6 month tourist visa europe

How to (Legally) Stay in Europe for More Than 90 Days

When I planned my move to Sweden a few years ago, I tried to figure out how to get past the 90-day limit placed on tourist visas in the Schengen Area. This is a problem encountered by thousands of travelers every year and a question that regularly (especially this time of year) pops up in my inbox.

“How can I stay in Europe for more than 90 days?”

It’s a simple question with a very complicated answer.

I always knew it was complicated, but until I started researching how to stay there longer, I never knew just how complicated.

Fortunately, in the process of this research, I came to learn there are a few ways to stay in Europe longer than 90 days; they just aren’t well known.

This post will teach you the options for staying in Europe over 90 days as well as give you tips on how to move to Europe. But first a few things:

It’s important to note that Europe isn’t just one place — there are varying visa rules throughout the continent. When people talk about the “90-day limit,” they’re talking about restrictions on the Schengen Area, which is the visa policy that governs 27 countries in Europe. It includes most of the European Union as well as a few non-EU countries.

Note: While I call it the “Schengen Visa,” it’s not an actual visa you necessarily need to apply for. Depending on your residency status and country of citizenship, you may need to apply in advance for a Schengen Visa, however, those with an American passport do not need to apply in advance.

However, it should be noted that as of 2025, visitors from 60 countries (including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada) will need to apply for an online ETIAS, which is essentially a visa waiver, when entering the 23 EU member states and 4 non-EU countries of the Schengen. It is valid for 90 days within a 180-day period.

You can apply and pay online up to 96 hours beforehand. It is similar to the US version of ESTA (or the eTA in Canada). ETIAS cost 7 EUR for those 18-70 years old and are free for those under 18 years or over 70.

If you come from a country that requires you to get a Schengen visa you will not need to apply for ETIAS. It’s one or the other. Learn more here . (The ETIAS was originally set to launch in 2024, but has been pushed back.)

Table of Contents

• What is the Schengen Visa?

Part 1: Staying or Moving to Europe the Easy Way

Part 2: staying in the schengen area past 90 days.

• Take Advantage of the Bilateral Agreement
• Working Holiday Visas
• Long-Term-Stay Visas
• Student Visas
• Freelancer Visas
• Marriage Visas

What is the Schengen visa?

The Schengen visa is a 90-day tourist visa for Schengen Area countries, which are:

• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland

  Additionally, there are several microstates that are de facto members of the Schengen Area. These are Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City.

These Schengen countries have a border-free visa agreement that lets residents move throughout the Area without needing to show their passports every time they cross a border. Essentially, it’s as if they’re one country, and you can move as freely as you want.

Citizens of many countries are allowed to enter the Schengen Area without having to get a visa beforehand. Your passport simply gets stamped upon your arrival and departure from Europe. You’re allowed to enter and leave from any country you want — they don’t have to be the same.

Here is a map of the countries with visa waivers that can enter the Schengen without requiring a visa in advance.

Most visitors (including Americans) are allowed to spend 90 days in the Schengen Area in every 180-day period. The easiest way to think of it is that you can visit for 3 months and then you have to leave for 3 months before you can return.

However, you can also bounce back and forth between Schengen and non-Schengen countries — you just need to keep track of all your dates of entry/exit.

When I visit Europe, I fly in and out of different countries all the time. Your first entry in the 180-day period is when your 90-day counter starts. These days don’t need to be consecutive — the total is cumulative. Once day 181 hits, the count resets itself.

For example, if I come to the Schengen Area in January and stay for 60 days and then come back in June for 10 days, that counts as 70 days in 180 days. Only days you are in the zone during the period count. If you go on January 1st and stay 90 straight days, you have to leave and technically can’t come back until July 1st.

If you’re doing a lot of bouncing around, use the EU’s Schengen visa calculator . Simply input all your travel dates and it’ll tell you how many days you have remaining.

However, not all travelers are allowed such freedom.

Citizens from many countries need to apply for a Schengen visa ahead of time. You’ll be required to fill out paperwork beforehand and fly in and out of the country for which your visa is issued.

Even then, you still might not be granted a visa. Spoiler alert: citizens from African and Asian countries get screwed.

So, with that being said, how DO you stay in Europe longer? How do you get around that rule? Let me break it down for you.  

Most non-Schengen countries such as Moldova , Ireland , and some Balkan countries allow you to stay for up to 60 or 90 days. Albania even lets Americans stay up to a year!

So, all you need to do to stay in Europe longer than 3 months is spend 90 days in the Schengen Area and then visit the UK, go to the Balkans, drink wine in Moldova, and have a pint in Ireland. If you align your schedule right, you can easily be out of the Schengen Area for 90 days and then head back into the Schengen Area with a brand new Schengen visa.

Years ago, to get around this limit, I spent three months in Bulgaria , Romania , Ukraine , and England as I waited for my clock to reset.

After that, I headed back into the Schengen area for Oktoberfest .

If you want to travel the continent for a long time without having to go through the various visa processes described below, vary your travel by visiting non-Schengen countries. There are plenty of countries to choose from while you wait for your Schengen Visa clock to reset. This is the easy, hassle-free way of doing things.

—-> Need more tips for Europe? Visit my destination guide and get in-depth information on what to see and do and how to save money .  

After all, the Schengen Area spans 27 countries and visiting so many destinations in 90 days can be a little rushed (you would have an average of just 3.5 days per country).

If you want to stay longer to travel, live, learn a language, or fall in love, then the “move around” option suggested above isn’t going to work for you. You need something else.

Luckily, there are a few ways to do this — and I can’t stress enough the importance of the word “few.” Because staying more than 90 days in the Schengen Area isn’t easy.

First, let’s understand the rule:

The Schengen law states that you can’t stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days. If you do, you’re subject to a fine and possibly deportation and being banned from re-entering the Schengen Area. How that rule is enforced, though, varies greatly from one country to another. Overstaying by a day might not be the end of the world, however, some countries do not mess around with visitors overstaying.

For example, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, and Scandinavian countries are all very strict about entry and exit rules. If you overstay your tourist visit, there’s a good chance they’ll pull you aside. Two Australians I know were detained leaving Switzerland due to overstaying their visa by two weeks. They were allowed to go with just a warning, but they missed their flights and had to book new flights.

I know of someone who overstayed by six months, tried to leave from Amsterdam, and now has an “illegal immigrant” stamp on her passport. In order to enter Europe again, she must apply for a visa at an embassy and be preapproved:

I made the mistake of attempting to leave from the Netherlands after overstaying a Schengen visa and was caught. I overstayed by about a month, and they hand-drew some sort of insignia in my passport to note my overstay. They told me I’d have to contact the IND and find out if I would be able to enter the Schengen states again.

Another blogger told me this happened to them too so don’t overstay your visa!

That being said, if you leave from Greece , France , Italy , or Spain you may be less likely to encounter an issue, provided you (a) haven’t stayed over too long and (b) didn’t catch the immigration officer on a bad day.

When I left Greece, no one even looked at my passport. One of my friends met a guy in France, fell in love, and decided not to leave. A year later, when she finally did, the French officials didn’t even look twice. Another friend flew into France and didn’t even get an entry stamp. Spain is another place notorious for not caring and Americans who decide to overstay for months mention that as the easiest country to exit from. Still, it’s a good idea not to take your chances.

Of course, I don’t think it’s wise to overstay. A day or two? Likely not the end of the world. But a few weeks? A few months? The risk is too great. The fines can be large and I love going to Europe too much to risk being banned.

But, Matt, can I extend just extend my Schengen visa/stamp?

Unfortunately not. Simply put, you cannot extend your tourist visa or entry stamp. There’s a 90-day limit, and that’s that.

So what’s a tourist to do?  

1. Take advantage of the Bilateral Agreement

There are 23 Schengen countries to date with bilateral agreements in place with Austria having the most visa waiver agreements (for 27 non-EU countries). Moreover, there are 12 countries that have bilateral agreements with Australia.

For example, France has a bilateral agreement that allows U.S. citizens to stay an additional 90 days beyond the Schengen limit. You can enter from any Schengen country, stay 90 days in France, and then fly home. But the catch is you have to go home — you can’t go elsewhere. You have to leave Europe so you can’t use your time in France as a sneaky way to reset your Schengen clock.

Now, the France/U.S. rule is tricky. It’s based on a post-World War II agreement that was never canceled. Multiple French consulates told me yes, they thought this law existed but couldn’t tell me where to find it. A few visa services told me I was crazy. One consulate told me it was possible but only with a long-term visa.

BUT, after many calls, the US, Canada, and UK French embassies told me that yes, this law does exist and that yes, this is still valid. Then they referenced me to the French national archives.

Well, we found the actual diplomatic papers that spell this out . It took us close to a year to find it but we did.

This is the note from the French government about it:

Hi, There is a bilateral agreement between French and the U.S. by exchange letters (March 16-31 mars 1949), which allows American citizens to stay in France 90 days over 180 days, irrespective of the stays already made in other Schengen countries. However, this agreement has been made before the Schengen agreement. Today, as there is no more border control between the Schengen countries, it is very difficult to determine how long a person has stayed in France and we heard that some people had troubles with the immigration police while leaving France. Therefore, we recommend American citizens to respect the Schengen regulation which allows a maximum of 90 days on 180 days in the whole Schengen area. Consulat général de France, Service des visas 4101 Reservoir Road, Washington DC, 20007

A follow-up to the London embassy gave me this response:

“Whilst the bilateral agreement you refer to has not officially been revoked, the French Border Police has sole authority on deciding whether to apply it or not, at the time of entering or exiting the Schengen area.”

So this is really a thing. And, while they don’t like you using it, it’s still the law. Just bring proof you stayed in France for 90 days! If you plan to use this rule, bring documentation as border guards may not be aware of it.

Additionally, Denmark, Norway, and Poland also have bilateral agreements with the United States that let citizens stay an additional 90 days in each country separate from the regular Schengen Zone visa. The Denmark rule applies exactly the same way as the French one. Denmark also has a bilateral agreement that is applicable for citizens of Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Korea .

That said, travelers can only use the Norwegian or the Danish bilateral agreement — they can’t use both (time in Norway under the bilateral agreement counts as time in Denmark and vice versa).

For Poland, you must enter and leave Poland via a non-Schengen country where you will be stamped again (i.e., direct flight from NYC). So you could do 90 days in the Schengen, fly to the UK, and then fly to Poland. Poland’s rules are simply laid out in an agreement letter the U.S. and Poland signed in 1991. ( Here’s a copy of the letter from the Polish government) .

In theory, there are also other bilateral agreements between the U.S. and Schengen countries. I’ve been told by multiple sources that Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Norway, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands all have their own bilateral agreements with the U.S. as well. This page outlines the existing bilateral agreements .

However, I reached out to each country’s consulate and none of them replied (save Portugal) in any meaningful way. They simply directed me to the standard visa FAQ page.

Regarding Portugal, a representative from the Portuguese consulate said this regarding their bilateral 60-day visa:

Please note that those 60 days are an exceptional extension that needs to be requested within Portugal at SEF office near your temporary address in Portugal.

Now, in theory, one could say thanks to borderless travel you could get your “extra 90 days in Denmark” and then just travel around, fly out of Denmark, and no one would be the wiser. One could say that. But I’ve noticed a lot more intra-Europe passport checks in recent years. I got yelled at in France for not having my passport with me while on a train to see a chateau. So, I wouldn’t recommend doing this.

Note: Most countries have bilateral agreements with other countries. Call the local embassy for more information (you’ll have better luck calling than emailing).  

2. Get a Working Holiday Visa

There is no single “working holiday” program for the Schengen or EU so applicants must apply for a visa from a specific country. Usually, applicants must be younger than 30, though age restrictions are becoming more relaxed in recent years.

Additionally, you can get consecutive working holiday visas. An Australian reader of mine got a two-year Dutch working holiday visa and then got one from Norway to stay two more years. While she and her boyfriend (who also got one) did odd jobs in Holland for a bit, they mostly used it as a way to travel around the continent.

Note : This type of visa won’t allow you to work in any other country than the one that issued it.

For Americans, there are only two options for working holidays in Europe: Ireland (non-Schengen country) and Portugal (Schengen country). Both programs are essentially the same, providing a 12-month work visa to those either currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a higher education institution.

While you must be at least 18 to apply, there’s no upper age limit, provided that you fit the other criteria. For the Portuguese visa, you can only work for 6 months out of the 12-month visa, while the Irish visa has no work restrictions.

3. Get a Long-Term-Stay Visa

However, in 2023, if you have a fully online business, there are countries within Schengen that allow digital nomad visas provided you make a certain amount of money per month and have your own health insurance. Countries that currently offer digital nomad visas include Portugal, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Malta, Romania, Spain, and Norway.

The countries that allow you to apply with the lowest online salary are Portugal, Hungary, Malta, and Croatia, which require around 2,500 EUR in income per month.

Schengen allows for a C- or D-class visa (the letter varies on the country), which is a temporary residence visa for up to one year. But the specific visa and requirements vary from country to country. Some countries are harder, some are easier, and others are nearly impossible despite being in the same visa treaty zone.

However, there are a few countries that do offer long-term visas that aren’t too hard to get:  

France offers a long-term visitor visa for a period of up to one year. According to the French Embassy, “The ‘visitor’ visa (or visa ‘D’) allows you to enter France and stay for more than three months. Long-stay visa holders will be allowed to reside in France for up to 12 months according to the validity of their visa and purpose of stay.”

To get this visa, you must set up an appointment at the French consulate near you. You can’t walk in — you must make an appointment.

At this appointment, you’ll need the following documents:

• One application form filled out completely and signed
• Three passport photos
• Your original passport, which must have been issued less than 10 years ago, be valid for three months after your return, and have at least two blank pages left
• A letter certified by a notary public that promises you won’t engage in work
• A letter of employment stating current occupation and earnings
• Proof of income (you’ll need copies of a pension certificate or your last 3 bank statements)
• Proof of medical insurance that includes evacuation insurance and medical coverage of at least €30,000 (a copy of your US health insurance card is not acceptable as proof, you need a detailed description of coverage)
• Proof of accommodation in France. (If you don’t have an official document such as a sublet agreement, you can include a letter describing your accommodation arrangements).

Note : You can’t apply for this visa more than three months before your arrival date.

France-Visas is the official visa website for France. It details all the types of visas and has a helpful “visa wizard” where you put in your situation and it tells you what type of visa you should apply for as well as all the documents that you need.

You can also visit the French Embassy website for links to local embassies and consulates for more information. Find your closest consulate here .

This post has some helpful information to get you started on long-term visas in particular .  

Sweden also offers a long-term stay tourist visa for a maximum period of one year. Here’s a brief overview of what you need:

• Residence permit for visitor’s application form
• Notarized copies of the pages of your passport that show your identity and the validity of your passport, as well as copies of all the other visas/stamps you have. Your passport also needs to be valid for 3 months after your stay.
• A bank statement showing your means of supporting yourself for the duration of your stay (450 SEK for each day of your stay)
• A return airplane ticket
• Proof of medical coverage of at least 30,000 EUR

Most people who apply for this visa have family in Sweden. If you don’t, you’ll need to have clear reasons as to why you need to stay longer and show ample proof that you can support yourself (i.e., “I want to meet Swedish guys/girls” won’t cut it!).

You can apply either in Sweden or outside the country. If you’re applying from Sweden, you can apply online, and then make an appointment at the consulate or embassy to show your passport and get fingerprinted. If you’re applying outside of Sweden, you need to file your application in person at the consulate or embassy. When you file your application abroad, you’ll also be interviewed about your intended trip and the purpose for staying in Sweden.

