How Long Can You Stay in Another Country With a Passport

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

When I planned my movement to Sweden a few years agone, I tried to effigy out how to get past the xc-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 up in my inbox.

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

It'southward a simple question with a very complicated answer.

I e'er knew information technology was complicated, but until I started researching how to stay there longer, I never knew just how complicated.

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

This post will teach you the options for staying in Europe over 90 days likewise as give yous tips on how to motility to Europe. But first a few things:

It'south important to note that Europe isn't just one place — there are varying visa rules throughout the continent. When people talk well-nigh the "ninety-twenty-four hours limit," they're talking most restrictions on the Schengen Area, which is the visa policy that governs 26 countries in Europe. It includes all of the Eu — except Ireland — as well as a few non-EU countries.

Note: While I call it the "Schengen Visa," it's non an actual visa you necessarily demand to utilise for. Depending on your residency status and country of citizenship, you may need to apply in advance for a Schengen Visa, notwithstanding, those with an American passport practice not need to apply in advance.

What is the Schengen visa?

The Schengen visa is a 90-day tourist visa for Schengen Area countries, which are:

• Republic of austria
• Belgium
• Czechia
• Denmark
• Republic of estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Principality of liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Kingdom of norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Espana
• Sweden
• Switzerland

Additionally, in that location are several microstates that are de facto members of the Schengen Area. These are Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City.

These Schengen countries have a border-free visa understanding that lets residents move throughout the Area without needing to show their passport every time they cross a border. Substantially, it's equally if they're one country, and y'all can move as freely as you want.

Citizens of many countries are immune to enter the Schengen Area without having to get a visa beforehand. Your passport simply gets stamped upon your arrival and deviation from Europe. You're allowed to enter and exit from any country you want — they don't take to be the same.

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

Most visitors (including Americans) are immune to spend ninety days in the Schengen Area in every 180-solar day menses. The easiest way to think of it is that you tin can visit for 3 months and then you accept to exit for 3 months before you tin return.

However, you tin can also bounce dorsum and forth between Schengen and non-Schengen countries — yous simply demand to keep track of all your dates of entry/leave.

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

For case, if I come to the Schengen Area in January and stay for 60 days then come dorsum in June for x days, that counts as seventy days in 180 days. Only days you lot are in the zone during the period count. If yous keep January 1st and stay 90 straight days, you have to exit and technically can't come dorsum until July 1st.

Still, not all travelers are immune such freedom.

Citizens from many countries need to apply for a Schengen visa ahead of time. You'll be required to fill out paperwork beforehand and fly in and out of the land for which your visa is issued.

Even then, you still might not be granted a visa. Spoiler warning: citizens from African and Asian countries get screwed.

And then, with that being said, how Do you stay in Europe longer? How do you lot go effectually that rule? Let me break it downwards for you.

Part 1: Staying or Moving to Europe the Easy Fashion

With so many visa rules, it's easy to stay in Europe beyond 90 days as a tourist — yous just need to mix up the countries yous visit. The United Kingdom has its own rules that allow y'all to stay 180 days in a calendar yr.

Nigh non-Schengen countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, Croatia, Ireland, and some Balkan countries let you to stay for up to 60 or xc days. Albania even lets American's stay up to a year!

So, all yous need to do to stay in Europe longer than 3 months is spend 90 days in the Schengen Area and and so visit the United kingdom, get to the Balkans, hang out in Ukraine, drink wine in Moldova, and have a pint in Republic of ireland. If you align your schedule right, you lot tin hands be out of the Schengen Expanse for xc days and so head dorsum into the Schengen Area with a brand new Schengen visa.

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

If you want to travel the continent for a long time without having to become through the various visa processes described beneath, vary your travel by visiting non-Schengen countries. There'southward enough of countries to cull from while you expect for your Schengen Visa clock to reset. This is the easy, hassle-free way of doing things.

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

Function 2: Staying in the Schengen Area Past ninety Days

But what if yous exercise desire to stay longer in the Schengen Area? What if the six months you desire to exist in Europe is all in Schengen Area countries? What if you lot want to live and work in Europe?

