leaving French republic.

Therefore, we recommend American citizens to respect the Schengen regulation which allows a maximum of 90 days on 180 days in the whole Schengen area.

Consulat général de France, Service des visas
4101 Reservoir Road, Washington DC, 20007

A follow to the London diplomatic mission gave me this response:

"Whilst the bilateral agreement you refer to has non officially been revoked, the French Border Police has sole authority on deciding whether to apply it or not, at the time of entering or exiting the Schengen expanse."

So this is really a thing. And, while they don't like yous using information technology, information technology's yet the law. But bring proof y'all stayed in French republic for 90 days! If yous plan to use this rule, bring documentation equally border guards my not be aware of it.

Additionally, Denmark and Poland also take bilateral agreements with the United States that let citizens stay an additional ninety days in each state split up from the regular Schengen Zone visa. The Denmark rule applies exactly the same style as the French 1. Denmark as well has a bilteral agreemnt that is applicative for citizens of Australia, Canada, Chile, State of israel, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South korea.

For Poland, you must enter and leave Poland via a non-Schengen country where you will be stamped over again (i.due east., directly flight from NYC). So you could do 90 days in the Schengen, wing to the UK, and and so wing to Poland. Poland's rules are simply laid out in an agreement letter the U.South. and Poland signed in 1991. (Hither's a copy of the letter from the Smooth government).

In theory, there are also other bilateral agreements between the U.S. and Schengen countries. I've been told by multiple sources that Belgium, Italian republic, Republic of hungary, Norway, Spain, Portugal, and holland all accept their own bilateral agreements with the U.S. likewise. This page outlines the existing bilateral agreements.

Nevertheless, I reached out to each land's consulate and none of them replied (save Portugal) in whatever meaningful manner. They simply directed me to the standard visa FAQ page.

Regarding Portugal, a representative from the Portuguese consulate said this regarding their bilateral 60-day visa:

Please note that those sixty days are an infrequent extension that needs to be requested within Portugal at SEF part near your temporary address in Portugal.

Now, in theory, one could say thanks to borderless travel you lot could go your "extra 90 days in Denmark" and then merely travel around, wing out of Denmark, and no one would be the wiser. One could say that. Only I've noticed a lot more than intra-Europe passport checks in recent years. I got yelled at in France for not having my passport with me while on a train to see a chateau. And so, I wouldn't recommend doing this.

Note: Most counties accept bilateral agreements with other countries. Call the local embassy for more data (you'll take better luck calling than emailing).

3. Go a Educatee Visa

All Schengen Area countries offer student visas that are piece of cake to obtain and so long every bit you're enrolled in a recognized academy program. This would require you to pay for the class, but information technology will nearly guarantee you a visa if you are accepted.

One of the best countries to do this in is Spain, where a whole industry has sprung up to help students study Spanish. In that location are tons of schools that will permit you to enroll and write messages stating you're a student in that location. You'll demand to apply in your home country but the process is relatively straightforward. This post details the requirements.

Frg is another pop choice, as mail service-secondary schools at that place are essentially free. While at that place may be more contest, the costs are much lower. Y'all tin learn virtually the application process here.

While most student visas allow you to stay in a country for ane yr, I would only consider getting one if you actually plan on studying. If you're just getting a student visa to travel and play tourist, it's non going to be worth the price and paperwork since you lot'll need to set up everything from a residential address to a banking company business relationship to a local phone number and more.

four. Get a Freelancer Visa

There are several countries that offer freelancer visas. This procedure is a picayune more complicated and not for the coincidental tourist. These visas are meant for people who actually want to live and work in Europe. If you're only a coincidental tourist, expect to be denied. Simply if you lot're a digital nomad, this is the visa for you.

Schengen countries that offer freelancer visas include Germany, Estonia, Spain, Czechia, Portugal, Greece, and Malta. Not-Schengen countries that take them include Croatia, Romania, Georgia, and Iceland.

Germany is the country near used by people who desire to reside in Europe. If you're a freelancer, digital nomad, creative person, or have some grade of income, this is the visa to get (and it's quite like shooting fish in a barrel to go). If you are from Commonwealth of australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.S., Israel, South Korea, or Japan you tin can apply afterward you make it in Germany (everyone else needs to apply in advance).

The visa simply lasts for three months, however, it is designed to be extended into a residency visa which would then last for iii years. I accept many friends who have gotten this visa. As long every bit you follow the steps, you should be fine. This post has more than data virtually the process.

Most freelancer visas follow a similar format: apply, pay a fee, submit proof that your business tin stay afloat, then await to be accepted. However, some accept more stringent requirements.

For example, Republic of estonia's freelancer visa requires a monthly income of at least three,500 EUR per month leading upwards to your application. For the Czechia visa, you need to have at least $6,000 USD in your bank account (the lovely folks at Wandertooth, who did this procedure a couple of years ago, can walk you through the steps).

In recent years, Espana has also created freelancer visa called the "autonomo" that also follows a similar process. You can read more hither.

If you are a digital nomad and are because working remotely from the Eu you can compare these programs to see which one bests suits your goals (though Germany is likely the best place to start since it's one of the easiest to go).

5. Go Married to a European

Fall in beloved with a European (or at least a friend) and apply for a marriage visa! Y'all'll go to stay there while the awarding procedure goes through and then you can move to Europe and stay there forever with the love of your life! That'due south a win-win! (This is a joke. Don't become married just for a visa to stay in Europe!)

***

The all-time, easiest, and most effective fashion to stay in Europe long-term is to increase the number of countries you visit so you're in the Schengen Area for only xc days. As I said, at that place are a lot of countries not in the Area and then this is easy to do.

If you're similar me and want to stay in the Schengen Area longer than 90 days (or just want to motion to Europe because information technology'due south awesome), be prepared to work the system. Iit'due south not impossible to stay long-term in the Schengen Area. By understanding the system and using the few loopholes that practice be, 1 can legally stay past 90 days and relish all Europe has to offering without worrying about existence barred for life.

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Book Your Trip to Europe: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flying
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to observe a cheap flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you ever know no stone is left unturned. Kickoff with Skyscanner first though because they have the biggest reach!

Book Your Accommodation
Yous tin can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they accept the biggest inventory and best deals. If y'all want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilise Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

For suggestions on where to stay during your trip, here is a list of my favorite hostels in Europe.

Don't Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you confronting affliction, injury, theft, and cancellations. It's comprehensive protection in case anything goes incorrect. I never keep a trip without it as I've had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offering the best service and value are:

Safety Wing (for everyone beneath 70)
Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?
Cheque out my resource page for the best companies to use when yous travel. I listing all the ones I use to save money when I'm on the road. They will relieve yous coin when you travel too.

Want More than Information on Europe?
Be certain to visit our robust destination guide on Europe for even more planning tips!

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