For US and UK citizens (and all other non-EU citizens) the 90/180-day rule limits how long we can stay in Spain and other SCHENGEN countries without needing a visa. And with the new EES (Entry/Exit System) coming soon, this rule will be enforced much more strictly since it’ll digitally track the time you spend in the SCHENGEN Zone. If you plan to stay in Spain longer than 90 days, you must secure the appropriate visa or residency.
We’ll break this down with practical scenarios to illustrate how the 90/180-Day Rule in Spain rule works.
What is the 90/180-Day Rule?
The 90/180-day rule allows non-EU citizens to stay in the SCHENGEN Zone for a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day period without a visa. This zone includes Spain and 28 other SCHENGEN countries.
Key points of the 90/180-Day Rule
- 90 days maximum stay in any 180 days.
- Cumulative across all SCHENGEN countries.
- You must leave the SCHENGEN Area once you’ve used your 90 days and can only return once you’ve stayed outside for an entire 90-day period.
This rule applies to all SCHENGEN countries. Spending time in multiple countries does not extend your 90 days.
Important: Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen Zone in March 2024 to make 29 countries in total. This means you’ll need to include time spent in these countries in your 90/180-day total. The other 27 countries are Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
What Does a Rolling 180-Day Period Mean?
A rolling 180-day period means your allowable time in the SCHENGEN Area is calculated continuously.
Rather than resetting after each trip, you must always look back over the previous 180 days from the current date to see how many days you’ve already spent in SCHENGEN countries. At no point can your total stay exceed 90 days within that 180-day window — hence it being referred to as the 90/180-day rule.
So, every time you enter or exit the SCHENGEN Area, your remaining time is recalculated based on your activities over the past six months. Remember, the period doesn’t reset on a specific date; it shifts each new day. This rule means you must monitor how many days you’ve spent in the SCHENGEN Area within the past 180 days – because the EES also counts.
You can only extend your 90-day limit in Spain with exceptional circumstances. This exception could be something like a medical emergency that means you cannot travel, but there are very few approvals for these requests.
Raquel Moreno (LLB) – Immigration Lawyer
Practical Scenarios of the 90/180-Day Rule
We’ve created some scenarios to show how the rule works in real-life situations.
Scenario 1
US Citizen Spending 60 Days in Spain, 30 Days in France
Overview
A US citizen spends 60 days in Spain at the start of the year, returns to the US, and later spends 30 days in France.
| Dates | Location | Days Spent in Schengen |
|---|---|---|
| 01 January – 01 March | Spain | 60 |
| 02 March – 30 May | US (outside SCHENGEN) | 0 |
| 31 May – 29 June | France | 30 |
Total Days in SCHENGEN: 90
Outcome
On 29 June the person has stayed in the SCHENGEN Zone for 90 days in the last 180 (from 01 Jan until 29 June). They must leave the Zone at this point.
From this point, the days spent in the SCHENGEN Zone from 01 Jan onwards begin to fall outside the previous 180 days — ie for every day that passes the person ‘recoups’ a day from their previously used 90.
For example, if they waited 30 days until 29 July, they could return to the SCHENGEN Zone for 30 days and then have to leave on 28 August when they will have reached 90 days again.
To regain their full 90 days they would have to wait until 27 December. This is the first day where the previous 180 days don’t go back far enough to include 29 June, the last day spent in the SCHENGEN Zone.
Scenario 2
UK Citizen Spending 30 Days in Spain, 60 Days in France
Overview
A UK citizen spends 30 days in Spain, returns to the UK, and then returns for 60 days in France.
| Dates | Location | Days Spent in Schengen |
|---|---|---|
| 15 January – 13 February | Spain | 30 |
| 14 February – 15 March | UK (outside SCHENGEN) | 0 |
| 16 March – 14 May | France | 60 |
Total Days in SCHENGEN: 90
Outcome
On 14 May the UK citizen has used their full 90 days. According to the 90/180-day rule, they must leave and cannot return to the SCHENGEN Area until 14 July (the first day after the previous 180-day period refreshes).
To regain their full 90 days, they would have to wait until 11 November (181 days after 14 May).