After all, the Schengen Expanse spans 26 countries and visiting so many destinations in xc days tin can exist a little rushed (you would have an average of but three.5 days per country).

If you want to stay longer to travel, alive, learn a language, or fall in love, so the "move around" pick suggested higher up isn't going to work for you. You demand something else.

Luckily, there are a few means to do this — and I can't stress plenty the importance of the give-and-take "few." Because staying more than xc days in the Schengen Surface area isn't piece of cake.

First, let's empathize the rule:

The Schengen law states that y'all tin't stay in the Area for more xc days. If y'all exercise, yous're bailiwick to a fine and possibly deportation and beingness banned from re-entering the Schengen Surface area. How that rule is enforced, though, varies profoundly from ane country to another. Overstaying by a twenty-four hours might not be the end of the globe, nonetheless, some countries practise not mess around with visitors overstaying.

For example, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, and Scandinavian countries are all very strict almost entry and go out rules. If yous overstay your tourist visit, there'due south a good gamble they'll pull y'all bated. Two Australians I know were detained leaving Switzerland due to overstaying their visa past two weeks. They were allowed to go with just a warning, but they missed their flights and had to book new flights.

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

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

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

That beingness said, if yous leave from Greece, France, Italian republic, or Espana you may be less likely to encounter an issue, provided you (a) oasis't stayed over too long and (b) didn't catch the immigration officeholder on a bad day.

When I left Hellenic republic, no 1 even looked at my passport. One of my friends met a guy in France, cruel in honey, and decided not to exit. A year later, when she finally did, the French officials didn't even await twice. Another friend flew into France and didn't even get an entry stamp. Spain is another identify notorious for not caring and Americans who decide to overstay for months mention that every bit the easiest country to exit from.

Of course, I don't think information technology's wise to overstay. A 24-hour interval or two? Likely non the finish of the world. Only, Matt, can I extend just extend my Schengen visa/postage?
Unfortunately not. Simply put, you cannot extend your tourist visa or entry stamp. There's a 90-day limit, and that's that.

So what'southward a tourist to do?

ane. Get a Working Holiday Visa

Working vacation visas are easy to get and the best way to extend your stay — fifty-fifty if you don't want to work. These visas are designed for young travelers who want to work and travel abroad. Citizens of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand (and often Republic of korea, Israel, Hong Kong, and Nihon) are eligible for one- to two-year working holiday visas from about of the Schengen countries.

At that place is no single "working vacation" program for the Schengen or European union so applicants must employ for this visa from a specific country. Applicants must also exist younger than xxx (though, in some cases, similar for Canadians working in Switzerland or Ireland, yous can be as quondam equally 35).

Additionally, you can get sequent working vacation visas. An Australian reader of mine got a 2-year Dutch working holiday visa and and then got ane from Norway to stay ii more years. While she and her boyfriend (who too got one) did odd jobs in Kingdom of the netherlands for a bit, they more often than not used it as a mode to travel around the continent.

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

For Americans, at that place are just two options for working holidays in Europe: Ireland (non-Schengen country) and Portugal (Schengen country). The Portuguese working holiday visa is for travelers aged 18-30 and lasts two years. The Irish ane also lasts 2 years and is good for those aged 18-30, notwithstanding, yous must have graduated within 12 months of applying (or be a student).

2. Get a Long-Term-Stay Visa

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

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

Nevertheless, at that place are a few countries that practice offer long-term visas that aren't too hard to get:

France

France offers a long-term visitor visa for a catamenia of up to one twelvemonth. The awarding process takes upwards to ane month. According to the French Embassy, "The 'visitor' visa (or visa 'D') allows yous to enter France and stay for more three months. Long-stay visa holders volition be allowed to reside in France for upwardly to 12 months according to the validity of their visa and purpose of stay."

To get this visa, you must fix an engagement at the French consulate near you. You can't walk in — you must brand an appointment.

At this date, you'll demand the post-obit documents:

• One awarding form filled out completely and signed
• Three passport photos
• Your original passport, which must have been issued less than 10 years agone, be valid for iii months subsequently your return, and have at least two blank pages left
• A letter certified by a notary public that promises you won't engage in work
• A letter of employment stating current occupation and earnings
• Proof of income (you lot'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, so I was unsure how you could accept this before you lot even get to France. Ane could use a friend'due south accost or, defective that, hire a place (one where y'all tin can get a refund) for the purposes of the interview. Information technology's a little fuzzy.)