You can learn more about the process on this government page .

Spain offers a couple of long-term visas. The Golden Visa is based on a sizable financial investment in Spain, either into a company (minimum 1 million EUR), real estate (minimum 500,000 EUR), or invest in a new business such as in science or tech that creates local employment opportunities. The other more attainable and popular long-term visa targets retirees and is called the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa. It requires that you spend at least 183 days in Spain, which would make you a legal resident for tax purposes. During this time, you are unable to work in Spain (so you’ll need to have enough savings to get you by). However, studying and unpaid internships are permitted.

The big catch for this visa is that you need to have at least 26,000 EUR in your bank account (ideally more). Since the visa is designed for retirees, the assumption is that you’re coming here to rest on your financial laurels after a lifetime of saving up — hence the sizeable requirement.

The visa has been denied to people who are remote workers so I wouldn’t recommend this visa if you’re a digital nomad (Spain is supposedly working on a visa specifically for digital nomads, though it’s not currently available). This is a bit of a gray area though. If you can show enough savings to financially sustain yourself for a year without working, you can get this visa. You just cannot use monthly statements (such as from your remote job) to prove income; financial proof must be savings or passive income (such as a pension).

In addition to having sizable savings, you’ll also need to fill out the application, submit your passport and additional photos, pay a fee, and provide the following:

• Proof of private health insurance (from an authorized company in Spain not travel insurance)
• A doctor’s note certifying that you’re healthy
• A criminal background check translated into Spanish

You must apply for this visa in your country of residency (usually with the help of lawyers). The application varies per country, usually between 120-900 EUR (it’s around 125 EUR for Americans and over 500 EUR for Canadians).

This consulate page has all the specific details you need regarding the application .

Portugal has multiple long-term stay visas. First, there is a Golden Visa, which requires a minimum investment in the country of 280,000 EUR and takes around 18 months to process. The D7 Passive Income visa, which is similar to Spain’s non-lucrative visa, is more realistic for most people.

To apply for the D7 visa in Portugal you need:

• Proof of health insurance covering at least 30,000 EUR
• A background check
• Proof of financial means to stay in Portugal (8,460 EUR)
• 2 passport photos
• Proof of accommodation

The main difference between the Portuguese and Spanish long-term visas is that you only need an income of around 8,460 EUR instead of the 26,000 EUR in savings that the Spanish visa requires. You still cannot work on this visa, so your income must be passive (investments, pension, rental property, etc.).

The D7 visa can work for digital nomad as it is valid for 4 months. Portugal is much more accepting of remote work as proof of income for the visa application than Spain.

Portugal also offers the D2 immigrant Entrepreneur visa, which isn’t designed specifically for digital nomads, but could be used by specific entrepreneurs. You’ll need to submit a business plan and demonstrate you have enough capital to get started. You’ll also need to explain why you want to start your business in Portugal (or move it there). You’ll have a much higher chance of getting approved if you have invested upwards of 5,000 EUR in your business and speak some Portuguese (it’s not required, but these visas are regularly rejected so it will give you a leg up).

In short, there are a lot of steps for a temporary visa. However, you can get this extended and eventually apply for permanent residency or citizenship after 5 years.

You’ll need to apply for both of these visas in your country of residency.

The official Portuguese visa website has more information about specific visas and requirements. You can locate your nearest Portuguese consulate here .

A note on long-term visas: Keep in mind that the information above is just for reference. There may be more requirements needed for your application and not all visas are open to everyone. You’ll want to contact your local embassy for specifics and additional information.  

4. Get a Student Visa

All Schengen Area countries offer student visas that are easy to obtain so long as you’re enrolled in a recognized university program. This would require you to pay for the course and you may also have to show proof of minimum fund requirements, but it will virtually guarantee you a visa if you are accepted.

One of the best countries to do this is Spain, where a whole industry has sprung up to help students study Spanish. There are tons of schools that will allow you to enroll and write letters stating you’re a student there. You’ll need to apply in your home country but the process is relatively straightforward. This post details the requirements .

Germany is another popular choice, as post-secondary schools there are essentially free. While there may be more competition, the costs are much lower. However, you need to show proof that you have money in a bank account to cover your expenses. As of October 2022, that amount is 11, 208 EUR in a blocked bank account.

In Germany, you might also be able to work up to 120 full days, or 240 half days (20 hours a week) while you study as well. You can learn about the application process here .

While most student visas allow you to stay in a country for one year, I would only consider getting one if you actually plan on studying. If you’re just getting a student visa to travel and play tourist, it’s not going to be worth the cost and paperwork since you’ll need to set up everything from a residential address to a bank account to a local phone number and more.  

5. Get a Freelancer/Remote Worker Visa

There are several countries that offer freelancer visas and visas geared towards the increasing number of remote workers. This process is a little more complicated and not for the casual tourist. These visas are meant for people who actually want to live and work in Europe. If you’re just a casual tourist, expect to be denied. But if you’re a digital nomad, this is the visa for you.

Schengen countries that offer freelancer or remote worker visas include:

• Germany (no set income amount, but you need a business plan and upwards of 10,000 EUR in savings)
• Estonia (3,500 EUR income/month)
• Czechia (5,600 EUR in savings)
• Portugal (2,800 EUR income/month)
• Greece (3,500 EUR income/month)
• Malta (2,700 EUR income/month)
• Hungary (2,000 EUR income/month
• Croatia (17,800 HRK (2,300 EUR income/month)

Non-Schengen countries that have them include:

• Romania (no set income, reports of successful applicants range from about 3,700 EUR/month)
• Georgia (2,000 USD income/month)
• Iceland (1,000,000 ISK income/month (6,617 EUR), only valid for up to 6 months)

Germany is the country most used by people who want to reside in Europe. If you’re a freelancer, digital nomad, artist, or have some form of income, this is the visa to get. If you are from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.S., Israel, South Korea, or Japan you can apply after you arrive in Germany (everyone else needs to apply in advance).

The visa only lasts for three months, however, it is designed to be extended into a residency visa which would then last for three years. I have many friends who have gotten this visa. As long as you follow the steps, you should be fine. This post has more information about the process .

Most of these visas follow a similar format: apply, pay a fee, submit proof that your business can stay afloat, then wait to be accepted. However, some have more stringent requirements.

For example, Estonia’s freelancer visa requires a monthly income of at least 3,500 EUR per month leading up to your application. For the Czechia visa, you need to have at least $6,000 USD in your bank account (the lovely folks at Wandertooth, who did this process a couple of years ago, can walk you through the steps ).

If you are a digital nomad and are considering working remotely from the EU you can compare these programs to see which one bests suits your goals (though Germany is likely the best place to start since it’s one of the easiest to get).  

6. Get Married to a European

Fall in love with a European (or at least a friend) and apply for a marriage visa! You’ll get to stay there while the application process goes through and then you can move to Europe and stay there forever with the love of your life! That’s a win-win! (This is a joke. Don’t get married just for a visa to stay in Europe!)

The best, easiest, and most effective way to stay in Europe long-term is to increase the number of countries you visit so you’re in the Schengen Area for only 90 days. As I said, there are a lot of countries not in the Area so this is easy to do.

If you’re like me and want to stay in the Schengen Area longer than 90 days (or just want to move to Europe because it’s awesome), be prepared to work the system. It’s not impossible to stay long-term in the Schengen Area. By understanding the system and using the few loopholes that do exist, one can legally stay past 90 days and enjoy all Europe has to offer without worrying about being barred for life.  

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Book Your Trip to Europe: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

For suggestions on where to stay during your trip, here is a list of my favorite hostels in Europe .

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• Safety Wing (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
• Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

NOTE: Due to the complexities of visas and the uniqueness of everyone’s situation, we do not answer any visa related questions in the comments or via email. Thank you.

Hi, I’m Nomadic Matt, the New York Times best-selling author of How to Travel the World on $50 a Day and Ten Years a Nomad, as well as the founder of this website! And I’m here to help you save money on your next trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Living In Europe For 6 Months. Here’s How To Do It Legally.

Note that the information in this article pertains mostly to Americans or citizens of the United States and no other nationality.

Living in Europe for 6 months legally, is it possible?

There are two possible ways that you can experience living in Europe for six months legally. 

The first way is by staying in a Schengen Zone country for up to 3 months, then moving to another country or a few countries that are outside the Schengen Zone for an additional 3 months, but are still located in Europe. All for a total of 6 months.

The interesting thing about Europe is that many European countries are in the Schengen Zone which is a common visa zone. 

With that in mind, Americans are allowed to stay legally in the Schengen Zone as a “tourist” for up to 3 months without a visa. 

However, you must also leave after 3 months and cannot return for an additional 3 months. 

Basically, it’s 90 days out of every 180 days that you can legally stay in the Schengen Zone. 

So what does that leave us for the other three months? Well, there are several countries that are in Europe that are not in the Schengen Zone. 

Each country outside the Schengen Zone has their own visa policy. In general, Americans can stay in each of these countries for up to 3 months out of 180 days as well. 

So for example, let’s say you decide to stay in Poland, France or Italy for 3 months. Then you decide to go over to Croatia, which is still as of the writing of this article, outside of the Schengen Zone. You could stay in Croatia for up to 3 months as well. This would total 6 months of living in Europe legally. 

However, Croatia isn’t the only European country outside of the Schengen Zone. There’s also Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Cypress, Romania and Bulgaria. Let’s not forget countries further east, for example, Ukraine, Moldova, even Georgia. Some might not consider Georgia a part of Europe but, close enough. 

Actually, many people do consider Georgia as a part of Europe, though it’s actually in the South Caucasus. In fact, Americans can stay in Georgia for up to one year visa free. If you want to stay an extra year all you need to do is cross the border and return. There are no 90/180 day limits, no waiting periods. 

So that’s how you can live in Europe for 6 months legally without visas and residency permits. This does not mean however, that you’re allowed to work, because you’re not. 

These are all perfectly legal though, for a tourist. However, if you want to stay in one country in Europe for 6 months legally, you will need to apply for a visa. 

Different countries have their own visa rules and types of visas. So you will have to check a particular country’s website. 

However, there are other possible visas you can get, like a retirement visa, an education visa, where you would study the language for a year. You can also get an entrepreneur/artist visa in some countries, like Germany or Czechia. 

More countries are starting their own “Digital Nomad Visa, for those who work solely online. I would check the French, Italian, Dutch, German, Estonian, Spanish and Czech embassies for these types of visas. 

Other countries also may have similar types of visas, but the above are the most common as far as longer term visas for living in Europe legally for six months. 

How much money do you need to live in Europe for 6 months?

Of course, how much money you need to live in Europe for 6 months depends on your taste, your budget and why you plan on living for 6 months in Europe. 

Europe is also quite a big place and you have expensive countries to the north and west and cheaper countries in the south and east.

A general rule of thumb is, the further east you go the cheaper Europe becomes. 

So for example, let’s say you’re going to be backpacking and spending some time in Poland, which is part of the Schengen Zone. You may need $15 to $20 more or less for a hostel bed per night. 

You multiply that times 30 and you get about $450 to $600 a month just on your accommodation. Let’s factor in some food and even if you shop at supermarkets for most of your nutritional needs, you may need another $75 to $100 a week. 

Plus you want to factor in public transportation, which can run you another $100 a month. You could also pick up a local cell phone package for about 25 to $30 a month, maximum. 

So budget at least $1,000 a month more or less this is for Eastern Europe. Western Europe will be a little more expensive. 

However, if you go to Western Europe during the off season, meaning the Fall and Winter months to early Spring, you may be able to live on $1,000 a month as well, since hostel prices will be lower.

The best place to live in europe for 6 months.

In my opinion, at least currently, the best place to live in Europe for 6 months would be the Republic of Georgia. 

Granted, the Republic of Georgia is on the very outskirts of Europe. Some might not even consider Georgia as a part of Europe. 

However, as an American, Georgia allows visa free stays for up to one year. If you like to stay longer than a year, all you need to do is leave and come right back and you get another year. 

You also don’t need to wait 3 months in order to return to get that extra year. You could simply hop across the border and come back the same day and get an extra year. 

How long the Republic of Georgia will continue this policy, I have no idea. 

The world is changing, countries change as well as their visa and immigration policies. But as of the writing of this post and my opinion, Georgia would be the best place in Europe to live for six months. 

In addition, to the generous visa policy, the local cuisine is unbelievably good. 

Sometimes less can be said for the service at times, but the food is awesome. The wine is not bad at either, although you will need to acquire a taste for it. It’s also very cheap. 

Rents can range anywhere from $150 to $1,000 a month for an apartment. Tbilisi, the capital, is quite small and you can easily get around most places you need to go on foot. 

Tbilisi also has a decent subway system and it’s very cheap. One subway token to anywhere will cost about $0.10 USD. 

Taxis are quite affordable as well. You can go out, have a night on the town, even have a few too many (although I don’t recommend it) and still get a taxi home with one of many taxi apps for as little as $2-$3. 

Georgia also has decent internet connections and speeds. 

Their cell phone plans are quite affordable as well. I pay on average about $5 a month for mine and it includes data. 

Of course, you could pay more and increase your data size.

There are other benefits of living in Georgia too, but for me those are the main attractions.

Applying for a Schengen visa

This is a general overview - for more details contact the embassy or consulate of your main destination country.

What is a Schengen visa?

A Schengen visa is an entry permit for non-EU nationals to make a short, temporary visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day period to a country in the Schengen area. 

Schengen visas come in 3 forms: 

• single-entry visa - allowing you to enter the Schengen area once;
• multiple-entry visa - allowing several visits to the Schengen area for as long as the visa is valid;
• airport transit visa - allows you to connect through the international transit area of an airport in the Schengen area during a stopover or a change of flights. It does not allow you to leave the international transit area.

How long can you stay?

The short-stay visa calculator can help you calculate the remaining period you are allowed to stay in a Schengen country. 

The user's guide provides step by step instructions and practical examples to help you use the calculator.

Who needs to apply for a Schengen visa?

Citizens of certain non-EU countries must hold a short-stay visa when travelling to the Schengen area. 

Consult the EU list of countries whose citizens are required to hold a visa when crossing its external borders. There are exceptions to the visa requirements for certain types of traveller to certain countries (e.g. diplomats, armed forces, refugees, pupils on school excursions).

Airport transit visas

• Some non-EU nationals must also hold an airport transit visa when connecting through the international transit areas of airports located in any of the Schengen States . 
• For citizens of certain additional countries , an airport transit visa is required when connecting through the international transit areas of airports located in some of the Schengen countries . 
• There are some categories of people who are exempt from the requirement to hold an airport transit visa (see Article 3(5) of the Visa Code ).

Where to apply

You must lodge your application for a Schengen visa at the consulate of the country you intend to visit . 

• Visiting more than 1 Schengen countries : apply at the consulate of the country where you will spend the longest time.
• Visiting several Schengen countries (for stays of equal length): apply at the consulate of the first country you will visit.

As a general rule, you must apply for a Schengen visa at the consulate with territorial responsibility for the country where you are legally resident.

More information for each Schengen country can be found on these websites

When to apply.

You must submit your application to the consulate  at least 15 days before your intended journey and no earlier than 6 months beforehand . 

You may have to book an appointment before lodging the application.

What documents are needed to apply?

