90 day rule confusion

[Rome Addict]

For the first time ever we are looking at spending more than 90 days in Europe. 3 months in England and 3 in a combination of Italy and Spain.

But the problem arises in that we would be popping over to Italy and Ireland during the 3 months we are in England. Then returning for what would hopefully be 90 days straight in the EU.

One trip for a birthday party the second to meet family. How do those 2 trips impact how our 90 days will be counted? both the 90 days out of the EU rule and the 90 days total IN the EU rule.

Or should I just say forgetaboutit and exit from Spain?

 

[Kathy]

I'm not so sure about the rules for the UK (as we don't stay long enough to worry about this), but we manage our time in the Schengen area very carefully.

In the Schengen area, you can spend 90 days out of any 180 days on a tourist visa without a special visa. It is a rolling 180 days. If you leave the Schengen area during that time, the days you are away don't count. So the time you spend in Italy and Ireland during your first 90 days would be included in the 180 period that would extend to the 90 days you want to spend in Italy and Spain and you'd need to adjust your time there accordingly. This would apply regardless of where you entered or exited Schengen.

 

[Pauline]

You can stay 6 months in the UK as a visitor, no visa needed.

@Kathy That is confusing. So the 180 days starts when you enter the EU and only 90 days of that 180 day period can be spent in any Schengen zone country?

Can you make that 180 days start 90 days before you go to the EU, then spend 90 days, then 90 more for the next 180 day period, as long as you don't return for 90 days?

Also do you tell them at the border what your plans are? Has any official asked for the details?

 

[Kathy]

It is a rolling 180 days, moving forward or backwards from any point in time. But within any 180 days, you can be in the Schengen zone only 90 of the days, regardless of whether it's one 90 day stay or if you come and go. You don't "decide" when the 180 days starts or talk to anyone about this.

The only time we were ever asked for details was once here in Knoxville at the Delta ticket counter. We were showing traveling to and from the Schengen zone on a trip more than 90 days with no visa in our passport. We went to England for several weeks during this time (not on the same ticket). We had to show the Delta agent proof of our trip to England.

But we don't take any risk with this at all (we can't!) and count our days very carefully. It's all automated now.

 

[JustTravel]

Also, any part of a day counts as one day - the arrival day and departure day count as two days.

 

[Andrew]

But Ireland is not in Schengen, so the time there would not count as Schengen time, even though they use the euro currency.

 

[Rome Addict]

However on the flip side Iceland, Norway and Switzerland have joined the Schengen treaty even though they are not part of the EU.

 

[Kathy]

I'm posting from the Amsterdam airport... we've just arrived in Europe for 105 days, typical for our summers. The Delta agent in Knoxville questioned us about not having a visa because of the length of our trip. Our return on Delta is from Heathrow. We had to explain that we are flying from Bordeaux to Heathrow on July 8 (on BA) and he put a note in our file. But we didn't get any questions about this coming into the EU.