Annotation: Yous can't apply for this visa more three months before your inflow engagement.

You can visit the French Embassy website for links to local embassies and consulates for more data. This post also has some helpful data to get you started.

Sweden

Sweden as well offers a long-term stay tourist visa for a maximum period of i year. The procedure is like shooting fish in a barrel usually takes effectually ii weeks to process when applied for in Sweden. Here'south a brief overview of what you need:

• Residence allow for company'south application class
• Notarized copies of the pages of your passport that bear witness your identity and the validity of your passport, as well as copies of all the other visas/stamps you have. Your passport also needs to be valid for 3 months after your stay.
• A bank statement showing your means of supporting yourself for the duration of your stay (you lot need at to the lowest degree $52 USD per 24-hour interval for each day saved in your account)
• A render airplane ticket
• A letter from your insurance company stating y'all're covered overseas

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

After your documents are received, you lot'll be required to have an interview with 1 of the immigration officers. Virtually people who apply for this visa take family unit in Sweden. If you lot don't, you'll demand to have clear reasons as to why you need to stay longer and show ample proof that you can support yourself (i.east., "I want to run into Swedish guys/girls" won't cut information technology!). If you're applying in Sweden, you'll demand to put a local'southward address on your application class, and that person will have to accompany y'all to your interview.

You can learn more than about the process on this government page.

Spain

Kingdom of spain offers a long-term visa targeting retirees called the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa. It requires that you spend at least 183 days in Kingdom of spain, which would make you a legal resident for taxation purposes here. During this time, you are unable to work in Spain (so yous'll demand to have enough savings to become you lot by). However, studying and unpaid internships are permitted.

The big grab for this visa is that you need to accept over 27,000 EUR in your bank account. That'southward around $32,000 USD. Since the visa is designed for retirees, the assumption is that you're coming hither to rest on your financial accolade afterward a lifetime of saving up — hence the sizeable requirement.

The visa has been denied to people who are remote workers and so I wouldn't recommend this visa if you're a digital nomad (Kingdom of spain is currently working on a visa specifically for distal nomads though it's not currently bachelor).

In improver to having sizable savings, you'll likewise need to fill up out the application, submit your passport and additional photos, pay a fee, and provide the post-obit:

• Proof of individual health insurance (from an authorized company in Kingdom of spain)
• A doctor's note certifying that you lot're healthy
• A criminal background check translated into Spanish

You must apply for this visa in your country of residency as you lot will be interviewed every bit function of the process. The application varies per state, ordinarily between 120-520 EUR (it'due south 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. Kickoff, at that place is a Gilt Visa, which requires a minimum investment in the country of $300,000 USD. More than realisticly, is the D7 visa, which is similar to Spain's retirement visa.

It requires proof of insurance, a background check, an application and interview, etc. The main difference, even so, is that y'all only need an income of effectually $nine,000 USD instead of the $32,000 USD in savings the Spanish visa required. Y'all even so cannot work on this visa, so your income must be passive (investments, pension, rental holding, etc.).

The D7 visa tin piece of work for digital nomads, though there is a separate visa that might work better: the D2 visa.

This visa, known as the Immigrant Entrepreneur visa, isn't designed specifically for digital nomads. You'll need to submit a business plan and demonstrate yous have enough capital to get started. You'll also demand to explain why yous want to start (or movement) your business organisation to Portugal. Yous'll have a much higher take a chance of getting approved if you take invested upwards of 5,000 EUR in your business and speak some Portuguese also (it's not required, but these visas are regularly rejected so it volition requite you a leg up).

In brusque, there are a lot of steps for a temporary visa that only lasts one year. All the same, you can get this extended and eventually apply for permanent residency or citizenship after v years.

You lot'll need to utilize for both of these visas in your state of residency.

A note of long-term visas: Keep in mind that the information above is just for reference. In that location may exist more requirements needed for your awarding and non all visas are open to anybody. You lot'll want to contact your local diplomatic mission for specifics and additional data.