• A valid passport . The passport’s expiry date should be at least 3 months after the date of your departure from the Schengen area. For multiple-entry visas, the expiry date should be at least 3 months after your departure from the last country visited.
• A visa application form .
• A photo in compliance with ICAO standards .
• Medical insurance covering emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation (including in the event of death).
• Supporting documents relating to the purpose of your stay, evidence of financial means and accommodation during your stay, and evidence of your intention to return to your home country after your stay.
• Your fingerprints will be collected when you submit your application (exemptions exist for specific categories of applicants).

Additional documents may also be requested by the consulates.

How much does a visa cost?

• €90 for adults
• €45 for children aged 6-12
• €35 for applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus
• €67,50 for applicants from Cabo Verde.

An additional fee may apply if you go through visa service centres , which collect applications on behalf of consulates in some cases.

The visa fee can be waived for specific categories of applicants.

How long does the application take to process?

The normal processing time for a visa application is 15 days . 

This period may be extended to up to 45 days if a more detailed examination of the application and/or additional documents are required.

Under certain conditions, family members of EU or EEA citizens falling under the Free Movement Directive are eligible for a free and accelerated visa procedure.

Refusal of a visa application

If your application is rejected, you will be told:

• why it was rejected
• how to submit an appeal.

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Guide to long-term travel in europe: how to stay longer than 90 days.

Discover how to stay in Europe for more than 90 days. Advice for dealing with visa issues, travel costs, accommodation, and saving money.

Long-term travel in Europe is a dream that many of us have, but dealing with visa issues, travel costs, accommodation, and saving money can be quite difficult. This guide will walk you through these important steps of staying in Europe longer than 90 days and will help you plan your big trip abroad.

Quick Outline To This Guide

Note About Staying in Europe For More than 90 Days

The Schengen Area Explained

How the schengen zone effects you.

• List of Schengen Countries
• List of Non-Schengen Countries and Visa Requirements 

Ways To Stay In Europe For More Than 90 Days

Split up schengen and non-schengen countries, working holiday visa, become a student at a european university.

• Long Term Tourist Visa

Language Assistant Program

Teaching english as a foreign language (tefl) jobs, self employment or freelance visa.

• European Passport

Stay Illegally

Money-Saving Advice for Long Term Travel

Quality Over Quantity

• Apartment Rentals and Hostels

Couchsurfing

Note about staying in europe for more than 90 days.

The very first step of planning your long-term travels through Europe is to ensure that you know the laws on how long you’re legally allowed to visit. Traveling more than 90 days gets a bit tricky because of visa issues. 

Unfortunately, these visa issues often make it very difficult to travel through Europe for an extended amount of time — but there are still options for determined travelers. This guide will explain what you need to know about long-term travel in Europe.

The first thing you need to know about is the Schengen Area…

From Wikipedia…

The  Schengen Area  is a group of 26 European countries that have abolished passport and immigration controls at their common borders. It functions as a single country for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy. Joining Schengen entails eliminating internal border controls with the other Schengen members, while simultaneously strengthening external border controls with non-Schengen states. — Wikipedia

When most travelers mention being able to stay in Europe for more than 90 days, they are generally referring to staying in the Schengen Area — this is because the Schengen Area encompasses  most  of the countries in Europe.

The map above is from the  BBC  and it does a good job of visually showing the difference between all the different zones.  For most travelers (Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders), you only need a valid passport to enter a Schengen Area country — but the bad news is that you need a visa (which is difficult to get) if you wish to stay more than 90 days.

Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, etc. can only stay in the Schengen Area (without a special visa) for a period of 90 days within a 180 day period.

If you leave the Schengen Area, the countdown clock stops and doesn’t start until you enter it again. Once you reach your 90-day limit, you have to stay out for an additional 90 days.

Think of it this way… the day you enter the Schengen zone it starts a 180-day countdown. Of that 180 days, you can only stay there for a total of 90 days. You can stay for 30 days, then 10 days, then 2 days, etc. but once you hit that 90-day total you have to leave until that initial 180 days have elapsed.

List of Schengen Area countries

Non-schengen area countries.

Each non-Schengen member country has its own rules about how long a visitor can stay in the country without a special visa. Notable countries include:

• United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) — 180 days
• Republic of Ireland — 90 days
• Romania — 90 day
• Croatia — 90 days
• Belarus — 30+ days (you need a visa here, but you apply for it in-country. Costs about $35.)
• Ukraine — 90 days
• Others — You’ll have to look up other countries’ visa requirements. The US State Department  does a good job explaining the requirements for US citizens.

I hate to say it but traveling for longer than 90 days in Europe is very difficult.

But it isn’t impossible!

I’ve listed all the methods I know of, but there could be other ways. Please let me know if you know of any other methods.

The easiest way to extend your trip past 90 days is to visit both Schengen and non-Schengen countries. Once your 90 days are up, travel to the UK, Ireland, or one of the many Eastern European countries that aren’t part of the agreement. Once you’ve spent 90 days there, you are free to return to the Schengen area for another 90 days. You can keep repeating this process until you run out of money.

Citizens of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have working holiday agreements with many European countries that usually last between 1-2 years. These visas are intended to allow young people (18-35) to work while they travel. These visas normally have a few stipulations, but they’re easy to obtain. The United States does not have a working holiday visa program with any European country. You can view a list of working holiday agreements here .

Full-time foreign students are granted visas to complete their studies. There are many university courses taught completely in English throughout Europe (but your options will increase if you speak the local language).

Additionally, a few countries charge foreign students the same tuition as their citizens — which can be as low as a few hundred euros a year. Once you have a visa, you are free to move around any EU country without hassle. It isn’t exactly uncommon for students to pay the super cheap tuition, get their student visa, and then just travel and never actually go to school.

There are many full-time foreign language courses in Europe that will enable you to get a student visa — this is a nice option if you want to learn a foreign language and travel on the weekends and holidays. These courses normally don’t follow the same tuition guidelines as normal European Universities, so they’re more expensive.

For example, the intensive 25 hours/week French language course through the Sorbonne in Paris will cost a few thousand dollars for a semester. However, student visa holders are often entitled to work part-time. There are many options available throughout Europe, but you’ll have to scour the web.

Long-Term Tourist Visa

Many countries offer a long-term tourist visa that is generally valid for one year. I know France is one country that will allow you to apply for a one-year visa. However, you have to have a lot of money in the bank, and you won’t have any right to work. The French consulate never specifies how much money you need to have in savings, but most people say around $30,000+. You have to approve a few other things, but you can read what is required on the French Consulate of San Francisco  site. They really want to make sure you can fully support yourself while in France.

I know France and Spain (maybe other countries, too) have an English language assistant program that is run by the government. You normally do need to have some knowledge of the local language, but this is a good way to stay in Europe for a long period of time. I have friends who did the  language assistant program in France for seven months. Language assistants work 12 hours in class each week and get paid around €1000/month after taxes. Some assistants get lucky and don’t have any classes on Monday and Friday — which allows them to travel around Europe on the weekends.

I’m not super familiar with this, but I know some people who were able to get TEFL jobs in Prague, and they were granted 6-month visas (which could be renewed). You’ll need some type of TEFL training, but this could be a good way to stay in Europe for an extended period of time. This is also common in Spain.

If you’re self-employed and have the ability to work from anywhere in the world, then you might be eligible for a self-employment visa.

I know France has a version of this that can be pretty complicated and confusing, and I believe you have to get the visa before you arrive in France.

Germany is another country that issues this type of visa for foreigners, but you don’t apply for it until you get to Germany. Registering as a freelancer is surprisingly simple if you meet all the requirements. You just need to fill out a few forms and you’ll get a one-year visa. The most popular place to be a freelancer is Berlin since it is so cheap. This site will tell you what documents you need to get a freelance visa in Berlin.

Get A European Passport

Do your parents (or grandparents/great-grandparents in some cases) have citizenship in a European country? If so, you might be able to apply for a passport for that country. Once you have a passport from an EU country, you can work in any EU country without any paperwork or restrictions. This process can take a very long time, but it is worth looking into.

Important Note: With the recent immigration/refugee issues throughout Europe there have been increased border checks — even between Schengen members. Overstaying your stay is a bit riskier these days and it’s not recommended.

While I certainly don’t recommend it, many people choose to overstay the 90-day limit and continue to travel. This is mainly possible because there are no border checks between Schengen member countries. For example, if you travel from France to Italy, no one will look at your passport — whether you’re European or not. There will sometimes be immigration officials on trains, but they usually won’t look too closely at your passport if you look like your average western tourist. BUT, sometimes they do look closely, so do this at your own risk.

The biggest chance of getting caught is when you actually leave the Schengen zone (even if you’re going back to your home country) because the immigration officials will often add up the amount of time you’ve been there. After living in France for 18 months, I went back to the US via Iceland, and they questioned why I was in Europe for so long. Luckily, I had my valid French work permit card in my wallet because I had no other proof in my passport that showed I was allowed to stay in Europe that long.

I’ve found out that Scandinavian countries, as well as Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Poland are all pretty big sticklers about checking the length of time you’ve been in the Schengen area. Therefore, if you do overstay 90 days, I highly recommend that you don’t depart from those countries.

For whatever reason, France, Italy, and Greece seem to be the most relaxed with their immigration. They sometimes don’t even stamp the passports of people entering on flights straight from the US. Additionally, they seem to never even look at the passports of outgoing travelers. If you do overstay the 90-day limit, I highly recommend leaving from one of these countries — but make sure you don’t change planes in one of the countries listed in the previous paragraph. For example, when I flew from France, I changed planes in Iceland, and they checked my passport closely at the airport there.

So what are the penalties if you overstay the 90 days? It seems to vary. You might get a warning and be forced to leave the country right then. Or you might also get a big fine and be banned from entering the EU or any Schengen Area country for 1-5 years. Honestly, I wouldn’t want to risk it.

Money Saving Advice for Long Term Travel

Since most long-term travelers go without an income for a long period of time, it is important to find ways to live as inexpensively as possible. The ideas below will help extend your travel money.

One of the beautiful things about long-term travel is the ability to stay in one location for an extended period of time. Instead of rushing off to a new location every 3-4 days, you can now stay in the same city for weeks. This allows you to truly experience life like a local, and you’ll develop a greater appreciation for the place you’re visiting. You won’t feel guilty for spending a few hours relaxing in a park instead of trying to visit every cultural sight in the city.

Another benefit of moving around less often is the reduced transportation costs. Taking a train or a plane every week will seriously eat your savings away — especially if you’re traveling for an extended amount of time. Here are a bunch of articles about saving money on transportation .

Apartments and Hostels

If you stick to one location for an extended period of time, you’ll also be able to save money on accommodation. Sometimes hostels will give you a better deal if you stay over a week or two (it might be best to contact the hostel directly).

But the best bang for your buck will probably be renting an apartment. If you rent an apartment for a few weeks, it will often cost just about the same as staying in a hostel — and it will be much more comfortable (staying in a hostel for a month does start to wear on you). Plus, with an apartment, you can cook your own meals — which is a great excuse to check out local markets. I’ve written a more in-depth article about renting an apartment in Europe .

It is certainly difficult to travel long-term without having to pay a lot for accommodation, and Couchsurfing is probably the easiest way. Although you will have to be pretty flexible with your schedule and sometimes book a last-minute hostel if your hosts have to bail. But Couchsurfing is still a great way to travel if you don’t mind losing a bit of privacy. For more about Couchsurfing, you can read my post where I go into a lot more detail.

VOLUNTEER (WWOOF, HELPX, ETC.)

Many farmers in Europe need extra assistance during certain times of the year, so they get volunteers to help. They can’t legally pay you, but they can provide room and board. Volunteering can last anywhere from a few days to a few months (as long as you don’t overstay your visa). WWOOF and HelpX are the two biggest resources for finding volunteer opportunities.

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Travelling to the EU and Schengen area

You do not need a visa for short trips to the EU or countries in the Schengen area if both of the following apply:

• you’re staying for 90 days or less in a 180-day period
• you’re visiting as a tourist or for certain other reasons

Other reasons include:

• studying a short course
• getting medical treatment
• travelling for business for your UK employer, for example to attend a business meeting or conference
• journalism or other media activities

Check the entry requirements of the country you’re visiting to find out what you can and cannot do during your stay.

These rules do not apply to travelling and working in Ireland .

Travelling to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period

You can travel to more than one country in a 180-day period. How long you can stay in each country depends on whether or not it’s in the Schengen area.

The countries in the Schengen area are:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Your total stay in the Schengen area must be no more than 90 days in every 180 days. It does not matter how many countries you visit. The 180-day period keeps ‘rolling’.

To work out if your stay is within the 90 day limit, use the following steps.

Check the date you plan to leave the Schengen area on your next trip.

Count back 180 days from that date to get the start of the 180-day period.

Add up the number of days you have already spent in the Schengen area in that 180-day period (you can use the dates stamped in your passport showing when you entered and left a country).

Work out how many days you will spend in the Schengen area on your next trip. Add this number to the number of days you worked out in step 3.

Check that the total number of days is not more than 90.

Travelling to Cyprus

Cyprus is not in the Schengen area. You can stay up to 90 days in a 180-day period in Cyprus without a visa.

Any time you spend in the Schengen area does not affect the number of days you can spend in Cyprus.

When you may need a visa

​​You may need a visa or permit if you want to either:

• stay for more than 90 days

If you’re travelling for work, check the rules for the country you’re visiting .

If you’re travelling for another reason or staying longer than 90 days, check the entry requirements for the country you’re visiting .

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In Europe's Schengen area , your passport must be valid for at least six months at the time of your entry. At present, the Schengen area includes most European Union (EU) countries, except for Cyprus and Ireland.

If you are transiting through Canada or the United Kingdom (UK) enroute to the Schengen area : your passport must be valid for at least six months, even though Canada and the UK do not themselves have the six-month rule. If your passport will expire within six months, airlines may not let you board your onward flight to Europe.

Traveling in Europe

If you plan to travel in Europe, you need to know about the Schengen Borders Agreement, which allows you to move freely within a number of countries without border checks. Tourists, exchange students, and people visiting for business from certain countries, like the United States, can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days. The Schengen area includes most EU countries, except for Cyprus and Ireland. It also includes four non-EU countries: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

Before you travel to the Schengen area, we recommend you do the following:

• Check the expiration date on your passport book carefully before traveling to Europe. Ensure your passport book is valid for at least six months when you enter the Schengen area. This is especially important for minors under age 16 as their passports are only valid for five years. In contrast, U.S. citizen adults aged 16 and older receive passports that are valid for 10 years.
• Always carry your passport book with you when traveling to another country in the Schengen area. Even if there is no border check at that time, officials may reinstate border controls without notice.
• Be prepared to explain your purpose of travel.
• Be prepared to provide proof of sufficient financial resources for the visit.
• Comply with other entry requirements for each country you will visit or transit.

On our Country Information pages , you can find passport validity requirements and other important information for your destination country. If your passport does not meet the Schengen requirements, you may be:

• Refused boarding by the airline at your point of origin or while transferring planes.
• Denied entry when you arrive in the Schengen area, regardless of how long you will stay.

An immigration official will determine if you qualify for visa-free entry to the Schengen area when you first cross any external Schengen border. You will have to present your passport at that time. The officer may deny your entry if you do not qualify.

You should also check passport validity requirements if traveling onward from the Schengen area to a country outside the Schengen area. You can find this information in our Country Information pages.

HOW LONG CAN I REMAIN?

• With a valid U.S. passport book, you can stay up to 90 days in the Schengen area for tourism or business during any 180-day period. You must wait an additional 90 days before applying to re-enter the Schengen area.
• If you plan to stay in the Schengen area longer than three months, contact the embassy of the country where you plan to spend the majority of your time and apply for a visa.

