Need I leave and reenter the Schengen area after my work visa expires to become a tourist? [duplicate]

I am an American citizen living in Poland for 6 months.

I arrived in Poland on March 1, 2016 without a work visa (i.e, on a business trip).The count toward my Schengen days began.

I received my National Long-Stay Work Visa to legally work in Poland on April 7, 2016 at the consulate in Chicago and then returned to Poland on April 10th.

The work visa expires on July 7th. I intend to travel Europe until my scheduled departure on July 31.

My question is as follows: Because I entered the Schengen area on February 1, and received my entry tourist stamp - do I need to exit and reenter the Schengen area on July 7th in order to reestablish myself as a tourist in the Schengen area?

Or, am I allowed to remain in the Schengen area from July 7th until July 31st without exiting and reentering - since I already have my Schengen entry stamp from February 1?

Please note: The Schengen Borders Code 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.

Best Answer

As you probably noticed, there is no explicitly requirement to do so in the Borders Code and there is no other source that would be more authoritative. Another thing to understand is that the length of stay allowed in the Schengen area is entirely defined by the visas you hold and the relevant rules and regulations. There is no notion of being granted a certain amount of time upon entering, as there is in the US.

Article 12 also explicitly mentions the possibility to prove you followed the rules by other means. Not having a recent entry stamp can make things more difficult but it's never punishable as such, only overstaying is and you haven't done that. You can always point to your Polish visa if any question arises!

Finally, it's anecdotal but here is an answer about someone who did just that and did not encounter any problem.

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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!

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.

How do I get a double entry Schengen visa?

How To Apply For A Schengen Multiple-Entry Visa?

Step 1: Collect All The Required Documents.

Step 2: Fill In Your Schengen Visa Application Form.

Step 3: Schedule Your Schengen Visa Appointment.

Step 4: Attend Your Schengen Visa Appointment.

Step 5: Wait For Your MEV Visa To Be Processed.

Can I enter and or exit the Schengen Area via a country other than the one for which I have a visa?

As a general rule, you may cross any Schengen border with visa issued by any Schengen country. However, you should try and stick to your itinerary as filed when applying for your Schengen Visa.

Overstaying in the Schengen Zone - How to Extend Your Stay in Europe UPDATED

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