Days Allowed

By passport

Schengen rules for UK citizens

With a British passport you can spend up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area without a visa, as a tourist, visiting family or for business meetings. The 90 days are shared by all 29 countries.

Last checked 3 Nov 2026 against the official sources below.

What counts

  • One count for 29 countries. Your whole visit must fit in the 90 days, and visits in the 180 days before you travel count too.
  • Entry and exit days both count, even if you were only there for an hour.
  • Cyprus is separate. You can stay up to 90 days in a 180-day period in Cyprus, and Schengen time doesn’t affect it. See Cyprus.
  • Ireland doesn’t count. The Schengen rules don’t apply to travelling and working in Ireland. See Ireland.
  • Gibraltar: from 15 July 2026, UK travel advice for British nationals says time in Gibraltar counts alongside time in the Schengen area. See Gibraltar.
  • Residence permit or long-stay visa days don’t count toward the 90.

Your passport

UK travel advice says your passport must:

  • have a date of issue less than 10 years before the day you arrive. If you renewed before 1 October 2018, the date of issue can be more than 10 years ago even though the passport is still in date.
  • have an expiry date at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.

At the border

You may be asked for a return or onward ticket, proof of travel insurance, proof of accommodation and proof that you have enough money for your stay. The details vary by country.

The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) records your fingerprints, a photo and your entry and exit dates. Registration is free. If you leave through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or Eurostar at St Pancras, the checks happen before you leave the UK. Your EES record is valid for 3 years. More: EES explained.

ETIAS

British passport holders will need an ETIAS travel authorisation for short stays once it starts. It isn’t running yet, and the EU hasn’t announced a start date. See ETIAS.

Working, living there, and staying longer

  • The 90 days are for visits. Working has different rules, set by each country.
  • To stay longer than 90 days in 180, you need a visa or permit from the country. See staying longer than 90 days.
  • If you live in an EU country with a residence document, that country’s days don’t count toward your 90. UK travel advice for Spain says to show your residence document with your passport at the border. See residence permit days.

If you overstay

UK travel advice says that if you overstay the 90-day visa-free limit, you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years. See overstaying.

Questions

Do UK citizens get 90 days in each Schengen country?

No. The 90 days in any 180-day period cover all 29 Schengen countries together. Cyprus is the exception: it has its own separate 90 days.

Do days in Ireland count toward the 90?

No. Ireland is not in the Schengen area. Under the Common Travel Area, British nationals can visit and stay in Ireland without a visa or permit.

My passport was issued more than 10 years ago. Can I still travel?

Not to the Schengen area. UK travel advice says the date of issue must be less than 10 years before the day you arrive, and the expiry date at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave.

Do I need ETIAS now?

No. ETIAS is not running yet and the EU hasn’t announced a start date. British passport holders will need it once it starts.

I live in Spain with a residence permit. Do my days count?

Not in the country that issued it. UK travel advice says time in a country on a residence permit or long-stay visa does not count toward your 90-day visa-free limit.

More guides

Sources

Last checked 3 Nov 2026.

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