Countries in the Schengen area may reinstate temporary internal or external border control without notice. U.S. citizens should carry their U.S. passport book at all times when entering or leaving the Schengen area. They should also bring it when traveling between Schengen countries.

How can the U.S. government help me if border officials do not let me enter?

• We can give you the contact information of foreign embassies of the countries you wish to visit.
• We can provide information about hiring an English-speaking foreign attorney overseas if you choose to do so.
• Note: We cannot influence a foreign government’s decision about allowing you to enter. We cannot intervene in another country’s criminal or administrative procedures.

What countries are members of the Schengen Borders Agreement?

Click on the country name for more information.

Bulgaria (entering in March 2024)

Czech Republic

Liechtenstein

Netherlands

Romania (entering in March 2024)

Switzerland

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How to Stay in Europe Longer Than 90 Days — Including the Schengen Countries: The Ultimate Guide (2024)

by Aileen Adalid Visa Guides & Immigration , Europe 155 comments

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“How to stay in Europe longer within the Schengen Countries or Area?”

This is one of the most common questions that I get from readers, especially because I have been able to stay in the Schengen Area for more than the usual 90-day limit despite being an unmarried non-EU (non-European Union) national with a third world country passport .

I understand that a lot of people want to have the right to stay for more than 90 days or 3 months, especially since going on a complete Eurotrip can’t be done in such a short span of time. So with this post on how to stay in Europe longer, I will be giving you different ideas and options on how you can legally extend your European vacation!

NOTE: Europe is a large continent with a number of countries and one of the biggest zones that they have is the Schengen area. For the purpose of this article, I will be focussing on this region to help you make the most of your stay.

Table of Contents

Schengen Area

To date, the Schengen Area is a group of 26 countries and it comprises most of Europe . As part of a unified agreement, all of them have agreed to abolish passports and internal border controls.

This means that all the Schengen countries act as if they are only ‘one country’ — so every citizen of each member state is free to go anywhere they want. Meanwhile, outsiders who want to enter the Schengen Area would experience border control once at the first country that they enter; but after that, entering other member countries would no longer require further immigration control.

These 26 countries are namely:

• Czech Republic
• Denmark [1]
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands [3]
• Switzerland

[1] Excluding Greenland and the Faroe islands [2] Excluding overseas departments and territories [3] Excluding Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the Caribbean Netherlands [4] Excluding Svalbard [5] With special provisions for Ceuta and Melilla

From the above list, 4 of these are non-EU (or EFTA member states that may have border control) — Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland — whereas 22 are part of the EU.

However, to date, there are a total of 28 members of the EU; so what happened to the other 4? Well, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania — are just NOT part of the Schengen Area.

TRIVIA: There are 3 additional European microstates — Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican — that can be considered as de facto within the Schengen Countries given how they don’t have border controls with the countries that surround them. However, it’s important to note that they are not official Schengen member states since they have not signed documents for it. (But of course, it’s fine to visit with a Schengen visa).

– – –

Schengen Visa

The Schengen Visa serves as the basic short-term visa that you will need to be able to stay in all of the 26 countries. However , non-Schengen citizens are allowed to enter the area without this said visa (their passport will only get stamped upon arrival and departure) as long as they are residents of:

• Albania [*]
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Bosnia & Herzegovina [*]
• El Salvador
• Hong Kong SAR
• Marshall Islands
• Moldova [*]
• Montenegro [*]
• New Zealand
• North Macedonia [*]
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• Timor Leste
• Trinidad & Tobago
• United Arab Emirates

[*] Visa waiver applies only to holders of biometric passports [1] The passport must include an identity number NOTE: This list is as of 2020. Ireland, UK, and their territories are allowed limitless entry to the Schengen Area.

If you are NOT a resident of any of the countries above (which mostly comprises citizens of Africa and Asia) you would need to apply at an embassy to obtain a tourist/short-term Schengen Visa.

RELATED ARTICLE :

Visa Application Tips: 4 Important Things to Get You Approved!

Alternatively, check out my comprehensive visa guides per country.

NOTE: It helps to mention that there are non-Schengen members in Europe that allow entry to their country if you have a Schengen Visa, namely: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Monaco, Montenegro, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Turkey, and the Vatican City.

HOWEVER, you must check these details beforehand since their rules might have changed. Plus, customarily, only multiple-entry Schengen visas are allowed. For starters, you can check this list for a list of countries you can visit with a Schengen visa .

The 90-Day Limit

Once you are allowed to enter the Schengen Area — with just your passport or with a short-term visa — you are ONLY permitted to stay for 3 months (90 days) in ANY 6-month period (180 days). The 90-day span doesn’t need to be consecutive, it’s treated as cumulative (especially if you have a multiple-entry visa) ; but the fact remains that after you have stayed in Schengen for a total of 90 days, you have to leave . You are NOT allowed to come back again until the 181st day from the first time you stepped in.

IMPORTANT UPDATE (March 2015) : As of 18 October 2013, the Schengen member states changed the calculation of the 180-day period. To know more about this and avoid fines, deportations, and bans in Schengen, please check this article .

If you don’t leave by the time you hit 90 days, you are subject to a fine or deportation — worst-case scenario, you will be banned from the Schengen Area for a period of time (1-3 years) or indefinitely. It is sometimes considered as ‘ okay ‘ if you stay for a couple more days and even up to a week, but I advise that you don’t try and push your luck especially if you’re on a visa. And if you stay longer than a week, you should know that you’re going to be in big trouble.

Nevertheless, it’s said by most travelers (who are free to enter Schengen countries with just a passport) that southern countries like Greece, France, Spain, and Italy are not so strict on checks. While western countries like Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, and EFTA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) are very firm with entry and exits (primarily at the airports or train stations, more so if you’re going to an isolated island).

Still and the same, as I’ve mentioned, you shouldn’t ‘push it ‘. Follow the rules and if you really want to know how to stay in Europe longer than the 90-day limit, below are the different ways you can stay longer, legally!

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Unfortunately, the Schengen area policy states that if you have more than one passport and none of them is from a Schengen state, the same rule applies: you still need to do the 90-day stay limit within any 180-day period. So technically, the rule is per person, not per passport; hence, it’s not possible to use two separate passports to stay in Europe’s Schengen zone for long.

Any non-EU national who stays in the Schengen area for more than 90 days (without the appropriate visa such as a long stay or residence one) will usually result in a fine, deportation, and/or re-entry ban to the Schengen area.

Yes, as long as you have a visa that allows it (e.g. a double-entry or multiple-entry visa). However, take note that you must calculate your days of stay so as to ensure that you don’t stay for more than 90 days in ANY 180-day period (see here for more info).

It helps to remember that the 180-day period keeps “rolling” — as such, for every entry that you make into a Schengen country, you need to count backward the last 180 days and see if you have been present in the Schengen area for more than 90 days throughout that time. For more info on this (as well as access a more streamlined day calculator), see here .

Yes, it’s possible! According to the recent Schengen visa code, you can get a 1-year multiple-entry tourist visa if you have obtained and used three (3) Schengen tourist visas in the past. You can get a 2-year multiple-entry tourist visa if you have obtained and used a 1-year multiple-entry visa in the past 2 years. Lastly, you can get a 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa if you have obtained and used a 2-year multiple-entry visa in the past 3 years.

DISCLAIMER : I am NOT an embassy officer nor a migration agent. I am only here to provide you with ideas on how you can stay in Schengen countries longer. If you ever need any help with visas or procedures, please check these visa guides or the related links I have provided in this article (as well as contact the appropriate departments). It also helps to note that I do not guarantee the timeliness of the information below, so please make it your responsibility to recheck the facts since there could be more recent updates/changes. Thank you!

» Get a Europe Student Visa

Student visas in all Schengen countries are not hard to obtain as long as you are accepted, enrolled, or invited by a university or school — which, of course, you should apply for before entering a Schengen country. Naturally, you would have to pay for these courses but you can always work part-time while studying since most student visa-holders are allowed to do so. Otherwise, you could try to get a scholarship , apply to an exchange program (if you’re still studying), or simply enroll in FREE universities .

Yes, you read that right… free !

There are actually several countries in Europe that chose to eradicate tuition fees for both local and international would-be students and they are listed below (along with other countries that have the cheapest tuition) . So if you’re looking for ways on how to stay in Europe longer, below are your top options!

Lowest yearly tuition fee possible : FREE Regardless of nationality, tuition fees in Finland are absolutely free at whatever level! ( Plans of putting tuition fees on non-EU students for 2016 have been totally abandoned ). But as per any student application abroad, you would need to prove that you can handle your own living expenses. Proof of ‘means of support’ per month : At least $630+ (Php 27,800+) For more information: See ‘ Studying in Finland ‘ .

Lowest yearly tuition fee possible : FREE No matter your nationality — local or international — state universities and university colleges in Norway do NOT charge tuition fees, and much like Finland, it applies to all levels: undergraduate, masters and Ph.D. (Some specialized courses might still have fees, though small, so always recheck with the university. Private institutions, on the other hand, would still have fees.) Proof of ‘means of support’ per month : At least $1,000+ (Php 44,200+) For more information : See ‘ Studying in Norway ‘ .

Lowest yearly tuition fee possible : FREE or starts at $400 (Php 18,200+) If you’re from a 3rd world country , some universities in Austria will exempt you from paying any tuition, whereas any other non-EU resident will most likely just pay around $400 (at the lowest possible). Proof of ‘means of support’ per month : At least $900+ (Php 40,000+) For more information : See ‘ Studying in Austria ‘ .

Lowest yearly tuition fee possible : FREE or $1,000 (Php 44,200+) As of 2014, all public German universities offer higher education free of charge not only to local but international students! However, it’s important to note that this is true for the undergraduate level only and that there might still be some administration fees (but the cost would start at about $57 or Php 2,500+). Just make sure to check that the course you’re applying for is in English; however, if you’re fluent in German, that’s better. Proof of ‘means of support’ per month : At least $770 (Php 34,000+) For more information : See ‘ Cost of Studying in Germany ‘, ‘ List of Free German Universities ‘ and ‘ Studying in Germany ‘ .

Lowest yearly tuition fee possible : $1,000+ (Php 44,200+) The good thing about Hungary is that, unlike the Scandinavian countries, it is one of the European countries that has a more affordable cost of living, thus, proving your ‘solvency’ would be easier than the others. Proof of ‘means of support’ per month: At least $566+ (Php 25,000+) For more information: See ‘ Studying in Hungary ‘ .

Lowest yearly tuition fee possible: $1,000+ (Php 44,200+) You’re lucky if you can find a cheap university in Paris because the cheapest ones are actually found outside of the capital (Lyon is one example). I have actually been told that there are public universities that can only cost $300 a year but since I wasn’t provided with the exact university names, I leave it up to you to do the research. Proof of ‘means of support’ per month : At least $500+ (Php 22,000+) For more information : See ‘ Studying in France ‘ .

Lowest yearly tuition fee possible : $1,100+ (Php 50,000+) I have tried this option before through the University of Antwerp for one of their 1-year Master Programs, and the process of obtaining a student visa was fairly easy given how I was backed up by the university that had accepted my application. The tuition was worth $2,000+ (Php 88,500+) which is almost double the lowest yearly tuition possible; so if you want to get the cheapest, try the University of Leuven, Hasselt University, or the University of Ghent (I didn’t manage to apply for these three since I was late for their deadlines, that’s why I resorted to saving up $2K to pursue the University of Antwerp). Proof of ‘means of support’ per month : At least $730 (Php 32,300+) For more information : See ‘ Studying in Belgium ‘ .

Lowest yearly tuition fee possible : $1,500+ (Php 66,400+) Italy is known for providing studies on fashion, history, and liberal arts at an affordable cost for international students. Living expenses should be easy to handle once you know the economical places to eat and stay in. Proof of ‘means of support’ per month : At least $390 (Php 17,200+) For more information : See ‘ Studying in Italy ‘ .

» READ: How to Save Money for Travel

Should undergraduate or master programs remain to be too costly for you, if not the shorter courses that span for a year or below, consider the language programs since these studies are often cheaper! ( Italy is one example of this, as well as Spain ).

TIP : For ‘means of support’, it’s always best to add more to the minimum requirement. It also helps to add a sponsor (even if it’s just on paper) even if you already can support yourself — this is what I’ve done when I applied for a university in Belgium, after all, it’s always best to ‘overdeliver’.

Moreover, if you’re from the Philippines or Asia like me, before you can study overseas for a business or graduate school, check if you need to have a GMAT or GRE certification since most Asian universities are not ‘recognized’ abroad. (GRE is said to be the easiest, which I have done. Others reviewed for months on this, but I only reviewed for a day since I was in a rush; and yet I was fine! But surely, I don’t advise that you do the same).

Also, if your studies were not conducted in English, a majority of the European schools would need a TOEFL or IELTS from you.

» Find Work or Stay as a Freelancer

There are different ways to do ‘work’, some are conventional but some are unique. Check out the list below to see what best fits you in order to know how to stay in Europe longer!

Apply for Normal Work

This is where you go through the usual process of finding a company (in the form of a transfer, internship, part-time, or full-time work) and then apply for a work visa. » For more information : See EuroJobs or Europa .

Teach English Abroad

This is not the same as those ‘jobs on the road’ where you hold private English classes for people who don’t have it as a first language. Why? Because doing so is a risk. A short-term tourist Schengen Visa is NOT a work permit. Sure, working can still be done in secret (with Spain & Italy as the most tolerant) but if you somehow attract the attention of authorities, it can get nasty. So if you really want to teach legally, secure a work visa or working holiday visa first (that will make you stay longer too) by searching for opportunities in recognized schools or institutions. Teaching English while under a student visa is possible as well. Countries that are typically open to English-teaching jobs are the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Germany, Spain, and Italy. For these jobs, a TEFL certificate is a usual requirement. » For more information : See TEFL or ESLCafe .

Join a Language Assistant Program

Often run by governments, it gives non-EU citizens a chance to stay in the Schengen countries or area longer in exchange for offering aid in teaching the English language — they even pay you for the service you’re doing. There are only a few European countries that offer this kind of program and below are their basic requirements:

• France : must come from one of their 60 partner countries, age 20-30, have a basic level of French, completed at least 2 years of university ( https://www.ciep.fr/en )
• Italy: must be a resident of the USA, have Italian proficiency, a university graduate or undergraduate, 3.25 GPA ( https://www.indire.it/en/progetto/language-assistants/ )
• Spain : must be a resident of USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, China, or EU, have a basic level of Spanish, a university graduate, or in their last year of university ( https://www.educacionyfp.gob.es/ )
• Switzerland: must be a resident of USA, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Austria, France, Italy, or Spain, age 21-30, have sound language knowledge of the region (can be German/French/Italian), a university student or graduate ( source )
• For openings in other countries, check here . . .

Be an Au Pair

Usually done for at least 6 months or more, working as an au pair is like being a domestic assistant as you live with a host family that provides free accommodation and food. Other than providing childcare, you are also typically asked to do light housework as you receive a salary for it. » For more information : See IAPA , Great Au Pair , or Europa Au Pair .

Do a Working Holiday

If you are 25 to 31 and a citizen of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, you are eligible to get a working holiday visa that grants you the right to stay, work, or find work in the Schengen Area for one to two years. » For more information : See Work Holiday Visas for how to stay in Europe longer .

Apply for a Freelancer/Digital Nomad/Self-Employment Visa

With the rise of remote workers or digital nomads — as well as the rise of countries’ need for more tourism especially after the COVID pandemic — a lot of destinations have started to implement new visa programs for online or remote freelancers as well as self-employed individuals.

