We would like to travel Europe for 6 months beginning this coming April, 2023.
We understand that we don't need a visa for a 3 month stay however, 3 months is not enough time.
Can anyone advise on how to request a 3 month extension for travel?
Thank you
Tony
To stay in the Schengen Area for over 90 days, you need to request a long-stay visa. To note:
Finally, others will come in and mention the pre-Schengen bilateral agreements that the US has signed with states like Denmark. I have never availed myself of these agreements so can't personally speak to them.
Andrew is correct. Getting an extension simply for tourist purposes is almost impossible. The simplest way is to spend 3 months in non Schengen countries.
Hello gonesouth_,
Assuming you are American the simple answer is you can't. The only simple way to travel in "Europe" for more than 90 of the 180 days is to carefully mix non-Schengen countries - UK, Balkans etc - with your 90 day quota in the Schengen region. To stay longer you would need a visa to stay in a specific Schengen country and you would need to apply for that visa and get approved before you leave. Visas cannot be applied for during your stay after entering the Schengen region.
Certain countries are historically more lax when to comes to checking your stay dates but the EU has been working to crack down on tracking travelers for some time via the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).
The most recent announcement is implementation has been delayed (again) until November of 2023.
https://resources.envoyglobal.com/blog/travel-tracking-in-the-schengen-area-upcoming-changes
There are people who claim you can stitch together various legal loopholes with certain counties but these are legally questionable and ETIAS may or may not start to close some of these loopholes when implemented.
https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-legally-stay-in-europe-for-more-than-90-days/
Always be careful and confirm any information since penalties and punishments can be stiff for immigration violations.
Also be aware that other implications can apply. Italy considers anyone who is in Italy for 183 days of any year to be a citizen for tax purposes so you could end up being expected to pay Italian taxes if you're there too long.
Hope that helps,
=Tod
And should you think "what's the worst that could happen if you overstay your visa", you would be slapped with a very high fine and banned from entering Schengen for up to 10 years.
I deal with this every year by spending time in non-Schengen countries. I haven't tried to go the visa route, primarily because I think the target country would require me to show a signed lease for the period of the visa, and I don't want to stay in one place. Proof of income/assets and medical insurance is also typically required.
It is a lot easier to develop an interest in visiting some countries outside the Schengen zone.
I believe the Denmark loophole is probably usable, because there's information about it on the website of the Danish embassy. The link can be found here: https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-GB/Words-and-concepts/US/Visum/Overview-of-Travel-Documents,-Visa-Conditions-and-Border-Crossing-Points/. See Section V.3 on page 16. Note that loopholes like this must be used at the end of your trip, and you must make sure you don't go through another Schengen country on the way home, because the extra time in Denmark would make your stay illegal in other Schengen countries.
We would all like to spend longer in the Schengen Zone, but unfortunately, it’s not possible.
To get a longer term visa for France, you need to own a property there then have a number of interviews at the French consul and pay €100pp.
There isn’t a general 3 month extension unless you are a student etc.
You will have to spend time outside the Schengen Zone if you want longer in Europe.
The Danish loophole is very much usable, and you can spend time in European countries not in Schengen. Apart from that, stick to the 90 day rule.
Just a clarification: Property ownership is not required for many types of visas in France. I don’t know what the deal may have been in the past for the Brits in the Dordogne, but ownership isn’t a requirement today, at least for all the Americans I run across. More people in my expat groups are renters than owners though people who are getting their five and ten year residency cards are more likely property owners.
Again I don’t know why the French would require a number of interviews of the British when Americans need only one interview at one of the consulates in the US, with exact required documentation in hand.
I’ve read many reports by applicants of their year-long visitor visa arriving about a week later.
Edit: I wrote the above sort of kiddingly about the requirements for Americans being so relaxed compared to Jennifer's British friends. But after a pm from Jennifer, it really does appear the two nationalities are receiving different treatment. I wonder why. Follow the money?
People do get long stay visas for 6 month periods, or longer, but as other alluded to, it is a process you engage in with a specific country, they will want to see financial viability, health insurance, and the intent is that you are resident in that country for the visa period (shown by a lease or other means). Travel to other Schengen countries is generally allowed, depending on the conditions of the visa. Most find the effort, expense, and restrictions to not be worth it for tourist travel. If you are serious, pick a country and contact their embassy or consulate here in the US.
Yes, there are Bi-lateral agreements recognized as part of the Schengen agreement, Denmark was mentioned, the US also has agreements with 9 other Schengen countries, including Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands. About all I will say is that despite these agreements, the fact that you rarely, if ever, hear someone taking advantage of them, speaks volumes.
