Non-EU nationals may stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a long-stay visa or residence permit. The 180 days roll backwards from each day of stay. Since April 2026 the Entry/Exit System records entries and exits digitally. EU citizens, including Germans, are not subject to this limit.
It depends on
The limit applies to non-EU nationals; EU citizens and their rights to move freely are outside it.
Days spent on a residence permit or long-stay visa of the country that issued it are not counted.
Only time in the Schengen states counts; Ireland and Cyprus have separate border controls.
Who needs it
This matters for partners and family members of German emigrants who hold non-EU passports, retirees from outside the EU spending winters in Europe, digital nomads, and anyone planning a long trip before a residence permit is issued. Holders of a German residence permit or national visa can also use the 90/180 rule to travel to other Schengen states. Germans and other EU citizens can move freely within the EU, but non-EU family members should check their own status before planning longer stays.
How it works
- 1
Count backwards
On any given day, look back over the previous 180 days and add up the days spent in the Schengen area; the total must not exceed 90. Entry and exit days both count.
- 2
Know which countries count
The Schengen area has 29 member states, including Bulgaria and Romania since 1 January 2025. Ireland is not part of it, and Cyprus has not lifted internal border controls.
- 3
Expect digital registration
The Entry/Exit System started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational since 10 April 2026. It records fingerprints, a facial image and each entry and exit instead of passport stamps.
- 4
Switch to a national visa for longer stays
If you plan to stay longer, apply for a long-stay visa or residence permit in your destination country before the 90 days run out.
Key facts
| Fact | Value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short-stay limit for non-EU nationals | 90 days in any 180-day period | 124 | checked 15 October 2026 |
| How the 180-day period is counted | Rolling period looking back from each day of stay; entry and exit days both count | 2 | checked 15 October 2026 |
| Stays on a residence permit or long-stay (D) visa | Not counted towards the 90 days | 2 | checked 15 October 2026 |
| Schengen states | 29 (25 EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland); Bulgaria and Romania full members since 1 January 2025; Ireland not part; Cyprus has not lifted internal border controls | 1 | checked 15 October 2026 |
| Travel by holders of a Schengen residence permit or D visa to other Schengen states | Up to 90 days in any 180-day period | 5 | checked 15 October 2026 |
| Entry/Exit System (EES) rollout | Progressive start 12 October 2025; fully operational and replacing passport stamping since 10 April 2026 | 34 | checked 15 October 2026 |
| Data recorded in the EES | Name, travel document data, fingerprints, facial image, date and place of entry and exit | 3 | checked 15 October 2026 |
| ETIAS travel authorisation | Not yet in operation; start date to be announced several months in advance | 6 | checked 15 October 2026 |
Common mistakes
- Counting 90 days per calendar half-year instead of using the rolling 180-day window.
- Leaving out entry and exit days when counting.
- Assuming a short trip outside the Schengen area resets the count.
- Relying on old passport stamps instead of the digital records now held in the Entry/Exit System.
- Overstaying while waiting for a residence permit without checking the national rules for such cases.
FAQ
Does the 90/180 rule apply to me as a German citizen?
No. Germans and other EU citizens can travel and live within the EU under free movement rules. The 90/180-day limit applies to non-EU nationals on short stays. If your partner or children hold non-EU passports, their status depends on their nationality and any residence rights they have as your family members.
Does leaving the Schengen area for a few days reset the 90 days?
No. The count always looks back over the previous 180 days from each day of stay. Days outside the Schengen area simply do not add to the total, but days you spent inside within the window still count until they drop out of the 180-day period.
I have a German residence permit. Can I travel to other Schengen countries?
Yes. Holders of a residence permit or long-stay visa issued by a Schengen state can usually stay in other Schengen states for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, provided they meet the general entry conditions such as a valid travel document and sufficient means.
Do I need ETIAS?
Not yet. ETIAS, the planned travel authorisation for visa-exempt non-EU travellers, is not yet in operation. The EU has said it will announce the start date several months in advance, so non-EU family members should check official EU sources before each trip rather than rely on older news reports.
Sources
- Council of the European Union, Infographic – Schengen visa (opens in a new tab)Authority · checked 15 October 2026
- European Commission – Migration and Home Affairs, Short-stay Schengen calculator – user manual (opens in a new tab)Authority · checked 15 October 2026
- European Commission – Migration and Home Affairs, Entry/Exit System (EES) (opens in a new tab)Authority · checked 15 October 2026
- European Commission – Migration and Home Affairs, New Entry/Exit System went live on 12 October 2025 (opens in a new tab)Authority · checked 15 October 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, Travel with residence permits and long-stay visas issued by the Schengen states (opens in a new tab)Authority · checked 15 October 2026
- Government of the Netherlands, European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) (opens in a new tab)Authority · checked 15 October 2026
About the author
[Author name]
[Role]
[Short bio.]
[Personal experience abroad.]
About the reviewer
[Reviewer name, qualification]
Specialist reviewer
[Short bio.]
[Professional background.]