To date, below are examples of countries that implement a digital nomad visa for foreigners:

• Estonia : Digital Nomad Visa
• Germany : Residence Permit for Self-Employment
• Iceland : Long Term Visa
• …and more!

To see a complete list of countries that offer visas for remote workers, read below:

UPDATES: 48 Countries That Offer a Digital Nomad Visa

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Be a Volunteer

Much like English-teaching jobs, there are volunteer jobs as well that are ‘under-the-table’ — but apart from being risky, it’s not a legal way for how to stay in Europe longer. Examples are fruit-picking jobs, hostel work, etc. (this is why most of the time their websites advise that you don’t mention to immigration officers that you are going to work on a farm, for example). Therefore, to be able to remain or to be able to become a volunteer for a longer period of time, you would have to either get a work visa/permit or sign up for accredited volunteer programs that could whip out a work visa for you. These often come with a fee, but some can be very affordable. » For more information : See Europa or Voluntary Service for how to stay in Europe longer .

Do a Cultural Homestay

This is not like the informal homestay set-ups that I have discussed in this article: [ click ]. Instead, this is a more formal arrangement between a non-profit organization and a foreign country wherein they partner with wannabe travelers like you and send you to a host family elsewhere. For instance, the organization Cultural Homestay International has a ‘World Explorers’ program wherein in exchange for your 3-months worth of accommodation abroad, all you have to do is share your native language with your hosts for 15 hours per week. (These casual English conversation lessons usually run 5 days a week, 3 hours a day). If you want to travel for a year, it’s possible for them to combine multiple programs in different destinations to make it all sum up to 12 months! » For more information : See (CHI) World Explorers Program for how to stay in Europe longer

» Do a Union or Reunion in Europe

The items below are common solutions on how to stay in Europe longer. They have no ‘special’ tricks or tips but they remain to be conventional ways of obtaining a longer visa in the Schengen Area:

Family reunion

Applicable if you have close kinship ties to a Schengen citizen or permanent resident. .

Marriage or Fiance Visa

Self-explanatory. If you have fallen in love with a European from any of the Schengen countries this is the way to go! .

Cohabitation

If you’re not the ‘marrying’ type, you can choose to go for a live-in visa with your boyfriend/girlfriend who is a resident/citizen of one of the Schengen countries. Customarily, applications like this become successful if you can prove that you’re in a relationship for at least 2 years or have lived together for at least 1 year. Belgium, for example, has a great cohabitation visa program because you can apply for it while in the country. .

There are some European families that are willing to take a foreigner in as a part of their household for a long period of time. This can usually be a part of a student’s schooling experience or as a part of an organization for cultural or language immersion (like #8 of the previous section) who would often need a fee from you.

» Apply for Citizenship

This (citizenship) is more of an option for those who are really focused on staying in the Schengen Area indefinitely. Obtaining this can be done through different ways:

Through Marriage

…with a European in the Schengen Area. On average, it takes 3 years; some can only take a year. .

Through Purchase or Investments

If you got the money, you can obtain EU citizenship through investments or the purchase of property (or even the purchase of citizenship). Examples of these countries are Austria, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, and Slovakia. Take note that the price to pay can start at $320,000+ to millions. There are also Schengen member states like the Netherlands and France that offer residency permits for a limited period of time, in exchange for payments or investments at a minimum of $300,000+. .

Through Ancestry or Naturalization

I call this the ‘ Waiting Game ‘. If you are able to obtain a long-term visa that will enable you to stay in a Schengen member state for 5 to 10 years, then your citizenship is ostensibly secured. On the other hand , if you can inspect your family tree and discover that you have ancestors who are citizens or have become residents in EU countries in the past, your years of ‘ waiting ‘ can be shortened! Examples of these are:

• Ireland: This is NOT a Schengen member state, but since Irish citizens are allowed to enter Europe without limits, acquiring citizenship through Ireland would be a good step and you can achieve this if you have an Irish parent or grandparent. Your citizenship immediately becomes effective upon registration.
• Germany: The country freely provides citizenship to children and grandchildren of former Germans who were deprived of their citizenship status between January 30, 1933, and May 8, 1945, on racial, political, or ethnic grounds.
• Italy: Once proven that you have Italian ancestors, you can become a citizen by naturalization if you find a way to remain in the country for at least 3 years (it seems long but better than the norm of 10 years).
• ★ Spain: Like Italy, 10 years is also the usual length required to become a Spanish citizen; but, it can be shortened to 2 years if your country is a former colony of Spain: these are Latin American countries, Sephardic origins, Andorra, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and the Philippines. But take note that you must be a natural-born citizen in these countries and aside from the 2-year required to stay for naturalization, processing your application can possibly take 2 more years. Source : Spanish Naturalization for how to stay in Europe longer .

*As with most cases of naturalization, countries would commonly require that you have basic knowledge of their language, history, and geography before fully processing your citizenship. Also, you must stay there legally ; for example, staying for 2 years in Spain without legal papers does not qualify you for naturalization.

UPDATE : Try to look into Portugal as well. Any individual who has lived in Portugal as a legal resident for a minimum of five years (by studying, working, self-employment , marriage, or reunification) can apply for citizenship, provided that they can demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language and have active ties to the national community.

» Hold a Long-Term Tourist Visa

A big part of the Schengen Area’s member states do NOT allow long-term tourist visas, except for a few which could grant you a Type D visa (maximum 1 year) with the condition that you will NOT work. These countries are:

As long as you have a solid reason and you have enough money for the duration of your stay (said to be a minimum of $3,000 per month or Php 132,000), you can be granted a long-term visitor visa that can last for a year (but can be subject to a renewal depending on your reason for wanting to stay longer, your financial means to prove that you’re not going to need to work, etc.) Take note that this type of visa would allow you to take residency in France ONLY starting from the 4th month of your stay (you can still tour the rest of the Schengen countries from the 1st to 3rd months). Anyhow, in a sense, you can still travel around after the 4th month because there are no border checks on land; but again, that’s a huge risk and it’s illegal. If you get caught, well… you know what could happen. » For more information : See France Consulate or ask your local French embassy for more details on how to stay in Europe longer .

If you have special grounds or reasons, Sweden is willing to give out a long-stay tourist visa or an extension for 3 more months (you can apply for it while in Sweden or before entry to Sweden) . It’s said that most of the people who are successful with this are those who have family or relatives in Sweden, but it’s still worth a try if you’re willing to go through the processing time. » For more information : See Swedish Migration or consult your local Swedish embassy for more details on how to stay in Europe longer .

There is a type of tourist residence visa in Spain called “non-lucrative” and it is geared towards retired or rich persons who can stay for 1 year in the country. This is as long as they can provide proof that they don’t need to acquire work in Spain, that they are not carrying out any economic activity in Spain, and/or that their clients are not based in Spain — so basically, that the person generates their income outside of Spain. One important proof they need is for you to show that you have a monthly income of at least 2,130 EUR. » For more information : See Spain Embassy or consult your local Swedish embassy for more details on how to stay in Europe longer .

NOTE : In case you’re wondering, you can check here about  Spain tourist visa requirements and tips. . RELATED READ : Countries That Offer Long Term and Digital Nomad Visas

» In & Out Hop

I have listed out the 26 member states of the Schengen Area at the top of this article — keep these in mind very well, and once you do, plan a EuroTrip that will make you hop in and out of these Schengen countries while managing to technically still remain within the European territory. After all, this is one of the best ways on how to stay in Europe longer!

What do I mean by this? Well, you can tour around different Schengen member states like France, Spain, or Germany and by the time you hit your 90-day limit, go and hop over to a non-Schengen European country like Georgia, UK, North Macedonia, or Turkey to wait until you hit the 181st day so that you can come back to the Schengen Area again .

Just find the right mix for this, save up, plan it well, and you can definitely manage to stay for a very long time in Europe. This also works best especially if you can get a multiple-entry Schengen visa for at least a year or more so that you can go in and out of the Schengen zone as many times as you want!

RELATED READ: Schengen Short Stay Calculator

How to get proof of onward travel?

Immigration in any country would often require “ proof of onward travel ” or basically, proof of a return ticket back to your home country or to any other destination aside from the country you’re entering to. If you don’t have concrete plans yet AND if you want to be flexible with your travels, booking a final flight ticket is extremely costly — thankfully, presenting a “flight reservation” usually already works. To get this, I recommend purchasing it from OneWayFly for a small fee of only $16~!

As I mentioned, this in-and-out hop setup works best for those who:

• Hold a passport that grants visa-free entry to non-Schengen countries
• Hold a visa OR visas that allow visa-free entry to non-Schengen countries
• Hold a double-entry or multiple-entry Schengen visa

RELATED READ: Countries You Can Visit Visa-FREE with a UK Visa Countries You Can Visit Visa-FREE with a US Visa Countries You Can Visit Visa-FREE with a Canada Visa Countries You Can Visit Visa-FREE with a Schengen Visa

To give you a personal example, I was able to stay for about a year in Europe by jumping from one Schengen country (e.g. France, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, etc.) to a non-Schengen country (e.g. Georgia, Armenia, Serbia, North Macedonia etc.) .

Overall, if you want to use this method of ‘hopping’ around, just please remember to:

• Be informed. Take note of the non-Schengen countries’ policies with regard to the number of days that you are allowed to stay in their domain (this is in connection with your passport/visa/nationality).
• Do your own research. Be updated. Take note of any sudden changes to the Schengen member states’ list.

Some people asked me if it’s possible to just apply for 2 or more Schengen visas in one appointment (for later use) in order to stay longer in Europe without going back to their home country to apply for a new one — unfortunately, this is NOT allowed. After all, a succeeding Schengen visa application will render your previous one null or void.

There have been a few people though who were able to apply for a new Schengen visa abroad but this can only be done if the individual can properly justify why they are unable to do a new application in their home country. I know of some travelers who have used the reason of “I’m traveling long term” and have ended up as successful in their appeal. However, it’s still important for you to know that it’s customarily a tough case; but then again… there’s no harm in trying, right?

» Schengen Visa Extensions

This is a delicate subject because almost all Schengen countries do NOT tolerate extensions once you get into the area with a short-term (less than 90 days) tourist visa. Be that as it may, the good news is that it’s still and always possible if you’re resourceful and creative enough. (Extensions for long-term visas for studies, work, etc. are a different matter altogether).

If you’re rather one of the nationals who are allowed to come into Schengen countries with just a passport, be mindful that it can prove to be more difficult because you technically don’t have a visa on hand to apply for an extension for — sure, there are chances that you can apply and obtain a visa without a need to go back to your home country; however , as I’ve mentioned previously, I seldom hear of situations that are successful in doing this. (You can try and do your research since some embassies might be able to accommodate such requests depending on your nationality and situation).

Now the typical grounds that can grant you an easy extension can be cases of:

• Force Majeure – unforeseen circumstances that are not under your control (i.e. bad weather conditions, airline strikes, etc.); this is the only situation that does not require fees for extension
• Humanitarian reasons – if you have fallen ill or a close family member has fallen ill or died
• Serious personal reasons – individual cases .

These can allow you to stay for more days either in the whole of the Schengen Area ( very rare case) or just inside the country that you are in ( that you chose, that is your point of entry or the place you’ve stayed the longest — it’s a case by case basis but this is what mostly happens when you are granted an extension: you’re only allowed to stay in the country that you applied for ).

But of course, you wouldn’t want to fall ill nor would you want a family member to die just so you can extend your visa, right? So what other options do you have?

Luckily, there seem to be some Schengen countries that are quite lenient with extensions, and the ones that I know of are:

• PORTUGAL They can offer up to two extensions, for as long as you can support yourself and provide the necessary documents. (It’s said to be best done in Lisbon). » For more information: See Immigration or ask the embassy about how to stay in Europe longer .
• SWEDEN I’ve heard a lot of successful stories from friends who have managed to extend their visa in Sweden, but it’s important to note that most of them were able to do so because they had a Swedish friend, family, or ‘special someone’ to back them up. I guess it’s a way of ensuring a Migration Board that you have a local who can support you (even if it’s just on paper). » For more information: See Migrationsverket or ask the embassy on how to stay in Europe longer .

Note : Some people say that short-stay tourist visas can also be extended in France ; however, I couldn’t find any reliable source online for this with regard on how to stay in Europe longer; still and the same, it’s worth looking into – let me know if this is indeed possible.

» Other Possibilities due to Bilateral Agreements with…

US Citizens I have read in forums online saying that U.S. citizens can stay for 90 days in Poland , leave for one day, and come back to have another 90-day stay. This is said to be one of the best ways how to stay in Europe longer because of some sort of bilateral agreement or declaration between the U.S. and Poland. I’ve certainly read of accounts that said that they were successful in doing so and have had Polish officials confirming this set-up. However, I advise that you check with them yourself since I can’t find a reliable online source. Make it a point to verify if this is true since it goes beyond the Schengen rules; it’s even possible that the extension will only allow you to stay in Poland only and not in the rest of Schengen. .

UPDATE: According to the Dutch American Friendship Treaty and Dutch Japanese Trade Treaty , American and Japanese entrepreneurs or self-employed citizens can apply for a Dutch residence permit to live and work in the Netherlands. It’s pretty straightforward if you plan to build a business or are already doing business in Netherlands, but if you’re a freelancer, you need to have one or more commissions in the Netherlands to carry out.

Australian Citizens Australia has bilateral agreements with Denmark and Germany that override the Schengen conditions allowing Australians to stay up to 3 months or 90 days in each of these two countries. In theory, Australians can stay indefinitely by going back and forth between Germany and Denmark every 90 days. Of course, the restriction of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area will come into play if they venture out to other member states.

The example scenario for this will usually go like this: on the 90th day of your stay, you have to leave the Schengen zone (you could go to the UK for example). Upon leaving, you have to make sure that you have the stamps from the border police in your passport to be able to prove that you have left the Schengen Area. Afterward, you are allowed to go back to Germany for 90 more days — but only to Germany and you can stay for a total of 180 days there, but no more than that. SOURCE: Visa exemptions for Australians .

I have not done extensive research on ALL non-EU nationalities, so I hope you take the action to recheck your rights in the Schengen Area since your home country might have these same bilateral agreements that will allow you to stay longer in Europe.

Now, if I may add, I have also discovered several ‘success extension stories’ in other Schengen countries using the methods below which are both worth a shot. But again, be aware that some countries may accept this while some others may not:

• Register as legal partners – if you have a significant other who is a national of one of the Schengen countries, it’s possible to come into the country with a tourist visa and then immediately jumpstart a live-in or cohabitation agreement (NOT marriage) to be able to remain in the country longer even after the expiry of your tourist visa. Customarily, applications like this only become successful if you can prove that you’re in a relationship for at least 2 years or have lived together for at least 1 year. (Countries that I know of who can take on these kinds of applications are Belgium and the Netherlands.)
• Partner with an NGO or Tourism Board – if you can find an NGO, tourism board, or organization that can vouch for you, it’s possible to gain an easy extension. Some travel bloggers have been able to use this method as they offer their skills of writing or blog ‘reach’ to the appropriate institutions. This is definitely worth your while, especially if a certain migration office is open to other types of visa applications (i.e. I’ve read an account of someone that’s able to do this in Romania; even if it’s not part of the Schengen Area yet, some legit member states can conceivably acknowledge this circumstance).

Booking Essentials

TIP: It’s a good idea to crosscheck the prices with other popular travel insurance providers like World Nomads and HeyMondo (as my reader, you get 5% off)! . However, take note that a travel insurance’s affordability typically means lesser coverage; so please always ensure that you read the fine print in order to decipher which travel insurance company is the right fit for you and your trip!

