USER MANUAL FOR THE SHORT-STAY "SCHENGEN" CALCULATOR
1. Introduction
Regulation (EU) 2016/399 1 repealed and replaced the first Schengen Borders Code 2 and –among others – defined, in line with Regulation (EU) No 610/2013 of 26 June 20133 , theconcept of "short stay" for third-country nationals in the Schengen area4 which is a fundamental
element of the Schengen acquis.
As from 12 April 2016 for the vast majority of the third-country nationals – irrespective of beingvisa required or exempt – who intend to travel to the Schengen area for a short stay (contrary
to reside in one of the Member States for longer than 3 months) the maximum duration ofauthorised stay is defined as "no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, which entails
considering the 180-day period preceding each day of stay […]". "The date of entry shall beconsidered as the first day of stay on the territory of the Member States and the date of exit
shall be considered as the last day of stay on the territory of the Member States. Periods ofstay authorised under a residence permit or a long-stay visa shall not be taken into accountin the calculation of the duration of stay on the territory of the Member States."
The notion of "any", implies the application of a "moving" 180-day reference period,
looking backwards at each day of the stay (be it at the entry or at the day of an actualcheck), into the last 180-day period, in order to verify if the 90 days / 180-day requirement
continues to be fulfilled.
Among others, it means that an absence for an uninterrupted period of 90 days allows for a newstay for up to 90 days.
Stays in Cyprus and Ireland shall not be taken into account as they are not (yet) part of theSchengen area without internal borders. At the same time, the non-EU Member States Iceland,
Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland belong to the Schengen area; short stays in thesecountries count in when assessing the compliance with the 90 days / 180-day rule. Stays in theUnited Kingdom do not count in.
Please note that the change does not apply to the visa waiver agreement on ordinary passports
concluded between the EU and Brazil, where the old definition ("3 months during a 6 months
period following the date of first entry") continues to apply. For holders of ordinary
passports of Brazil the calculator is therefore not recommended to be used.
The length of stay of non-EU citizens traveling with a visa issued in accordance with the visa
facilitation agreements concluded by the EU and certain third countries is to be calculated
Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on
the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (OJ L 77, 23.03.2016, p.
9).
2Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 establishing aCommunity Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (OJL 105, 13.4.2006, p. 1).
3Regulation (EU) No 610/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 amending
Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community Code on
the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code), the Convention
implementing the Schengen Agreement, Council Regulations (EC) No 1683/95 and (EC) No 539/2001 andRegulations (EC) No 767/2008 and (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 182,29.6.2013, pp. 4-5).
4The 29 Schengen area countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, 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.
11according to the new calculation method as there is reference in these agreements to "90 days
per period of 180 days".
2. The short-stay calculator
In order to apply the 90 days / 180-day rule, a calculator has been developed for the generalpublic and for the Member States' authorities. The calculator is a helping tool only; it does
not constitute a right to stay for a period resulting from its calculation. It is always for theMember States' competent authorities (in particular for the border guards) to implement theprovisions and make a decision on the length of the authorised stay or on the overstay.
The calculator has been extensively tested before making it available for the public, neverthelessirregularities cannot be excluded. Efforts have been made to limit the number of them to thevery minimum. It is a JavaScript programme and, in principle, its use neither requires any
further programmes installed on your computer, nor internet connection. Opening theprogramme needs a web browser (e.g. Explorer, Mozilla, Chrome) though.
The calculator deals with the 90 days / 180-day rule only. In case of visa-obliged thirdcountry nationals, the length of authorised stay is clearly stated in the visa sticker and often
differs from 90 days (which is the maximum that can be granted). In addition, the authorised
stay should be consumed within the validity period of the visa. The calculator does notsupport the calculation of stay against the authorised stay indicated on the visa sticker, if
this period is shorter than 90 days within 180 days and against the validity of the visa. On
the basis of the previous entry and exit dates, the software can "only" calculate whether thethird-country national fulfils the general 90 days / 180-day rule or not, and it can give
projections for the maximum length of stays in the future from the intended date of entry on thebasis of previous entry and exit dates. Holders of short-stay (C-type) visas should therefore also
check the validity of the visa and the number of days authorized as indicated on the visa sticker.
The calculator cannot take into account more favourable rules applicable to short-stays of thirdcountry nationals under bilateral visa waiver agreements between certain Schengen States andcertain third countries as provided by Article 20(2) of the Convention Implementing theSchengen Agreement (CISA). According to that provision Member States have the possibility
