How much hassle will I get flying into the Schengen zone for 7 months as a visa-exempt visitor?
I'm American and planning to fly into Europe for 7 months. With the Schengen visa, I'll be allowed 90 days out of 180 days in the Schengen zone. That's fine, I understand the rules, how the time period works, and have every intention to follow it.
I was thinking about spending the first 3 months in the Schengen zone, leaving for 3 months to regions outside, then returning for the last month. This means I'll be flying from the US, and my arriving and departing flight in Europe will both be inside the Schengen zone, so it's going to raise some flags and they might assume I'm staying within the zone for the entire 7 months.
If I simply explain on arrival that I understand the restrictions and plan to visit Turkey for 3 months in the middle of the trip, will I be in the clear?
I did a similar trip in the past, although it was only 5 months, and I booked my arriving flight in the Schengen zone and departing flight outside, so I was easily able to explain I was leaving to the departing country after 3 months, and flying home from there. All of these stamps are still in my passport, so I'm wondering if they see I did something similar a couple of years ago and followed the rules, they'll be more understanding.
Any thoughts or precautions I should take when booking these flights? Has anyone done something similar in the past, and had a return flight in and out of the Schengen zone longer than 3 months, and if so, how did border security react?
Best Answer
As long as you follow the rules of the Schengen visa waiver requirements you should be fine. If you can prove with a itinerary (plane, train, hotel bookings, etc.) that you are going to be travelling out of the Schengen zone, and won't be overstaying in the Schengen area you should be fine.
My girlfriend (she is American) and I went on holiday to the central Schengen countries and they didn't even ask for her exit flight when she arrived at Rome. They did however question her a lot when she was leaving France to enter the UK.
It is probably more hassle entering the UK and USA than most Schengen countries.
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What is the Schengen 90 day rule?
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.How do you get around the 90 day Schengen rule?
Well, you can tour around different Schengen member states like France, Spain, or Germany and by the time you hit your 90-day limit, go and hop over to a non-Schengen European country like Croatia, UK, North Macedonia, or Turkey to wait until you hit the 181st day so that you can come back to the Schengen Area again.Can I travel in Europe for 6 months?
Most visitors (including Americans) are allowed to spend 90 days in the Schengen Area in every 180-day period. The easiest way to think of it is that you can visit for 3 months and then you have to leave for 3 months before you can return.Can you stay in Europe for more than 3 months after Brexit?
Now that the UK is outside the EU, British passport holders can stay for a maximum of 90 days per 180-day period. UK passport holders can cross an external EU border using just a valid passport and stay anywhere in the Schengen Area for up to 3 months.THE SCHENGEN ZONE TRAVEL EXPLAINED - DIGITAL NOMAD TV
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