Looking for more travel tips for Europe?

Check out my other detailed Europe travel guides !

I hope this guide on how to stay in Europe longer helped shed some light on the 90-day limit rule in the Schengen countries; plus, I certainly hope that in one way or another, I helped give you an idea of how you can prolong your European journey without breaking the law!

Should you ever have any other tips in mind that should be included in this ‘H ow to Stay in Europe Longer ‘ guide, please feel free to leave a comment below. And if there are any corrections, do kindly let me know of that too!

Before I end this post, I leave you with the following general reminders:

• Do your own research . I cannot stress this enough. Take my advice on how to stay in Europe longer with a grain of salt . Besides, the information that I post here is based on my own findings and experiences, so it’s your responsibility to ensure that the facts that I have here are still up-to-date or true at the time that you are reading this article. I say this because I certainly don’t want you to waste your money or time when you suddenly find out that certain conditions are changed, eradicated, etc.
• Check migration rules . Be well-informed of the rules that apply to you depending on your nationality or passport. Know your limits and your benefits. Speaking of a passport, always ensure that it is NOT expiring anytime soon.

Ultimately, I hope that this whole article on how to stay in Europe longer can also be a way for you to connect to others who have had successful experiences of staying longer in the Schengen Area; therefore, do feel free to post your questions in the comments section below. However, as I said, be reminded that I am NOT an embassy officer nor a migration agent. Any queries relating to such things should be directed to your local embassy or migration board, and NOT to me. Thank you and good luck!

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How to start a successful blog, 155 comments.

Thank you for your guidance. As someone with a “weak” passport, it’s so hard to find this info. Most of it is told from the perspective of people with “strong” passports.

Hi I have nz passport and uk passport, can I do 3 months on each please. Thanks

Hey David! Unfortunately, the Schengen area policy states that if you have more than one passport and none of them is from a Schengen state, the same rule applies: you still need to do the 90 days stay limit within the 180-days period. So technically, the rule is per person, not per passport .Hope that helps!

Very thankful to you x

Hello, is it possible to technically “stay 6 months in Europe” by staying 3 months in a non-Schengen EU country, followed by 3 months in Schengen?

Of course! :) As you have seen in the article, I mainly focused on Europe’s Schengen Area 90-day rule, but indeed, like in my “In & Out Hop” section above, you can stay for much longer than 3 months if you go to a non-Schengen country and then back. Hope that helps!

I’ve been looking for hours for information like this! Thank you so much for taking the time to research this and write it out so clearly. I am very impressed by this blog post. Truly the most helpful one I’ve come across.

I’m very happy to hear this!

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Guide to the 6-month passport rule — what is it?

Editor's Note

It may sound trivial, but one of the best rules you can follow as an international traveler is to remember to check your passport validity before you book flights and hotels.

Why? Because the requirements for entry differ from country to country. In the midst of planning my 2024 travel, I realized my U.S. passport expires in April, which could mess with my plans abroad.

Thankfully, I use a travel checklist to avoid disruptions to my travel itinerary.

I immediately started the passport renewal process online and had my photo taken at my local Walgreens — although you can DIY your passport photo if you prefer — so I could send out my application as quickly as possible. I also opted to expedite the processing time for an additional $60 fee and sent my application on its way.

If you're also in the middle of planning 2024 travel or simply want to know the ideal time to begin getting ready to renew your passport, the TPG team has you covered.

We collected information from the U.S. Department of State website and the United Kingdom's government website to create a one-stop cheat sheet examining a range of nations that typically require you to have a passport that lasts longer than your trip — whether by one, three or six months.

Note that certain countries deviate from the standard six-month requirement. These findings are also only related to passport validity dates — we're not covering visa requirements here. Those can vary depending on where you're going and where you're coming from.

Schengen countries in Europe

Many European countries are signers of the Schengen Agreement . As a result, they follow the 3+3 Rule, meaning your passport must be valid for three months beyond your three-month entry visa or for a total of six months, regardless of the duration of your initial stay.

While some Schengen countries only require passports to be valid for three months beyond your intended stay, others assume you may stay the full 90 days of your visa validity — thus the six-month time period.

The signers of the Schengen Agreement are Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Bulgaria and Romania will join the group March 31, 2024.

The countries listed below abide by the usual six months of passport validity unless otherwise noted.

Non-Schengen countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East

Abide by the usual 6 months of passport validity.

• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• New Caledonia
• North Korea
• Saudi Arabia
• Turkmenistan
• Turkey (British passports must be valid for at least 150 days from the date you arrive in the country)
• United Arab Emirates
• West Bank/Gaza Strip

Passport must be valid 3 months beyond the scheduled departure date

Passport must be valid 1 month beyond the date of your intended stay, passport only needs to be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

• Central African Republic
• Cote d'Ivoire
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Morocco (British passports must be valid for at least three months on the date of entry)
• Sao Tome and Principe
• South Africa (passports must also have 30 days beyond your intended date of exit from the country)
• South Sudan

Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Dominican Republic
• Trinidad and Tobago

Central and South America

• El Salvador

Passport must be valid 3 months beyond arrival

• Brazil (British passports need to be valid six months beyond arrival)

South Pacific

• American Samoa
• French Polynesia
• Marshall Islands
• Papua New Guinea
• New Zealand

Bottom line

When examining the rules, note that some countries have a slight distinction: They may require validity to be either six months from the date of entry or six months from the date of intended departure . For simplicity, we've taken the conservative approach and assumed that for any country with a six-month rule, like most of the ones above, you should ensure your passport is valid six months past the date of intended departure just in case.

Of course, the list above only includes just a few popular destinations worldwide. If your intended destination isn't on the list, it's always best to check with your relevant passport issuer.

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Europe & US Travelers: Inside the EU’s 2025 Visa Requirements

• Destinations

There’s good news and there’s bad news for Americans heading to Europe next year.

The bad news : the European Union changed its laws to require Americans to obtain visas or visa waivers to enter the EU.

The good news : the updates have been delayed until 2025 .

So, what does this mean for Americans heading to Europe? Most travelers are hung up on complex Schengen laws and political boundaries. But, starting in 2025, we’ll also be required to pay for a visa before arriving or show proof of a visa waiver. (Most will be doing the latter.)

Now that things are slated for change, it’s the perfect time to review the differences between Europe the continent, the European Union, and the Schengen Zone. Then we’ll dive into the nitty-gritty of what the new visa requirements entail.

Differentiating the EU from Schengen

Let’s simplify all of this. Europe is a continent. (Yes, Turkey is counted as part of Europe.) The European Union, on the other hand, is a political union between certain European countries.

There are 27 countries in the European Union , including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

Some notable exemptions from the EU are Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland . But let’s be clear: the EU does not correlate directly to Schengen . The Schengen Zone is a group of countries that have abolished their borders, meaning you can cross them freely.

However, Ireland and Cyprus are not part of Schengen. That won’t change much on your trip – but you’ll need to go through customs when you travel to and from other EU countries . Similarly, the non-EU members of Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland are part of Schengen. The UK is not part of either the EU or Schengen. (More on this below.)

2025 visa requirements

The European Union recently created a visa program aimed at Americans. Starting in 2025, we will be legally required to apply for and receive a visa or an exemption from one before traveling to the EU.

Visa applications will be managed by the European Travel Information and Authorization System —which will have a handy online form for you to fill out. This form isn’t actually a visa, but an exemption from one. It proves that you meet the requirements to not need a visa.

The form will take only a few minutes to complete and will incur a small fee of $7.50. You must present this form when entering all EU countries, plus the Schengen members of Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

In summary: the EU is updating its entry requirements. Starting in 2025, Americans must present a visa or the ETIAS visa waiver upon entry. This shouldn’t be a problem for the vast majority of tourists, as they won’t be staying more than 90 days.

How does Brexit fit into this?

In case you didn’t hear, the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016. This change went into effect in 2020, ushering in the official era of Brexit. That means that UK citizens are no longer part of the European Union or the Schengen Zone.

For American travelers, this change hasn’t affected much; you don’t need a visa to travel to the UK for a short period of time. But there’s one place where you’ll notice this change: customs lines.

Now that UK citizens aren’t part of the EU, they must also wait customs lines to enter the EU. If you’re an American heading to Europe by way of a London stopover, don’t forget to factor this into any connecting flights you may have.

In general, European airports have two lines: one for EU members and one for non-EU members. UK travelers make up a massive bulk of EU tourists, which means you can expect longer lines in larger international airports. Always account for this when booking connecting flights.

Tay Belgeri is a content writer with global experience. She writes for brands like Santander Bank, PokerStars, DraftKings, and OddsChecker. Her affiliate posts have appeared on AP News, Ranker, Notion, OK! Magazine, and other major sites. She writes about a variety of cultural topics (from sports to high fashion) but specializes in travel. Originally from Missouri, she now lives in Spain. In a few years, she will have spent more time outside the US than inside it. Career highlights: • Selected to present research by the National Council of Undergraduate Research (2014) • Acquired grants for New York City’s first Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration (2015) • Joined OddsChecker’s US Launch team (2020) • Shortlisted for the Foreword INDIES (2021, 2023)

Planning a 6 month Europe trip – What to know

Travelling for 6 months is an exciting step away from ‘normal life’. We completed this bucket list style trip in 2022 and it is something we will never forget and don’t regret! If you are thinking about an extended trip, we urge you to take the plunge, it will definitely be ‘lifechanging’ (cliché, we know). Starting to plan such a big trip can be exciting, but also daunting. We planned in small parts over the course of 1-2 years, and have a few tips that may assist you. See the list below of our recommendations for planning an extended trip. We have also put together a complete guide to Europe travel here!

What to know when planning a 6 month Europe trip

Start planning early:.

If you are planning a long Europe trip (or any destination), planning is needed, even if you want to be spontaneous when you are over there. It will take you longer than you think! There are so many things you don’t think about, and planning in advance makes things a whole lot easier. Additionally, planning in advance gets you excited about the holiday, and this anticipation is one of the things we love about holidays!

Book your flights early:

Similar to above, booking your main flight to/from your destination early can pay massive dividends. We booked out return flights to Europe over 6 months before we left, costing us about 50% of what the flight would have cost if we booked it last minute ($1500 per person return from Australia compared to over $3000). If you are booking early make sure there is an option for flexible date change or cancellation.

lots of research!

This is the fun bit! Start doing your research. Talk to friends who have travelled! Watch a travel documentary (we loved food based travel shows like ‘Somebody Feeds Phil’ when we were planning). Hit up Youtube, there’s heaps of great content out there! Read a travel blog (I’ve heard there’s a decent one called 2 Cups of Travel). But seriously, travel blogs are amazing for planning itineraries, or when looking at new countries you don’t know much about. Instagram is also a great place to get some travel inspiration. Watch some travel reels or check out some photos and ‘Save’ them for later. Tess also loved using our Europe Lonely Planet book! We started this ‘research’ at least 2 years out, and this was one of the most exciting parts of the trip.

We also found that our research allowed us to ‘find’ some unique locations like Lake Ohrid, Gjirokaster, Kas, Lake Bled, Polignano a Mare and more! These were some of our favourite places from our travels!

Visas & passports:

This is the boring but essential part of travelling. Your passport needs to have at least 6 months until expiring from the date you return! This is important, as if you have under 6 months you might not be allowed to continue/start your trip. Visas will vary depending on your country. Many countries like Australia have access to Schengen Visa’s, which is an ‘automatic’ visa that you get for many of the European countries. We have provided a few links below to help you learn more about it, but suggest you look into the Visa’s in more detail. The only country we had to apply for a separate visa for was Turkey, which can be done online up to a few days beforehand.

• Schengen Info: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/
• Smart Traveller (AUS Info): https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/the-basics/schengen
• Demystifying the Schengen Zone (Europe Travel Info): https://europetravelinfo.com/schengen-zone-europe-rules-tips-links/

Bugeting – Save the $$:

Yep, travelling isn’t cheap. You will likely already know this, but saving is key. There are also many hidden costs that can come with travelling like fines, mistakes, last minute changes, medical expenses and much more. If possible, it is worth trying to save a little in an ‘Emergency Fund’ for these hiccups that may occur. You will also find that things can cost a lot more than you think. An example of this is how expensive we found the trains when travelling through UK and Europe. We also urge you to consider your daily budget, including things like accommodation, transport, spending money and more.

Need data? WIFI or travel sim card:

In the modern age, internet access is crucial for all parts of life, including travel. Popular apps like Google Maps, and access to all of your itinerary documents (e.g. boarding passes), happens with internet access. Whilst WIFI access is available in many locations overseas, if you rely solely on this, you will have times without internet. You can often pick up a local SIM card at airports or in cities which gives you calls and data for that country or region.

We used a travel E-Sim (through Airalo), a feature on modern phones where you can gain access to internet data without purchasing a physical SIM card. We found this a good process, particularly as we were regularly changing countries, and some of the local physical SIM cards didn’t cover all of the regions we visited.

Travel Insurance is a must!

You never think you need cover until you do! Baggage will regularly be lost (especially in peak season). Medical emergencies and accidents happen. Missed flights, delays and more aren’t unusual. Perhaps you will have to change your plans due to an emergency! Once you have booked your initial flights and have a set “plan”, we urge you to book travel insurance. Check if your credit card offers travel insurance when you purchase international flights (ours did), otherwise there are many companies out there providing policies to cover you. Important note: if you have a pre-existing medical condition, include this in your claim, and be sure to read the fine print of the policy to ensure you are covered.

We have included a link below to Safety Wing , a travel insurance company that we use. We find it is very reasonably priced, and geared travelers like us, especially those doing extended periods of travel. In particularly, Ky loves it as they have policies that cover gear like camera and drones when on the road.

Organize your travel bank and credit cards:

This is a really important point to save you $$. We organized a travel credit card (28 Degrees Mastercard) which allowed us to have no overseas transaction fees. However, we didn’t initially think to organize a travel friendly bank card. By the time we realized it was too late, and over the course of our trip, it probably cost us $100s in ATM and transaction fees. We used our credit card for all purchases where possible, however many countries in Europe are still ‘cash heavy’, thus withdrawing money was needed. Banks such as ING, HSBC, Citibank, and Chase all offer great travel card options. Check with your bank, or look into these options. Try to go for a card with no transaction fees and no or low withdrawal fees. Some cards also let you have more favourable currency exchange rates. Plan this early and you will save the $$.

Download some of the key travel apps:

There are so many great travel applications out there that make the process of planning and travelling so much easier. We have compiled a list of some of our favourites which can be found here! These help with everything from making reels to learning new languages.

Make travel easier with these helpful travel apps!

Buy some packing cubes!

There’s lots of different travel items that can save you time and effort (a blog for another day). However, the one we think you absolutely MUST HAVE when travelling are packing cubes . Tess found these when we were planning our trip and they have saved us both many times. They make living out of a suitcase a lot easier and make the repacking of bags much faster. Buy them online (e.g. through Amazon ) or through popular discount chains like Target/Big W etc. Don’t think about it, just do it! We used a similar set to the ones listed below ( see here ). Check out some of our other top picks of what to buy for your travels here!

Think about how you want to document & remember your travels:

Your dream ‘bucket list’ trip will be here before you realize, and also gone before you can even properly comprehend it. Therefore, we think it is a great idea to consider planning before you leave how you will best document and remember your trip. During many previous holidays we hadn’t found many good ways to document our travels. However, before leaving in 2022, we decided to start this blog, our social medial channel ( see here ), and also put together highlight video (e.g. see below). This allowed us a platform and method of recording our highlights and moments as we went, giving us an incredible catalogue of highlights to look back on. Additionally, we purchased extra equipment, like our drone, and our GDome , to allow us to capture some of the incredible moments we experienced.