to "extend" the duration of stay of visa-free third-country nationals beyond 90 days under thefollowing circumstances. In case a Schengen State concluded a bilateral visa waiver agreementwith a third country of the so-called "positive visa list" (like Canada, New Zealand or the US)
before the entry into force of the Schengen Agreement (or the date of its later accession to theSchengen Agreement), the provisions of that bilateral agreement may continue to apply. TheCISA provides for a Schengen State the possibility to extend a visa-free stay beyond 90 days in
its territory for the nationals of the third country concerned in accordance with such an existing
bilateral agreement. Thus, for example the nationals of Canada, New Zealand, US, etc. –depending on the continued application of the agreement by the Schengen State - may stay insuch Schengen States for the period provided by the bilateral visa waiver agreement in force
between the two countries (generally three months), on top of the general 90 days stay in theSchengen area. Article 20(2) of the CISA only provides for the possibility for the Schengen
States to apply their "old" bilateral agreements for such extension, but this is not an obligation.
No algorithm could be developed in the calculator to take into account this possibility.
3. How to use the calculator?
The calculator has two functionalities.
In "Control" mode it calculates the length of previous and/or on-going stays and provides
an answer whether the stay of the person complied/complies with the 90 days / 180-day rule(on the day of control), by responding whether the 90-day limit is exceeded or not within the2relevant 180-day reference period. If the rule is respected the calculator notes that there is "No
overstay in the registration period." In addition, it also indicates which is the last day of staywhen the 90 days / 180-day rule would still be respected ("Possible stay until dd/mm/yy"). In
case the rule is not respected, the calculator provides for the number of days spent in the 180day
reference period ("Days of stay in the 180-days period dd/mm/yy to dd/mm/yy: x day(s)") andalso notes in which period the possible overstay occurred ("Possible overstay in the period fromdd/mm/yy to dd/mm/yy (x days)").
The objective of the "Planning" mode is to provide information on what is the maximum
length of stay which may be allowed on a particular day in the future. This date is to be
introduced as a date of entry to the top left hand box – "Date of entry/Control:". Depending on
the previous entries and exits in the relevant 180-day period, as a result, the calculator either
states that "The stay may be authorized for up to: x day(s)", or in case of possible overstay, it
provides the same information as in "Control" function (see above).
4. How to enter the dates?
The calculator uses the following date format: dd/mm/yy (e.g. 01/01/24 for 1 January 2024).
There is no need to enter"/" (e.g. for 1 January 2024, "010124" shall be added). Should you failto use this format, an error message will appear stating that: "The date dd/mm/yy is not a validdate".
"Date of entry/control:" The actual calendar day is generated by the calculator automatically,
which can be changed. In control function this box is to be interpreted as "date of control",while in planning function as "date of entry".
"Enter previous stay(s) in the Schengen area:" The first column is for entry dates, while thesecond column is for exit dates. The third column is for the corresponding length of stay which
is filled in by the calculator by pushing the "Calculate" button. This column should therefore beleft empty by the user. The date format to be used for adding the entry/exit dates is similarly the6-digit "ddmmyy". With the "tab" button of your keyboard it is possible to move between theboxes.
If you see three columns, you should not necessarily add the entry and exit dates inchronological order but you should match the date of exit to the corresponding date of entry.
Otherwise the calculator provides the following response: "The stay with entering date
dd/mm/yy is later than the exit date dd/mm/yy. Calculation of stay is not possible." By pressingthe "Passport" button only one column would remain. This function allows adding entry andexit dates in random order; the calculator will do the matching. However it is necessary to makea distinction between entries (with a "+" before the 6-digit entry date) and exits (with a "-"before the 6-digit entry date), e.g. +010124 stands for an entry stamp in the passport of 1 January2024, while -010224 stands for an exit stamp of 1 February 2024. The value added of the"Passport" functionality is that the calculator will do the automatic sorting of exit dates to thecorresponding entry dates. This functionality is primarily designed for border guards.
Irrespective of whether the calculator is used in "Passport" mode or not, should there be a
missing entry or exit date, the calculator will not be able to make the calculation. In thiscase, the calculator will only state that: "Calculation of stay is not possible". Therefore, in case
you are (the traveller is) still staying in the territory of the Schengen area, in order to check thecompliance with the 90 days / 180-day rule on a particular date (date of control), please also
add that date as a date of (the last) exit.
Please check the entry and exit stamps in the passport, and on the basis of the entry and exit
stamps affixed by the authorities of one of the Schengen States in the past 180 days, add thedate of entries and exits to the calculator as explained above. Please note that periods of stayauthorised under a residence permit or a long-stay visa (D-type visa) shall not be taken into3

