Schengen DaysHow to count your Schengen days (the 90/180 rule)
The Schengen 90/180 rule lets most non-EU visitors spend up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period. Counting it by hand trips up even frequent travellers, because the 180-day window moves every single day. Here is exactly how to do it.
The rule in one sentence
On any given day, look back over the previous 180 days (that day plus the 179 before it) and add up every day you were physically inside the Schengen Area. If the total is 90 or fewer, you are compliant; the days remaining are 90 minus that total.
Step by step
- Pick the date you want to check (today, or a future arrival date).
- Mark the start of the window: that date minus 179 days.
- Add up all days of presence inside that window — both your entry day and your exit day count, and every country in the area shares the same total.
- Subtract from 90 to get your remaining days.
Why the count changes every day
Because the window rolls, old days “fall off” the back as new days are added at the front. A stay from four months ago may still be inside today’s window but drop out next week — which is why your remaining days can increase even while you sit at home. Doing this on paper for several past trips is error-prone, so most travellers use a tracker that recomputes it for every date automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Does the day of arrival count?
Yes. Both the day you enter and the day you leave count as full days of presence, regardless of the time of day or number of nights.
Do I count each country separately?
No. All Schengen countries share one 90-day total. Days in France, Spain and Germany add up together.
Is there an official way to check?
Yes — the European Commission publishes an official short-stay calculator, and Schengen Days uses the same rolling-window method.
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