Days Allowed

Schengen rules

Overstaying in the Schengen area

If you stay past your 90 days, the EES records it. You can be told to leave and banned from coming back, and once your 90 days are used up you’ll be refused entry at the border.

Last checked 3 Nov 2026 against the official sources below.

What the EU says happens

  • It’s recorded. “If you overstay the period allowed in the European countries using the EES, the system will identify you and record this information.”
  • Return. A person staying illegally must go through return procedures under the EU Return Directive.
  • Entry ban. A return decision comes with an entry ban in some cases, and may in others. The length depends on the case and “shall not in principle exceed five years”.
  • Refusal at the border. A traveller who has already used the 90 days “will be refused entry at the border”.

UK travel advice for France and Spain adds: if you overstay the 90-day visa-free limit, you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years.

Nobody can tell you in advance what will happen in your case. Don’t plan on it being fine.

How to avoid it

  • Know your leave-by date before you travel and check it again during long stays. The calculator shows it.
  • Check future trips against each other. A long trip in spring can shorten the trip you planned for summer.
  • Remember that entry and exit days both count, and that the window moves every day. See the 90/180 rule.
  • For a longer stay, apply for a long-stay visa or residence permit. Days covered by it are not counted toward the 90.

Questions

What happens if I overstay by one day?

Any overstay is recorded in the EES. What follows is decided case by case by the authorities. A return decision, an entry ban, or a refusal of entry next time are all possible.

How long can a Schengen entry ban last?

The EU says an entry ban should not in principle exceed five years. UK travel advice for France and Spain says you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years.

Will I be stopped at the border if I have no days left?

The EU says a traveller who has already used the 90 days in a 180-day period will be refused entry at the border.

How can I stay longer than 90 days legally?

For a longer stay you will most likely need a long-stay visa or a residence permit from the country you plan to live in. Days covered by them are not counted toward the 90 days.

Sources

Last checked 3 Nov 2026.

A planning tool. Border officials decide.