Question: How Long Can I Stay in Europe?
The information below will be of use to non EU citizens traveling to Europe from countries that offer reciprocal visa arrangements (visa waiver or visa exemption programs). These include Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and some Asian, South American and Central American countries. Full list here
Answer: The maximum length of stay in Europe for non European Union passport holders is determined by the Schengen accord and is currently limited to 90 days within any 180 day period. The important thing to note is that you may not leave the Schengen Visa area for a day and return to restart the 90 day clock. In other words, you must be absent from the Schengen area for at least 90 days in a 180 day period to be legal.
What Happens if I Overstay my Schengen Visa and I'm caught?
Each country has its own rules. You may not be allowed to return for a period of time or you may be fined.You're an Idiot! My Friend Joe Stayed a Year in Europe with no penalty!
It is irresponsible for a journalist to tell you to break the law because you might not get penalized. Leniency on any given issue can change in an instant within the international community. It is my duty to inform you of the rules, not to encourage you to break them, especially in times of increased scrutiny of personal and legal documents.Who Needs a Schengen Visa?
According to the Consulate of France in Houston "No Visa is required for a short stay not exceeding 3 months in a Schengen State for tourism or business purposes for the applicants of the following countries:
Andorra*, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, South Korea, Czech Rep., European Union* and EEE (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, The United-Kingdom, and Sweden), Hong-Kong (only passport issued by the HKSAR), Hungary, Israël, Japan, Liechtenstein*, Macao (only passport issued by MSAR), Malta, Mexico, Monaco*, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, San Marino*, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland*, The Holy See*, Uruguay and USA."
(Note that Switzerland, which belongs neither to the EU nor to the European Economic Area, has had the same visiting limits as Schengen and is set to implement the Schengen rules, together with Liechtenstein, by the end of 2008)
The citizens of the countries above marked with the sign * do not need a visa for a long stay. Map of Countries with Visa Exemptions
Source: General Consulate of France in Houston
[Note: They mean that passport holders from the above countries traveling for purposes of tourism do not have to apply for a Schengen visa, because those countries have reciprocal visa agreements. You will still be operating under the rules of the Schengen visa.]
Europe Outside of Schengen
An exception to the 90 day Schengen visa scenario occurs when visiting the non-Schengen UK, where US, Canadian, and Australian nationals are given a 6 month visa upon entering. This visa does not apply to the Schengen area. For more, see How To Find Out if You Need a UK Visa.Europe for 1 Year. Do I need Schengen Visa?
The above is the title of a Travellerspoint forum post that has a lot of information in it for those who wish to try to stay away from home for a longer period of time than the permitted 90 days. See: Europe for 1 Year.. Do i need Schengen Visa????
Visa Resources:
Wikipedia Schengen Visa
Country Specific Travel Information - for US passport holders.
The above information was believed to be accurate when written on 24 April, 2008. It is not intended as legal advice. As with all agreements, terms can change over time. More countries will be added to the list of Schengen countries as they join the EU. Check the visa resources above if you have questions about longer stays in a European country.
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