While our methods may not be how you would look to remember your travels, we urge you to consider this before you leave. Perhaps it will be a journal? Or maybe photobooks when you return? Polaroid photos? A summary video of your highlights on return? Let us know if the comments below how you have documented and remembered your travels!

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WANT TO SEE MORE food recommendations & TRAVEL MEMORIES?

Our Europe travel guide for 2023 & 2024

What you should buy before your next trip!

Take a look at some of the best hidden gems from our travels !

Find out a little bit more about the people behind 2 Cups of Travel!

Check out further highlights from our time in the Europe! Take a look!

Please note: this post contains affiliate links. This means that if you purchase or book anything using these links, we get a small percentage of the sale,  at no extra expense to you . This helps us to run the site.

Tags: blog , Europe , itinerary , planning , travel

Comments (20):

May 5, 2023 at 9:02 am

Hi there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m absolutely enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.

May 5, 2023 at 9:10 am

Thank you! We don’t use twitter, but the best way to stay up to day is subscribe to the blog, or follow our Instagram channel ( https://instagram.com/2cupsoftravel ).

May 13, 2023 at 10:02 pm

How did you get around the 90/180 days in the Schengen area? If you travelled for 6 months.

May 14, 2023 at 6:59 pm

Hi Brodie, great questions. Did it in a few ways: 1. Non-schengen countries – think most of the balkans, morocco, UK, croatia (isn’t schengen anymore), turkey etc 2. Visa waiver exemptions – need to check through your country/embassy pages to determine if you have visa waiver options. We used one for the netherlands.

Kerry Watkins

September 13, 2023 at 3:34 pm

Thanks for a marvelous posting! I definitely enjoyed reading it, you will be a great author. I will ensure that I bookmark your blog and may come back later on. I want to encourage you to ultimately continue your great job, have a nice evening!

November 29, 2023 at 12:56 pm

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December 21, 2023 at 8:48 am

I couldn’t resist commenting. Perfectly written!

December 28, 2023 at 1:50 pm

My spouse andd I absolutely love your blkog and find almost all of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for. can you offer guest writers to write content in your case? I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on a few of the subjects you write about here. Again, awesome website!

2CupsofTravel

January 1, 2024 at 8:28 pm

Thanks for the lovely feedback! We don’t usually offer guest posts but have partner websites which may – see out contact page to email us and discuss further!

December 28, 2023 at 7:43 pm

Thanks for finally writing about planning a 6 month Europe trip. Loved it!

January 19, 2024 at 9:05 am

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May 6, 2024 at 8:14 am

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Visas and entry requirements in europe and the schengen area.

This page is for Australians travelling to Europe.

Read this page to learn about:

• the Schengen Area
• entry and exit to the Schengen Area
• other European countries with visa waivers
• non-Schengen European countries

The Australian Government doesn't issue visas for other countries. We can't provide final information on border rules. Ask your destination's high commission, embassy or consulate for details before you travel.

The Schengen Area

The Schengen Area is made up of 27 European countries with common border rules. It lets travellers move freely between member countries without

• going through border controls
• getting a visa for each country.

The members of the Schengen Area are:

• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• The Netherlands
• Switzerland

Bulgaria  and  Romania  partially joined the Schengen area on 31 March.  Border checks should have ceased for air or sea travel  between Bulgaria, Romania, and other Schengen Area countries. Checks are still undertaken for land-based travel. Stays in Bulgaria and Romania now count towards your total visa-free stay in the Schengen Area (see below).

Entry and exit in the Schengen Area

Australians can travel visa-free in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Your travel must be for:

• business purposes
• visiting friends and family
• tourism and holidays
• cultural and sports events
• official visit
• medical reasons
• short-term study

Apply at the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country where you'll stay the longest. If you're staying for the same length of time in each country, apply at the embassy of the country you'll visit first.

You'll need to apply for a visa if:

• you're planning to stay for more than 90 days
• your reason for travel changes, and you no longer qualify for visa-free travel.

You'll need to apply outside the country you want a visa for.

Calculating your 90/180 days

Calculating your visa-free days can be complicated. The European Commission provides a calculator to help you track your visa-free days .

• The 180 days isn't fixed in time. It's calculated backwards from today.
• Your 90 days are calculated from your first day in the Schengen Area within the 180 days.
• If you leave and return within 180 days, your last stay will count towards the 90-day maximum.
• If you use up your visa-free days, you must leave until you accumulate more or apply for a visa.
• You may be fined or banned from the Schengen Area if you overstay your 90 days.

Example You arrive in Spain on 18 March. You fly to the UK on 21 April and stay there until the 29th. On 30 April, you travel to Greece and stay until 23 June. Your trip was 97 days, but only 90 were in the Schengen Area. You can't re-enter the Area until at least 14 September, when the Spanish leg of your trip falls outside your 180 days. If you re-enter on 14 September, you can only stay another 35 days as your time in Greece still counts towards your current 90 days. If you re-enter on 22 September, you can stay another 90 days, as you haven't been in the Area in the past 180 days .

Entering and exiting the Schengen Area

You must show a valid passport when entering the Schengen Area.

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you intend to leave.

Make sure you get a clear entry stamp in your passport when you enter the Schengen Area for the first time. Without a stamp, you could be fined or detained.

Some countries need you to register within 3 days of arrival.

See our destination-specific travel advice for entry and exit details for each country. Check the European Commission for information on temporary border controls .

These visa rules only apply when travelling on your Australian passport . If you're a dual national travelling on your other passport, check the rules for that nationality.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is an electronic security system. It will do a security check before you can enter participating European countries . ETIAS is expected to start in mid-2025 if the new system is working.

You won't need an ETIAS for EU countries who aren't taking part in the program.

Other European countries with visa waivers

There are other European countries where you can travel visa-free. Travel to these countries does not count towards your 90 days for Schengen Area travel.

Countries can change their border rules at short notice. Before you travel, ask your destination's nearest embassy or consulate for the latest rules.

Visa waiver agreements with Australia

Australia has visa waiver agreements with several countries in the Schengen Area. These agreements may allow you to spend 60 to 90 days in the country for tourism.

Visa waiver agreement countries include:

Using visa waiver agreements with Schengen visa-free arrangements is complex. Each country operates the visa waiver in its own way.

Most countries need you to use the visa waiver at the end of your Schengen Area travel.

Visa-free tourism programs in non-Schengen countries

Some European countries outside the Schengen Area allow you to enter visa-free for tourism. Most let you stay up to 90 days. Some are for longer. See our country advisories for details on border rules.

• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• North Macedonia (Republic of North Macedonia)
• United Kingdom

Non-Schengen European countries

Many European countries are not part of the Schengen Area. Non-Schengen countries have their own border rules. These countries include:

Ask these countries' high commission, embassy or consulate for visa information.

• General advice on  visas .
• Before you go, get the right travel insurance .
• Read about Australia's 11 reciprocal health care agreements .
• The Schengen Area explained

Related content

Many Australians hold two or more nationalities. If you're travelling to the country of your other nationality, find out how your citizenship can impact you.

Foreign governments often require you to get a visa before they let you enter. This page provides general advice and information about visas overseas.

Countries with the Longest Tourist Visas for US Citizens

Americans are pretty lucky when it comes to travel visas around the world. We are allowed to visit 186 countries and territories without a visa or with a visa available on arrival. That makes the US passport 4th in the world in terms of travel freedom! I’ve been lucky enough to visit over 65 countries on all 7 continents (and counting!) – the majority of them visa-free. The more I travel, the longer my trips tend to get. As a writer, I can work anywhere with an internet connection and so join the growing ranks of digital nomads traveling the globe for long periods or even indefinitely.

The most common length of stay granted with tourist visas (whether technically visa-free or available on arrival) is 90 days. That’s plenty for your average tourist but not that much to a long-term traveler. Places like the Schengen Area in Europe combine multiple countries in the same 90 days, which is even more limiting. For long-term travelers, those looking to basically live abroad, retire abroad, even work abroad ( digitally or otherwise), knowing where US citizens are allowed to stay the longest can be very important! This post will cover the longest allowed international stays, tourist visas, and some additional requirements.

Passport Requirements

Even countries that do not require a travel visa often do have specific rules about your passport. The best practice to eliminate issues with your passport is to ensure:

Validity for 6 months after your planned return At least 2 blank pages

Quite a few countries only require your passport to be valid 90 days after your planned return but some are up to half a year. So I recommend 6 months to be absolutely sure you cover your bases.

When I traveled to Antarctica, via Argentina, my passport was valid for only 92 days after my return flight, just barely making the requirements! But the trip was booked only 3 weeks before I left (I know, who goes last minute to Antarctica? Me! :-P) so I didn’t have time to renew beforehand, plus I already had stamps and visas from 6 continents in that passport, and I really wanted all 7 in the same one! That was the only time I’ve traveled with less than 6 months left on my passport.

US Territories – Don’t Even Need a Passport!

Beyond its 50 states, the US also has a number of territories. American citizens are allowed to travel to these, even live and work, indefinitely. It’s basically like traveling to another state.

American Samoa (a return/onward flight is required)

Mariana Islands

Puerto Rico

US Virgin Islands

No Visa Required

Length of stay: indefinite.

Equatorial Guinea

Marshall Islands*

Micronesia*

Length of Stay: 1 Year

Georgia (must have health insurance)

*Bonus: As part of the Compact of Free Association , US citizens may live and work in the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, the Mariana Islands, and Palau.

**Despite being administered by Norway, Svalbard is an open-border, visa-free zone – anyone can live and work there indefinitely, provided they can afford to live in this expensive, remote place.

Length of Stay: 240 Days

Length of stay: 183 days, length of stay: 180 days.

Antigua & Barbuda (proof of funds & return/onward ticket required)

Cayman Islands

Central African Republic (International Certificate of Vaccination required)

Dominica (departure fee of ~$22)

Panama (must have no criminal convictions)

UK (return/onward ticket required)

Length of Stay: 120  Days

Visa required:.

The initial tourist visa in Cambodia is valid for 30 days . However, you may renew it for up to 1 year .

When granted a tourist visa for India, it is valid for 10 years . However, you must leave the country every 180 days , though you can immediately re-enter.

Visas available on arrival. The fee depends on the length of stay up to 150 days .

New Zealand

US citizens may travel visa-free to New Zealand for 90 days . You may apply in advance for a tourist visa up to 9 months , which actually also allows you to study for up to 3 months. This visa is extendable another 3 months (for 1 year total ) if you have proof of funds, have not taken advantage of the study allowance, and “need more time to complete your tourist itinerary”.

Philippines

You are granted 30 days on arrival or may apply for 59 days in advance. Visas may also be extended every 1 or 2 months up to 16 months . If you purchase an ACR card, you may extend your visa 6 months at a time.

Here’s a handy chart infographic of all the countries I’ve mentioned:

So, if you are looking to stay for 4 to 6 months, a year, or even indefinitely abroad, these countries are your best bet! For more information or info on other countries’ tourist visas, check out this complete list of visa requirements and lengths for US citizens worldwide. Whether as a tourist, digital nomad, or even working or studying abroad, I definitely recommend traveling long-term at least once!

Related Post:

• Become a Digital Nomad: 5 Jobs Anyone Can Do Anywhere
• 5 Ways to Work Abroad
• Working Holiday Visas: A Beginner’s Guide

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• Immigration

Understanding the B1/B2 Visa 6 Month Rule: Stay Duration Explained for Multiple Entries

Learn about the b1/b2 visa 6 month rule and understand how it applies to your stay duration in the us. determine if it's per calendar year or per entry..

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the B1/B2 visa is crucial as it allows multiple entries to the US, but not consecutive 10-year stays.
• The standard stay limit per entry on a B1/B2 visa is six months, with no specific annual limit.
• Staying within the limits, maintaining ties to your home country, and demonstrating temporary visits are essential for a hassle-free experience.

Navigating the B1/B2 Visa 6 Month Rule

Traveling to the United States is an exciting experience, but it’s important to understand the parameters of your visa. Many travelers find themselves holding a B1/B2 visa which allows for both business (B1) and tourism or medical treatment purposes (B2). One of the most common questions among B1/B2 visa holders is about the length of stay they are permitted in the US. This can sometimes be a source of confusion, but don’t worry—we’re here to clarify how the B1/B2 visa stay duration works.

Understanding Your B1/B2 Visa

First things first, let’s establish what the B1/B2 visa is. This visa is typically issued for a period of 10 years, during which multiple entries to the US are allowed. But although your visa might be valid for a decade, it doesn’t mean you can remain in the US for ten straight years.

Also of Interest:

New brazil travel requirements: bank statements now mandatory for u.s. visitors, digital nomad visa options for indian remote workers.

The Six-Month Stay Limit Per Entry

The visa grants you the ability to travel to the US, but border officials determine the duration of your permissible stay on each entry. The standard period of stay granted is six months. To clarify, this is per entry, not per calendar year. Each time you enter the US, the clock resets, and you are generally permitted to stay for another six-month period.

Cumulative Stay: Is There a Yearly Limit?

When it comes to the cumulative stay, things can become a little tricky. Officially, there’s no set “per year” limit; you’re allowed multiple six-month stays per year. However, frequent and prolonged stays might raise suspicions that you’re trying to live in the US, rather than just visit. This could lead to issues with border officials, including potentially being denied entry .

It’s essential to maintain ties to your home country and demonstrate that each visit has a temporary purpose. Authorities are particularly vigilant in ensuring that visitors are not attempting to circumvent the rules regarding residency and employment.

Re-Entry: Can You Return Immediately After a Six-Month Stay?

Technically, you are allowed to exit and re-enter the US immediately on a B1/B2 visa. But again, regularly doing so might suggest you’re trying to live in the US. Officials expect you to spend some time outside of the US to show you are not attempting to reside there.

Key Considerations for Multiple Entries

When planning multiple entries into the US on your B1/B2 visa, keep the following points in mind:

• Purpose of Visit : Always be prepared to explain the purpose of your visit with evidence if possible. This could be business meetings, conferences, tourism activities, or medical appointments.
• Proof of Ties : You should have proof of ties to your home country. This includes things like a job, property, family, or other responsibilities that ensure your return.
• Financial Support : You’ll need to prove that you have the financial means to support your stay without the necessity to work in the US.

How to Track Your Stay Duration

Keeping track of the time you have spent in the US is crucial. Your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record is a vital tool in this respect. You can access your I-94 record online through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website. It provides the data on your arrival and departure, including the specific dates, which you should always check for accuracy.

Exceeding Your Stay Limit

If you happen to overstay your six-month limit, you could face serious consequences, including a visa cancelation or being barred from re-entry to the US for several years. It’s therefore critical to comply strictly with the terms of your visa.

In Conclusion

While the B1/B2 visa offers flexibility with a 10-year validity period and the opportunity for multiple entries, understanding the nuances relating to the six-month stay limit is key. Always remember that as a visitor, your stay in the US is temporary. The privilege to enter the country should not be taken lightly, and adherence to the rules will ensure a stress-free travel experience.

For more detailed and customized information, it’s highly recommended that you visit the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website or consult with an immigration attorney .