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Scenario 3
Non-EU Citizen Frequent Traveler Spending 45 Days in Germany and 45 Days in Spain
Overview
A frequent traveler spends 45 days in Germany, returns to the US, and later spends another 45 days in Spain.
| Dates | Location | Days Spent in Schengen |
|---|---|---|
| 02 March – 15 April | Germany | 45 |
| 16 April – 30 April | US (outside SCHENGEN) | 0 |
| 01 May – 14 June | Spain | 45 |
Total Days in SCHENGEN: 90
Outcome
The traveler has used the full 90 days on 14 June. They must leave by 14 June and cannot return until 29 August, when they become eligible for another stay.
To regain their full 90 days, they would have to wait until 12 December (181 days after 14 June).
Scenario 4
US Citizen Traveling Between Spain and Morocco
Overview
A US citizen spends 30 days in Spain, then visits Morocco (outside SCHENGEN) and returns to Spain for another 45 days.
| Dates | Location | Days Spent in Schengen |
|---|---|---|
| 01 January – 30 January | Spain | 30 |
| 31 January – 01 March | Morocco (outside SCHENGEN) | 0 |
| 02 March – 15 April | Spain | 45 |
Total Days in SCHENGEN: 75
Outcome
The US citizen has 15 days remaining in their 90-day SCHENGEN limit. If they leave on 15 April, they may return to the SCHENGEN Zone for up to 15 days before 30 July.
If they don’t return before then, they regain their full 90 days on 13 October (181 days after 15 April).
Scenario 5
American Citizen Planning Frequent Visits in Different SCHENGEN Countries
Overview
A US citizen travels multiple times to various SCHENGEN countries, starting with 30 days in Spain, then 30 days in Italy, and 30 days in France.
| Dates | Location | Days Spent in Schengen |
|---|---|---|
| 01 January – 30 January | Spain | 30 |
| 31 January – 01 March | Italy | 30 |
| 02 March – 31 March | France | 30 |
Total Days in SCHENGEN: 90
Outcome
The traveler has reached their 90-day limit. They must leave the SCHENGEN Area on 31 March and cannot return until 30 June at the earliest.
To regain their full 90 days, they would have to wait until 28 September (181 days after 31 March).
SCHENGEN 90/180 Rule Calculator
The EU has created a tool to make this easy for you. You can check out the SCHENGEN 90/180-day rule calculator to calculate your time in the region.
Note: The webpage has this caution about the calculator: “The calculator is a helping tool only; it
does not constitute a right to stay for a period resulting from its calculation.”
What the EES System is and How it Will Change Enforcement
The European Union is implementing the EES (Entry/Exit System) across the SCHENGEN Area. This new system will automatically track the movements of non-EU citizens, making it impossible to overstay without being caught.
The EES (Entry/Exit System) will digitally monitor every time you enter or leave the SCHENGEN Area, so there won’t be any way to go unnoticed. With biometric data like fingerprints and facial recognition, the system will record every entry and exit from SCHENGEN countries, making it impossible to overstay unnoticed.
How the EES Will Work
- Automated Tracking
The system will digitally record every entry and exit from SCHENGEN countries, removing the reliance on manual passport stamps. - Biometric Data
EES will collect fingerprints and facial recognition data to identify travelers more accurately. - Real-time Alerts
Border control will be immediately alerted if a traveler exceeds their 90-day limit or attempts to re-enter before completing the necessary 90 days outside the SCHENGEN Area. - Stricter Enforcement
Overstaying will result in fines, deportation, and possible bans from the SCHENGEN Area.
READ ALSO >> Why Brits in Spain Should Swap Their Green NIE for a TIE ASAP
There are no internal border checks within the SCHENGEN region, so if, for example, you drive to Portugal or France for a few weeks, these times will likely not be counted on the EES systems. We’re waiting to see how flights within the region are managed. If you still have residency in Spain and a padrón, your travel within the region may not be counted to the exact day.