The Bilateral Agreement Hack

In addition to the standard Schengen visa, near countries have numerous bilateral agreements independent of the Shengen visa. These agreements permit travelers stay in a specific country for an additional period of fourth dimension beyond the 90-twenty-four hour period Schengen limit. The only caveat is that can't leave that state during that time.

For example, France has a bilateral agreement that allows U.S. citizens to stay an additional 90 days beyond the Schengen limit. You can enter from any Schengen country, stay xc days in French republic, so fly home. But the grab is you lot take to go home — you lot can't get elsewhere. Y'all have to leave Europe and then you lot can't utilize your time in France as a sneaky way to reset your Schengen clock.

At present, the France/U.S. rule is catchy. Information technology'south based on a mail-WW2 agreement that never was cancelled. Multiple French consulates told me aye, they thought this law existed but couldn't tell me where to find it. A few visa services told me I was crazy. I consulate told me information technology was possible simply only with a long-term visa.

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

Well, we found the bodily diplomatic papers that spell this out. It took us close to a year to observe information technology but nosotros did.

This is the note from the French regime about it:

Hi,

There is a bilateral understanding betwixt French and the U.S. by commutation letters (March xvi-31 mars 1949), which allows American citizens to stay in France 90 days over 180 days, irrespective of the stays already made in other Schengen countries.

Notwithstanding, this agreement has been made before the Schengen agreement. Today, as there is no more than border control between the Schengen countries, it is very difficult to determine how long a person has stayed in French republic and we heard that some people had troubles with the immigration police force while leaving France.

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 embassy gave me this response:

"Whilst the bilateral understanding you refer to has not officially been revoked, the French Border Law has sole authorisation on deciding whether to apply information technology or not, at the time of entering or exiting the Schengen area."

So this is actually a thing. And, while they don't similar you using it, it'southward still the law. Just bring proof you stayed in France for 90 days! If you program to use this rule, bring documentation as border guards my non be enlightened of information technology.

Additionally, Kingdom of denmark and Poland also have bilateral agreements with the U.s.a. that permit citizens stay an boosted 90 days in each country separate from the regular Schengen Zone visa. The Kingdom of denmark rule applies exactly the same way as the French 1. Kingdom of denmark also has a bilteral agreemnt that is applicative for citizens of Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Korea.

For Poland, you must enter and leave Poland via a non-Schengen country where you lot volition be stamped once more (i.e., directly flight from NYC). So you could exercise 90 days in the Schengen, fly to the Britain, and then wing to Poland. Poland'southward rules are simply laid out in an agreement letter the U.S. and Poland signed in 1991. (Here's a copy of the letter from the Shine authorities).

In theory, there are also other bilateral agreements between the U.S. and Schengen countries. I've been told by multiple sources that Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Norway, Kingdom of spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands all take their own bilateral agreements with the U.S. as well. This folio outlines the existing bilateral agreements.

Withal, I reached out to each country'southward consulate and none of them replied (salve Portugal) in whatsoever meaningful style. They just directed me to the standard visa FAQ page.

Regarding Portugal, a representative from the Portuguese consulate said this regarding their bilateral sixty-twenty-four hours visa:

Please note that those sixty days are an exceptional extension that needs to be requested inside Portugal at SEF office near your temporary address in Portugal.

At present, in theory, i could say thanks to borderless travel you could get your "extra 90 days in Denmark" and and so just travel around, wing out of Denmark, and no 1 would be the wiser. 1 could say that. Just I've noticed a lot more intra-Europe passport checks in recent years. I got yelled at in French republic for non having my passport with me while on a train to run across a chateau. Then, I wouldn't recommend doing this.

Note: Most counties have bilateral agreements with other countries. Telephone call the local embassy for more information (yous'll have better luck calling than emailing).

three. Go a Educatee Visa

All Schengen Surface area countries offering student visas that are easy to obtain so long as yous're enrolled in a recognized academy plan. This would require you to pay for the course, but it will virtually guarantee you a visa if you are accepted.

