How the 90/180-day rule works
With a UK passport you can spend up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area without a visa. It isn’t 90 days per country, and it isn’t reset by calendar year. On any day, look back 180 days and count every day you were there, including the days you arrived and left. The total can never be more than 90.
That’s why a winter in Spain is hard to fit in: three months away means you then can’t go back for another three months.
Why it matters more now
Since the EU’s Entry/Exit System started, your passport isn’t stamped any more. Your fingerprints and photo are recorded at the border, and the system counts your days automatically. It has been fully running since 10 April 2026. An overstay is now picked up straight away, and can mean a fine, a record on the system or a ban on going back.
Which countries count
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, 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.
Don’t count: Ireland, and Cyprus, which has its own separate 90 days.
ETIAS: do I need it yet?
Not yet. ETIAS is a new travel permit for UK visitors to the Schengen area. The EU expects it to start in the last quarter of 2026. After that:
- The first 6 months: you can still travel without one if you meet the other entry rules.
- The next 6 months: people arriving for the first time since the start may still get in without one.
- After that, roughly from late 2027: you’ll need one before you travel, and airlines and ferries will check.
| Cost | €20. Free if you’re under 18 or over 70, but you still need to apply |
|---|---|
| Lasts | 3 years, or until your passport runs out if sooner |
| Where to apply | Only on the official EU website or app, once it opens |
Watch out for copycat websites. Some websites already offer to “apply for ETIAS” for you, for much more than the official fee. You don’t need them, and ETIAS isn’t open yet. We’ll update this page when the EU confirms the start date.
Worked example
Pat and Jim spent all of September 2026 in Portugal: 30 days. They want to winter in Spain from 1 December to 20 February.
| Days left on 1 December | 60 |
|---|---|
| They’d go over the 90 days on | 30 January 2027 |
| Latest they could come home | 29 January 2027 |
If they waited until 30 December, their September days would drop out of the count and they could stay the full 90 days.
Going for a long trip?
Check your travel insurance covers the whole trip and any medical conditions. Some policies limit how long you can be away, especially over 65.
What travel insurance should coverQuestions
Will it remember my trips?
Yes, on the same phone or computer and browser. Your trips are saved there, never sent to us, so you can keep a running log and check before each trip. To have them on another device, use “Send these results to someone” and send the link to yourself.
Do the days I arrive and leave count?
Yes. Both count as full days, even if you only arrive late at night.
Does it reset if I come home?
No. Going home doesn’t reset anything. Days only drop off the count once they’re more than 180 days ago.
I own a home in Spain. Can I stay longer?
Not on a UK passport alone. To stay more than 90 days in 180 you need a visa or residence permit from that country, such as a non-lucrative visa in Spain.
What about my passport?
On the day you arrive, it must be less than 10 years old, and valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave.