Can I start a tourist Schengen visit after my long-term Schengen visa is over?
Here's my situation. I am currently in France on an internship visa (different than a business and tourist visa) which ends next month. I'm interested in doing some traveling afterwards, ideally on a 90-day Schengen tourist visa. I'm willing to hop over to a non-Schengen country (like the UK) for a couple days and then come back to get the tourist visa if necessary.
This post seems similar to my question, except the OP is trying to get the tourist visa without leaving the Schengen area.
Is this allowed? Will the border patrol still give me the tourist visa after my internship visa expires? Will it work through the UK or should I go through another non-Schengen country? I have a USA passport.
Best Answer
Technically what you would get when entering for a short visit as a US citizen is not a visa but an entry stamp. You do not need and cannot get a Schengen visa.
In any case, whether you enter the Schengen area without a visa or with a short-stay visa (for people who require one), you have to abide by the 90-day limit but earlier stays in member states under a national (long-stay) visa do not count. The relevant regulation is the Schengen Borders Code and in particular article 5:
- For intended stays on the territory of the Member States of a duration of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, which entails considering the 180-day period preceding each day of stay, the entry conditions for third-country nationals shall be the following:
[…]
1a. For the purposes of implementing paragraph 1, the date of entry shall be considered 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 of stay authorised under a residence permit or a long-stay visa shall not be taken into account in the calculation of the duration of stay on the territory of the Member States.
Pictures about "Can I start a tourist Schengen visit after my long-term Schengen visa is over?"
When can I come back to Schengen?
Under the terms of Schengen, non-EEA nationals cannot spend more than a total of 90 days within a total period of 180 days without a visa. Furthermore, once you've used up your quota of 90 days, you cannot return to Schengen until 90 more days have passed.Can I stay in Schengen Area after my visa expires?
If you apply after your visa expires, even just a day later, then you will be deported for overstaying your visa, despite of your reasons. Therefore, take care to apply at least a week before your current Schengen short-stay visa expires.Can tourists get a multiple entry Schengen Visa?
Schengen visas may allow for a single-entry or multiple entries. With a single-entry visa you can enter the Schengen area only once. This is indicated on the visa sticker by "01". With a visa allowing for two or multiple entries you may enter twice or several times during the validity of the visa.Can I leave the Schengen Zone and come back?
If you leave the Schengen Zone, your time doesn't reset so it is really important that you keep track of how long you're in the Schengen Zone. If you're in the Schengen Zone for 90 days consecutively, you must leave after 90 days and can't return for another 90 days!Overstaying in the Schengen Zone - How to Extend Your Stay in Europe UPDATED
More answers regarding can I start a tourist Schengen visit after my long-term Schengen visa is over?
Answer 2
Note: Travelers for business or tourism are permitted to stay in the Schengen area for 90 days within a six month period. Once the 90 day maximum is reached, leaving for a brief period and re-entering the area does not entitle a traveler to 90 more days within the Schengen states. The traveler would have to remain outside of the Schengen zone for 90 days before reentering without a visa. Immigration officers at the port of entry have the right to determine whether your planned activities are consistent with business or tourism. You should check with the Embassy or Consulate of the country to which you are traveling if you have questions about whether your proposed trip qualifies for visa-free travel. U.S. Embassies cannot intervene on behalf of U.S. citizens who are denied entry into a foreign country.
Seems like you have to be outside the Schengen Zone for 90 days, until re-entering.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Spencer Davis, Samson Katt, Samson Katt, George Pak