I of the best countries to do this in is Spain, where a whole industry has sprung upwards to help students study Castilian. There are tons of schools that will allow you to enroll and write letters stating y'all're a pupil at that place. You'll need to apply in your home state merely the process is relatively straightforward. This post details the requirements.

Deutschland is another popular choice, as mail-secondary schools in that location are essentially gratis. While there may be more than competition, the costs are much lower. You tin learn virtually the application process here.

While most student visas allow you to stay in a state for one year, I would only consider getting one if you really plan on studying. If yous're only getting a student visa to travel and play tourist, it'due south not going to be worth the cost and paperwork since you'll need to fix everything from a residential address to a bank business relationship to a local telephone number and more.

4. Become a Freelancer Visa

There are several countries that offer freelancer visas. This process is a little more complicated and not for the casual tourist. These visas are meant for people who actually want to live and work in Europe. If yous're just a casual tourist, expect to exist denied. But if you lot're a digital nomad, this is the visa for you.

Schengen countries that offer freelancer visas include Germany, Estonia, Kingdom of spain, Czech republic, Portugal, Greece, and Republic of malta. Non-Schengen countries that have them include Croatia, Romania, Georgia, and Iceland.

Germany is the country most used by people who desire to reside in Europe. If you're a freelancer, digital nomad, artist, or have some form of income, this is the visa to get (and it'southward quite like shooting fish in a barrel to go). If you are from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.Due south., Israel, South Korea, or Japan you can apply after yous arrive in Germany (anybody else needs to apply in advance).

The visa merely lasts for three months, however, information technology is designed to exist extended into a residency visa which would then final for iii years. I take many friends who have gotten this visa. As long as you follow the steps, you should be fine. This post has more information about the procedure.

Nearly freelancer visas follow a similar format: employ, pay a fee, submit proof that your business tin can stay adrift, and so await to be accepted. Notwithstanding, some have more stringent requirements.

For example, Estonia's freelancer visa requires a monthly income of at least three,500 EUR per calendar month leading upward to your application. For the Czechia visa, you demand 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, Spain has as well created freelancer visa called the "autonomo" that likewise follows a similar process. You can read more than here.

If you are a digital nomad and are considering working remotely from the Eu you can compare these programs to meet which i bests suits your goals (though Deutschland is likely the best identify to kickoff since it's one of the easiest to go).

five. Get Married to a European

Autumn in love with a European (or at least a friend) and apply for a marriage visa! Yous'll get to stay in that location while the application process goes through and and so you can move to Europe and stay at that place forever with the love of your life! That's a win-win! (This is a joke. Don't get married only for a visa to stay in Europe!)

***

The best, easiest, and most effective way to stay in Europe long-term is to increase the number of countries yous visit so you're in the Schengen Area for but xc days. As I said, there are a lot of countries not in the Expanse so this is piece of cake to do.

If y'all're like me and want to stay in the Schengen Surface area longer than 90 days (or just desire to move to Europe because it'southward awesome), be prepared to work the system. Iit's not incommunicable to stay long-term in the Schengen Area. By understanding the organisation and using the few loopholes that do exist, 1 can legally stay past ninety days and enjoy all Europe has to offer without worrying well-nigh being barred for life.

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Volume Your Trip to Europe: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Employ Skyscanner or Momondo to detect a cheap flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe then you e'er know no stone is left unturned. Showtime with Skyscanner starting time though because they take the biggest reach!

Book Your Accommodation
You tin can book your hostel with Hostelworld equally they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you lot want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently render 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 yous against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It's comprehensive protection in example annihilation goes wrong. I never go along a trip without it as I've had to utilise it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offering the best service and value are:

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

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?
Bank check out my resource page for the best companies to use when y'all travel. I listing all the ones I use to save money when I'thou on the route. They will save you money when yous travel likewise.

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

Annotation: Due to the complexities of visas and the uniqueness of everyone'due south situation, nosotros do non respond any visa related questions in the comments or via e-mail. Thank you.

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Disclosure: Please annotation that some of the links in a higher place may be affiliate links, and at no additional price to yous, I earn a committee if y'all make a buy. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site customs supported and advert gratis.

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Source: https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-legally-stay-in-europe-for-more-than-90-days/

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