Division 1.4 Calculation of the length of stay authorised by a visa

Regulation (EU) No 610/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council^f1 has re-defined the notion of short-stay. The current definition of short-stay reads as follows: ‘no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, which entails considering the 180-day period preceding each day of stay’. That definition entered into force on 18 October 2013 and is contained in the Schengen Borders Code.

The day of entry will be calculated as the first day of stay in the territory of the Member States and the day of exit will be calculated as the last day of stay in the territory of the Member States. The notion of ‘any’ implies the application of a ‘moving’ 180-day reference period, on each day of the stay looking back to the last 180-day period, in order to verify if the 90/180-day requirement continues to be fulfilled. That means that an absence from the territory of the Member States for an uninterrupted period of 90 days allows for a new stay of up to 90 days.

A short-stay calculator, which can be used for calculating the period of allowed stay under the new rules, can be found on-line at the following address: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/border-crossing/index_en.htm.

Example of calculation of stay on the basis of the current definition:

A person holding a multiple-entry visa for 1 year (18 April 2014 – 18 April 2015) enters for the first time on 19 April 2014 and stays for three days. Then the same person enters again on 18 June 2014 and stays for 86 days. What is the situation on specific dates? When will that person be allowed to enter again?

On 11 September 2014: over the last 180 days (16 March 2014 – 11 September 2014) the person had stayed for three days (19-21 April 2014) plus 86 days (18 June 2014 – 11 September 2014) = 89 days = no overstay. The person may still stay for up to one day.

As of 16 October 2014: the person might enter for a stay of three additional days. On 16 October 2014 the stay on 19 April 2014 becomes irrelevant (outside the 180-day period); on 17 October 2014 the stay on 20 April 2014 becomes irrelevant (outside the 180-day period; etc.).

As of 15 December 2014: the person might enter for 86 additional days. On 15 December 2014 the stay on 18 June 2014 becomes irrelevant (outside the 180-day period); on 16 December 2014 the stay on 19 June 2014 becomes irrelevant, etc.).