That leaves what most do, plan sufficient time in non-Schengen countries. This would include the UK and Ireland, Romania and Bulgaria of the EU countries, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro and other Balkan countries (Croatia no longer though), then nearby countries like Turkey, the Middle East, and North Africa.
I'm sure the procedures vary a bit, and the efficiency of the visa processors even more. I met an Australian couple in Italy in 2015 who needed three visits to the Italian consulate to get their visas.
This Schengen information page and calculator can help you plan your in-Schengen and out-Schengen time. https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/visa-calculator/
Your European choices not in Schengen
Albania,
Armenia,
Azerbaijan,
Belarus,
Bosnia & Herzegovina,
Bulgaria
Cyprus,
Ireland,
Kazakhstan,
Kosovo,
North Macedonia,
Moldova,
Montenegro,
Romania,
russia,
Serbia,
Turkey,
Ukraine,
United Kingdom
Also, though it's not in Europe, Morocco would be a possibility. There are lots of flights to the tourist meccas of Fes and Marrakech (as well as other Moroccan cities) from many cities in Europe.
Tony, I tracked my days in Schengen closely before I became a resident. Just be aware that the 90-day Schengen rule is 90 days, WITHIN 180 days. So if you spend 2 months in the Schengen area, leave for a few weeks, you don't have another 3 months, you only have 1 month left within 180 days, (I seem to recall from your initial arrival date for your first visit but I would double check that.) No comment on loopholes or extended visas. If you wanted to stay longer, maybe ask the forum which of your targeted countries has an easy application process for an extended visa?
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/visa-calculator/ "What does it mean? The 90/180-day rule states that any foreign national who enters the Schengen zone (any country within the area) can stay for up to 90 days within any 180 days."
You need to take the rules literally. 90 days means 90 days; it does not mean 3 months (unless one of those months is a 28-day February). It's not an elapsed-time calculation; both the arrival day and the departure day count. Be especially careful if you go in and out of the Schengen countries multiple times. The day you leave still counts as a Schengen day, as does the day you return.
Friends of mine who own a place in the south of France but want to remain British residents have 2 interviews coming up in the next month for a 6 month visa.
Monday I fly U.S. direct to Warsaw and go thru passport control at 11:30 PM
Wednesday I go through passport control in Lisbon at 11:30 PM on my way back to the U.S.
Did I stay 3 days or 4 days?
Ignore me, I am being ...... but I bet you understood.
I use the Schengen calculator and just to be on the safe side, i use my departure date from the U.S. even though arrival is the next day. No sense in cutting it too close.
Very good to know that among the 9 Schengen countries the US has this special relationship, France is included. There is still hope, isn't there?
Fred, the issue from my perspective is that most of those special arrangements aren't well publicized. Will the Immigration officer you encounter upon exiting the Schengen area be aware of that special deal for US passport-holders? I am not confident about that, in general. Even if, somehow, it all works out in the end--meaning without a large fine and a multi-year ban--how long will it take to straighten out the mess? I've seen reports of folks missing flights home while they were being interrogated and/or berated at length by officials. The airline would not be responsible for getting you home on a later flight at no cost if you missed your original flight.
Interesting discussion, though no sign of the OP for 4 days... oh well. I agree with @Acraven, why risk a confrontation with an immigration officer anywhere about overstaying a visa, no thanks!
About missed connections if immigration / security hold you up - It has been my experience that when the lines were long or it took extra time due to whatever issue on the ground, besides delayed flights, I called UA in the US & was re-booked on the next flight. This has happened once in FRA & CPN when there were long lines. I've never lost my connecting flight ticket due to immigration delays. (And don't leave the transit area to speak with anyone, which was the advice given by gate agent in Frankfurt, just call your airline.)
Monday I fly U.S. direct to Warsaw and go thru passport control at 11:30 PM
Wednesday I go through passport control in Lisbon at 11:30 PM on my way back to the U.S.
Did I stay 3 days or 4 days?
Simple. Is Poland in Schengen? Is Portugal in Schengen? Yes Yes
Monday, at least one minute in Schengen? Yes - 1 day
Tuesday, at least one minute in Schengen? Yes - 2 days
Wednesday, at least one minute in Schengen? Yes - 3 days
Is the total 3? Maybe - it could be a trick question and after midnight on Wednesday something occurred to the flight to prevent departure on Wednesday and I had to return to the terminal. oops.
So you could conceivably append 90 Schengen days spent not in France with 3 months in France. Not sure how you would document the entry into France.
The recommendation from people I know who have relied on this waiver is that you fly into France and keep your boarding pass.