Navigating the rules and regulations of the B1/B2 visa may seem daunting, but with the right information and responsible traveling practices, you can enjoy multiple fulfilling trips to the United States. Always keep your stay within the limits, maintain your ties back home, and be transparent about your intentions when entering the country. With these points in mind, you’ll be set for successful and enjoyable travels on your B1/B2 visa.

Learn Today:

Glossary or Definitions

B1/B2 Visa: A type of visa issued by the United States for individuals traveling for business (B1) or tourism or medical treatment purposes (B2).

Visa Validity Period: The period of time for which a visa is valid, in the case of a B1/B2 visa, typically 10 years.

Duration of Stay: The length of time a visa holder is allowed to stay in the United States during each entry.

Six-Month Stay Limit: The standard period of stay granted to B1/B2 visa holders upon entry, which is typically six months.

Cumulative Stay: The total amount of time an individual has spent in the United States over multiple entries within a specific timeframe.

Yearly Limit: The absence of a set limit on the number of stays per year for B1/B2 visa holders, but multiple prolonged stays may raise suspicions of attempting to live in the US.

Re-Entry: Exiting and returning to the US on a B1/B2 visa, which is allowed, but regular re-entry may suggest an intention to reside in the US.

Purpose of Visit: The reason or intention behind traveling to the US, such as business meetings, conferences, tourism, or medical appointments.

Proof of Ties: Documentation or evidence that demonstrates a B1/B2 visa holder has strong ties to their home country, which may include a job, property, family, or other responsibilities.

Financial Support: The ability to demonstrate sufficient financial means to support the stay in the US without the need for employment.

I-94 Arrival/Departure Record: A record provided to nonimmigrant visitors upon arrival to the US, which contains information on arrival and departure dates and is essential for tracking stay duration.

Overstay: Remaining in the US beyond the authorized duration of stay on a B1/B2 visa.

Visa Cancellation: The action taken by the US government to invalidate a visa. If a B1/B2 visa is cancelled due to an overstay, it may have serious consequences for future travel to the US.

Barred from Re-entry: Being prohibited from entering the US for a certain period of time, often several years, due to an overstay or violation of visa terms.

U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs: The governmental department responsible for providing information and services related to visas and consular affairs for travelers to the United States.

Immigration Attorney: A legal professional specialized in immigration law who can provide customized advice and assistance on visa-related issues and immigration matters.

So, there you have it—everything you need to navigate the B1/B2 visa six-month rule like a pro! Remember, maintaining ties to your home country, being transparent about your intentions, and keeping track of your stay duration are key to a stress-free experience. If you want more detailed information and personalized guidance, be sure to check out visaverge.com. Happy travels!

This Article in a Nutshell:

The B1/B2 visa allows travel to the US for business and tourism. Each entry, you’re usually given a six-month stay. Multiple reentries are possible, but frequent and prolonged stays can raise suspicions. Maintain ties to your home country and prove temporary purpose. Always monitor your stay duration to avoid overstaying.

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Short-stay Schengen visa costs are going up from June: Here’s what you need to know

The European Commission has blamed the price hike on inflation in member states.

The cost of a Schengen visa is going up this June, the European Commission has confirmed.

It is increasing in price by 12 per cent. The basic fee for a Schengen visa is going to rise from €80 to €90 for adults and from €40 to €45 for children. The Commission has blamed the price hike on inflation in member states.

It says fees are still “relatively low” compared to the cost of a visa in other countries. The UK, for example, starts at €134, the US around €185 and Australia €117.

Schengen countries include EU member states except Ireland and Cyprus as well as Romania and Bulgaria for land borders. Though they aren’t EU members, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Switzerland are also part of the Schengen Convention.

• Airlines will lose less luggage and return it to you quicker thanks to new tracking rules
• Germany is making it easier for foreign workers to move to the country this summer

The fee for Schengen visas will increase from 11 June this year.

Who needs a Schengen visa?

Schengen visas are needed for non-EU citizens who don’t benefit from the EU/Schengen Area’s 90-day rule. That includes South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and China , among others.

They are needed for tourism or visits to family but can’t be used for work in 28 European countries. With a Schengen visa, you can visit for up to 90 days in any six month period.

People from countries including the US, Canada, the UK and Australia who are visiting for short periods of time don’t need to apply for a Schengen visa. This is because they are entitled to 90 days of visa-free travel out of every 180.

Anyone who wants to stay longer or to stay for work would need to apply for a different visa from the country they want to visit.

Why are Schengen visa fees going up?

Every three years the Commission assesses these fees and can increase them based on a list of “objective criteria”. This includes inflation rates and the average salary of a civil servant in member states.

It proposed the price hike on 2 February after a meeting in December where member states supported the revision with an “overwhelming majority”.

The Commission has also proposed to let external providers of Schengen visas increase their fees in line with the revision.

• Why not take the train? Experts on what’s needed to get more Europeans to ditch flights
• Inflation, jet fuel costs and decarbonisation: Here’s why airfares are going to continue going up

The maximum amount that external providers, such as visa agencies which collect Schengen visa applications on behalf of the member states, can charge is usually half the standard fee. It has proposed raising this from €40 to €45.

In contrast, the fee for a Schengen visa extension will remain fixed at €30.

The EU is also considering increasing fees even further for countries that show “insufficient cooperation on readmission” - accepting the re-entry of individuals expelled from member states.

For countries that have not demonstrated cooperation in citizen readmission, the cost could increase from €120 to €135 and from €160 to €180.

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What you need to know about European travel this summer

With headlines warning of everything from flight delays to wildfires, summer travel is changing. Here’s how to make sure your trip this summer goes smoothly.

Record numbers of tourists are expected to visit Europe this summer. In the first three months of 2024, the number of international arrivals has already risen by 7.2% compared to 2019’s pre-pandemic figures, according to the European Travel Commission , with 120 million international tourists visiting the region in that time. Yet while this is welcome news for the tourism industry, some challenges remain for visitors, especially during the summer’s busy peak season, when potential flight delays, high temperatures, new laws and major events could all impact travel. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your European trip this summer goes smoothly.

1. What you need to know about flight disruptions

Increased passenger numbers, staff shortages and strikes meant there were 106.7 million delayed air passengers in Europe during peak summer months last year. More than 700,000 passengers were affected over the August bank holiday in the UK alone following a technical meltdown at air traffic control. This year, EasyJet has had to cancel over 100 flights from Paris due to a no-fly zone during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Ryanair has also cut flights from its summer schedule after the delivery of several of its new Boeing aircraft was delayed. If you’re due to fly, visit the airport’s website for the latest information, and check social media for real-time updates from other travellers. Remember that you may be owed compensation if you face disruption, but rules vary, so take out a travel insurance policy as soon as you book flights.

( What should you do if your flight is delayed or cancelled? )

2. Why you should consider travelling by train

Keep your carbon footprint low, avoid airport hassle and see even more of Europe this summer by taking advantage of a whole host of new and expanded routes across the continent. New services include a high-speed route connecting Barcelona to Madrid and Seville , a sleeper train from Brussels to Prague , a daily train between Vilnius and Riga , a relaunched night train between Paris and Nice and a sleeper train from Rome to the Dolomites . Following the success of Germany’s €49 unlimited monthly travel pass last year, France has also introduced its own nationwide rail pass for the same price. However, this is only valid for those under 27 and excludes high-speed TGV trains and travel in the greater Paris region of Ile-de-France.

( 6 of the world’s best coastal rail journeys .)

3. What to do you if you’re affected by wildfires

Following unprecedented high temperatures, wildfires swept through some of Europe’s most popular tourist spots last summer, scorching parts of Tenerife, mainland Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy. This year, protective measures have already been put in place that aim to prevent a repeat of the disaster, with Greece banning all outdoor fires from April and increasing investment in fire detection and water tankers. To ensure you’re protected if the worst happens, arrange travel insurance at the time of booking, then keep an eye on official travel advisories for up-to-date information. If you’re affected by wildfires or any other natural disasters when you’re away, follow the advice of the emergency services and evacuate when instructed, then contact your tour operator or airline for help getting home.

( What to do if you’re caught in a disaster while travelling. )

4. How big events could disrupt your travel  

From Taylor Swift’s tour across Europe to the UEFA European Championship in Germany, Europe is limbering up for a summer of major cultural and sporting events. The Olympic Games in Paris are expected to attract three million more visitors than usual . This is likely to mean a greater demand for accommodation, higher prices, crowded public transport, unexpected road closures and even increased security checks in response to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks. If your holiday does coincide with an event, try to explore beyond the city itself, visit nearby tourist attractions that could be quieter than normal, or just enjoy the inevitable citywide buzz surrounding the main event.

( How to explore Paris this summer beyond the Olympics. )

5. Why you should think about overcrowding

While many destinations welcome a return to pre-pandemic levels of tourism, others are actively trying to deter visitors. In Barcelona , tour groups have been capped at 20 people, while entrance to Athens’ Acropolis is now limited to 20,000 tourists each day. Dubrovnik has already cut the number of souvenir stands by 80%, while thousands attended an anti-tourism protest in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in April. All are concerned that overcrowding leads to skyrocketing prices for locals and causes environmental damage, with increased plastic pollution, erosion of heritage sites and traffic congestion. Consider less-visited destinations instead, swapping Santorini for Folegandros an hour’s ferry ride away, Dubrovnik for Šibenik with its medieval centre and fortress, or Barcelona for the Spanish seaside city of Valencia.

( What’s the problem with overtourism? )

6. How to deal with heatwaves

2023 was the hottest year on record globally, with temperatures in Europe above average for 11 months of the year. The Mediterranean was the worst area affected, with temperatures soaring above 40°C across Italy, Spain, Turkey, Cyprus and Greece. Consider travelling outside the hottest months, between July and September, or visiting destinations further north such as Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Lithuania or Ireland which should escape the most intense heat. If temperatures do climb, wear high-factor SPF, avoid being outside in the middle of the day and wear light-coloured clothes made from breathable materials. Avoid alcohol and drink plenty of water, and keep a close eye on vulnerable people, including young children and the elderly.

7. How to avoid being caught out by local laws and taxes

Do your research before travelling to make sure you don’t fall foul of new laws. A €5 tax for day-trippers was introduced in Venice in April, for example, and will be enforced on selected dates until July. It can be paid online in advance, and those staying overnight are exempt but do still need to register. A second tourist tax of €1 to €5 per night is already applicable to overnight stays and should be paid at your hotel. Be aware that some Airbnbs ask that this is paid in cash. Other new rules in parts of Mallorca and Ibiza ban drinking on the street and prevent shops selling alcohol at night, though you will still be able to buy drinks in bars and restaurants.

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• FAMILY TRAVEL
• CITY GUIDES

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Map Options

Which Countries Require Six Months of Passport Validity in 2024?

Most countries of the world require international visitors to carry a passport to prove their identity upon entering the country. Additionally, most countries require that the passport must be valid for a set number of months before and/or after a visitor's arrival date. The length of time a passport must be good past a visitor's intended arrival date varies from one country to the next, with three or six months being the most common. Countries which require a visitor's passport to be valid for at least six months after that visitor's arrival date are described as having a six-month passport validity rule.

Passport requirements often change. Many countries modify their passport entry requirements depending upon which country issued the visitor's passport or which country served as the departure point for the visitor's trip. For example, the United States typically requires six months of passport validity for incoming visitors, but waives that requirement for visitors whose passports were issued by certain countries , such as the United Kingdom . Passport-holders from these countries need only ensure their passports are valid until their intended return date.

In addition to country-of-origin variations, external circumstances such as political developments, wars, or environmental factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic can also cause countries to enact additional limitations on international visitors. Passport colors often vary depending upon the country issuing them, and are different from a visa, which is often also required for international travel—although a US passport enables visa-free travel in some countries.

Which countries require six months of passport validity?

More than 70 countries require visitors to have six months of validity remaining on their passports in order to enter that country ( see full table below ). These include many African , Asian , and Oceanic countries. While most European countries belong to the Schengen Agreement and officially require only three months of passport validity, countries may at any time implement heightened security measures, including a six-month validity requirement.

A six-month passport validity rule can be inconvenient—particularly if the traveler is unaware of it before arriving at the airport and attempting to board a flight. However, it prevents complications that could arise if the visitor's trip were to be extended due to an emergency or other change of plans and their passport expired during that time.

Which countries require three months of passport validity?

Several countries stop short of requiring six months of passport validity, but do enforce a three-month passport validity rule. In these countries, a visitor's passport must be valid for three months past the visitor's intended arrival date. For example, Europe 's Schengen area has a three-month requirement, though individual countries may raise it to six months.

• Requirements and conditions may change temporarily or permanently at any time, and sources may not update immediately. Data should not be considered definitive and travelers should always confirm requirements with official channels at their destination countries.
• Data pertains to US citizens holding US passports and traveling from the US. Those traveling with passports issued by other countries or traveling from/through another country of origin may encounter different requirements.
• Countries in Europe 's Schengen area have an official requirement of 3 months validity (from one's planned departure from Europe rather than arrival). However, the US Passport Service recommends travelers have at least 6 months validity remaining on their passports to avoid possible complications.

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Can you travel with less than 6 months on your passport?

Frequently asked questions.

• The Six Month Validity Rule for U.S. Passports - List of Countries - US Passport Service Guide
• Passport 6 Month Rule - VisaGuide
• Passport warning as 70 countries require six months validity to travel on holiday - Daily Record
• Countries Requiring Six Months of Passport Validity - Fastport Passport
• What is a Six-Month Passport Validity Rule? - Passport Health
• The 22 Countries You Can Visit With Less Than 6 Months on Your Passport - Your Mileage May Vary

Travelling To Europe? Schengen Visa Fees To Cost More From June

The schengen visa, which allows visa-free travel to over 29 european countries, is set to become more expensive..

The adjustment in visa fees arrives amidst broader global immigration updates.

Starting June 11, obtaining a Schengen visa for travel to Europe will come at a higher cost, as the European Commission has approved a fee increase. The fee for adults will rise from 80 euros to 90 euros, while for children, it will increase from 40 euros to 45 euros. This change affects nationals from various countries, including South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and China, who require the Schengen visa for tourism or family visits spanning up to 90 days in 28 European countries.

The European Union attributes this fee adjustment to rising inflation within its member states. The decision follows the Commission's routine revision of Schengen visa fees every three years. Additionally, the EU is considering further fee hikes for countries displaying insufficient cooperation on readmission, potentially increasing costs to 135 euros for non-cooperative countries.

Despite the fee increase, the Schengen visa facilitation agreements remain unaffected unless explicitly referenced in the Visa Code. These agreements dictate specific provisions regarding visa fees.

The adjustment in visa fees arrives amidst broader global immigration updates. For instance, the United Kingdom has experienced a surge in net migration, prompting the government to implement measures to manage immigration levels, particularly regarding student dependents and overseas workers' income thresholds.

Meanwhile, Australia commemorates 75 years of welcoming immigrants, with nearly 6 million individuals from 200 countries obtaining Australian citizenship since 1949. The country has also increased its refugee and humanitarian programmes, signalling a commitment to humanitarian assistance and immigration reform.

In Japan, a new Digital Nomad Visa is set to launch, offering six-month visas to eligible individuals earning a specified income, joining several countries worldwide catering to remote workers.

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As immigration policies evolve globally, travellers and migrants should remain vigilant against scams and misinformation. Authorities in countries like New Zealand caution against fraudulent job offers and urge individuals to use approved immigration pathways.

In response to the changing immigration landscape, airlines like Turkish Airlines and Etihad Airways are introducing new services and partnerships to enhance passenger experiences, while Japan implements visitor caps at Mount Fuji to preserve its environment from overtourism.

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