Raquel Moreno (LLB) – Immigration Lawyer
Get The Right Visa or Residency Permit to Stay Longer in Spain
With the EES system, staying in Spain longer than 90 days without a visa will result in severe penalties. Having the proper visa or residency permit is crucial if you plan to move to Spain for extended periods.
Why You Should Apply Early
- Visa processing times can be lengthy, so start your application before reaching your 90-day limit.
- The EES system will strictly enforce the 90/180-day rule, meaning any overstay will result in immediate penalties.
- Having the correct visa or residency lets you avoid the risk of fines, deportation, or travel bans.
READ ALSO >> Moving to Spain from the UK Post-Brexit
Conclusion: Plan for Hassle-Free Travel
Enforcing the 90/180-day rule becomes simple with the introduction of the EES. This change will make it crucial for non-EU travelers to carefully monitor their time in the SCHENGEN Zone. Don’t fall foul of the 90/180-day rule. To avoid penalties, overstaying, or travel restrictions, ensure you apply for the correct visa or residency permit if you plan to stay in Spain longer than 90 days.
Great article. What if I’m a non-EU citizen married to an EU citizen and have my Spanish residency? What’s the outcome in the below scenario?
Spent 95 days in Spain on the residency visa – Jan. 1 – April 5. So, I am not legally allowed to leave Spain and enter one of the other non-Spain countries? I am kind of trapped in Spain unless I leave, let’s say to the UK or the US, for 90 days and then I can enter one of the non-Spain countries legally?
Hi Steven – as above. Your time as a resident in Spain is excluded from your SCHENGEN visit time. Formally you have only 90/180 days in the rest of the region. All the best, Alastair
Your Scenario 5 one is very interesting and related to my prior post. So, on March 31 (90th day) while in France, instead of leaving the Schengen area, the non-EU citizen with Spanish residency, could instead just return to Spain, right?
Yes, that is correct as a Spanish resident, you can spend 90/180 days outside of Spain in other SCHENGEN countries. Scenario 5 assumes that you are not resident in Spain. In practice, there is no real way for authorities to formally keep count of these days without internal immigration controls in the region. All the best, Alastair
Hi, I’m confused by the calculations. In scenario 1 why can’t the traveller return earlier than 29/8? If you go back 180 days from say 1/8 they will only have spent 58 days in the Schengen zone (i.e. since 1/2) so could visit for the next 32 days? Or is the final day of that visit (i.e. 1/3) the key date rather than the rolling 180 days back from your next planned entry date?
Hi Trevor
Thank you for your astute observation. I have reworded the description to Scenario One as a result of your query. Looking back 180 days and counting the days spent in the SCHENGEN Zone is the key. In this example, from 30 June the initial SCHENGEN days begin to fall outside the previous 180-days and the traveler begins to get SCHENGEN days back. In the description I use the example of if they wait 30 days until 29 July, they could return to the SCHENGEN Zone for 30 days until 28 August. Once again thank you for pointing this out. It proves the 90/180 day calculation can be tricky!
Does time in Spain under a study visa count toward the Schengen 90 day limit?
So for example, if I had a 180 day study visa, at the end of it would I have the full 90 days available for Schengen travel?
Hi Mark. You are correct – your time in Spain on a Student visa does not count towrds your 90/180 day limit in other SCHENGEN countries. All the best, Alastair
Bonjour ,
J’ai séjourné 10 mois en Espagne , de janvier a novembre sans autorisation , je suis retourné chez moi au Venezuela, combien de temps dois je attendre pour pouvoir repartir en Europe ? Merci d avance.
How are days calculated related to arrival departure days? Is it purely based on the date of entry regardless of time?
Let’s say my plane lands late and I enter through Spanish immigration at 2350 on 3/1 and I fly out at 0600 on 3/3. Does this count as three days?
When boarding a cruise ship in Barcelona that is traveling across the Atlantic, are all the days on the ship considered SCHENGEN days? Or does the count stop on the day that the ship departs Barcelona?
Hi David. The days are calculated regardless of the time of entry and exit, so a part of a day will count. I can’t find a clear answer to the cruise ship question, so I’d suggest approaching them as they’ll understand the visas related to their passengers. All the best, Alastair