In brief
For each day of stay, look back 179 days. Together with the day being checked, this forms the rolling 180-day window in which no more than 90 chargeable Schengen days may generally occur.
One shared Schengen total
Stays in different Schengen countries are normally added together. Crossing into another Schengen country does not restart the count.
Both boundary days count
The European Commission method counts the day of entry and the day of exit as days of stay.
The window keeps moving
A new calendar day enters the window every day while an older one may fall out, so this is not a fixed half-year allowance.
Important limitations
A visa may grant fewer days. Long-stay visas, residence permits, nationality and special agreements can change how a stay is treated.
What to check
- Record all previous Schengen entries and exits.
- Check the number of days and entries printed on your visa.
- Consider residence permits and long-stay visas separately.
- Verify the current Schengen membership list.