account in the calculation. Accordingly, the dates of the entries and exits (if any) related toresidence in a particular Schengen State shall not be inserted.
Deletion of entries: The "Reset" button clears all entries. Entries in specific boxes can bedeleted with the "delete" button on your keyboard.

46. Examples
The following examples illustrate the application of the 90 days / 180-day rule and the use ofthe calculator.
Person not subject to the visa requirement
A person not subject to the visa requirement entered the territory of the Schengen States for thefirst time on 1 January 2024 and left the same day. Then, (s)he enters again on 1 June 2024 andstays until 20 September 2024. What is the situation on specific dates? When should this person
have left the Schengen area to comply with the 90 days / 180-day rule?
On 14.6.2024: Over the last 180 days (18.12.2023 – 14.6.2024) the person had stayed 1 day(1.1.2024) plus 14 days (1.6 – 14.6.2024) 15 days = no overstay; compliance with the 90 days
/ 180-day rule.
(You can enlarge the document on your monitor to see the screenshots better.)

On 29.8.2024: Over the last 180 days (3.3.2024 – 29.8.2024) the person had stayed 90 days
(1.6.2024 – 29.8.2024) 29.8.2024 = last day of authorised stay.

5Person subject to the visa requirement
A third-country national has been granted a multiple-entry visa for one year (1.1.2024 to31.12.2024) allowing for a stay of 90 days per 180 days. The visa holder enters on 1 January2024 and leaves on 10 January 2024 (10 days), then enters and leaves respectively on 1 March2024 and 30 March 2024 (30 days) and finally enters and leaves on 1 May 2024 and 9 June
2024 (40 days). What is the situation on specific dates? For how long would the person beallowed to enter again (consecutive stay) to comply with the 90 days / 180-day rule?
On 19.6.2024: The person might enter for a consecutive 20 days maximum (10 days "leftover"from the authorised 90 days (19-28.6), plus additional 10 days since on 29.6.2024 the stay on
1.1.2024 becomes irrelevant, on 30.6.2024 the stay on 2.1.2024 becomes irrelevant, etc. (willbe outside the 180-day reference period).

On 7.8.2024: The person can still enter for a consecutive 20 days maximum as explained above,since the 30-day stay starting on 1.3.2024 will only become irrelevant on 28.8.2024 (since itscorresponding 180-day reference period starts from 2.3.2024). Therefore, on 26.8.2024 theperson should leave the Schengen area as on that day (s)he will reach the 90 days within the180-day reference period.

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On 8.8.2024: The person might enter for a consecutive 50 days maximum (10 days “leftover”
from the authorised 90 days, plus additional 10 days since from 29.6.2024 the stay which started
on 1.1.2024 becomes irrelevant, plus 30 days since from 28.8.2024, the stay which started on
1.3.2024 becomes irrelevant (out of the 180-day reference period).

On 8.9.2024: The person might enter for a consecutive 90 days maximum. 90 days consecutive
absence (between 10.6.2024 and 7.9.2024) always leads to a possible stay for up to 90 days.

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