Does the entry day count as a day in Schengen?

Yes — and so does the exit day. Under Article 6(1) of the Schengen Borders Code the day of entry is the first day of stay and the day of exit is the last day of stay. A trip from 1 June to 30 June is 30 days, and a same-day in-and-out trip is 1 day.

Is the 180-day window fixed (January to June, July to December)?

No. It is a rolling window. On any given day, you look back exactly 180 days and count how many of those days you spent in Schengen. There is no reset date.

Do transit days count?

Only if you pass through border control. Airside transit (staying in the international zone) does not count. If you enter the Schengen zone during a layover, that day counts.

When can I re-enter Schengen after using my 90 days?

There is no fixed 'wait 90 days' rule. Your earliest re-entry date is the first day on which, looking back 180 days, you would have fewer than 90 days used. Use the calculator above to find your exact date.

Does this apply to EU citizens?

No. The 90/180 rule applies to third-country nationals — people who need a Schengen visa or who are visa-exempt but not EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.

How does the EES change the count?

The Entry/Exit System records every entry and exit of a third-country national biometrically, replacing passport stamps. Your remaining days are calculated automatically at the border from that record, so an unnoticed overstay is no longer possible to argue away.

What happens if I overstay?

Consequences range from a warning noted in the system to a fine, a removal decision, and an entry ban — typically one to five years for a longer overstay. Any overstay is visible to every consulate when you next apply for a visa.

Free tool

Schengen 90/180 Day Calculator

Enter every date you've spent in the Schengen Area in the last 180 days. We'll tell you how many days you've used and how many you have left.

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180-day window

7 Apr 2026 → 3 Oct 2026

Planning a future trip — how many days?

What is the 90/180 rule?

The Schengen Area allows visa-required nationals a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day rolling period. The window is not a fixed calendar period — it rolls back 180 days from whatever day you check.

This is the most commonly misunderstood rule in Schengen travel. Miscounting can trigger an overstay flag on your record — logged automatically by the new EES biometric border system — and hurt every future application.

Common mistakes

• Counting the 180 days from your last entry (wrong — it rolls)
• Assuming January–June and July–December are separate windows (wrong)
• Not counting transit days through Schengen airports where you pass border control
• Not counting the exit day — under Article 6(1) of the Schengen Borders Code it is the last day of stay and it counts

A worked example, with real dates

Say you check your position on 20 August 2026. Your 180-day window opens on 22 February 2026 and closes on 20 August 2026 — 180 days counted inclusively. You took three trips:

Trip	Entry	Exit	Days counted
1	1 Mar 2026	30 Mar 2026	30
2	1 May 2026	30 May 2026	30
3	1 Jul 2026	1 Jul 2026	1
Total used on 20 Aug 2026			61 of 90

Trip 1 runs 1–30 March: that is 30 days, not 29, because both the entry and the exit day are days of stay. Trip 3 is a same-day in-and-out crossing and still counts as a full day. Counting exits as free days would show 58 here — three days of headroom you do not actually have. On 21 August the 22 February slot drops out of the window and any day you spent then is returned to you.

How the EES logs your entries and exits

The Entry/Exit System replaces passport stamps for third-country nationals crossing an external Schengen border. On your first crossing your face and fingerprints are registered together with the travel document; every later entry and exit is written to the same file automatically.

The practical consequence is that the border system computes your remaining days for you, from a record you cannot edit. Missing or illegible stamps used to give travellers the benefit of the doubt at the border — under EES there is no ambiguity to benefit from, and the same record follows you to every consulate.

What actually happens if you overstay

• A few days: usually a recorded overstay and a warning on exit. It stays in the system and will be seen on your next visa application.
• Longer overstays: a fine, a return decision, and in many Member States an entry ban — commonly one to five years depending on the length and whether it looks deliberate.
• On the next application: a previous overstay is one of the strongest single predictors of refusal, and it also undermines the "intention to return" that consulates assess.

Penalties are set by each Member State, so the exact fine and ban length depend on where you exit. If you have already overstayed, speak to an immigration lawyer before your next trip rather than relying on any calculator.

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Frequently asked

Does the entry day count as a day in Schengen?: Yes — and so does the exit day. Under Article 6(1) of the Schengen Borders Code the day of entry is the first day of stay and the day of exit is the last day of stay. A trip from 1 June to 30 June is 30 days, and a same-day in-and-out trip is 1 day.
Is the 180-day window fixed (January to June, July to December)?: No. It is a rolling window. On any given day, you look back exactly 180 days and count how many of those days you spent in Schengen. There is no reset date.
Do transit days count?: Only if you pass through border control. Airside transit (staying in the international zone) does not count. If you enter the Schengen zone during a layover, that day counts.
When can I re-enter Schengen after using my 90 days?: There is no fixed 'wait 90 days' rule. Your earliest re-entry date is the first day on which, looking back 180 days, you would have fewer than 90 days used. Use the calculator above to find your exact date.
Does this apply to EU citizens?: No. The 90/180 rule applies to third-country nationals — people who need a Schengen visa or who are visa-exempt but not EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.
How does the EES change the count?: The Entry/Exit System records every entry and exit of a third-country national biometrically, replacing passport stamps. Your remaining days are calculated automatically at the border from that record, so an unnoticed overstay is no longer possible to argue away.
What happens if I overstay?: Consequences range from a warning noted in the system to a fine, a removal decision, and an entry ban — typically one to five years for a longer overstay. Any overstay is visible to every consulate when you next apply for a visa.

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This calculator is for guidance only. Border officers have final discretion. Always confirm your remaining days with the consulate or border authority of your destination.