My husband and I would like to spend 6-24 months traveling through Europe, purely as tourists; we do not plan to work or go to school. We understand the Schengen rules (90 days in Schengen countries out of 180.) How can we stay in mainland Europe for more than 90 days at a time? We will not have a home base or qualify for a resident visa.
Posted by
San Antonio TX, United States
2393 posts
If there were a way it would have been found by now. Your best bet would be to mix your trip up with Schengen & non-Schengen countries carefully counting the days in each - 90 in & 90 out in 180 then reset counter.
Even a long term visitor visa is good for 1 country.
Others may have more & different info but this is my understanding of how it works.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Contact the consulates of the countries you want to visit. Specific tems for long stays may vary from country to country. My understanding is that you will need to fill out quite a bit of paperwork to get what you want, if it's even possible.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23609 posts
It is real simple. You either get some type of a long term tourist visa or you strictly stick to 90/180 in the Schengen zone. If you don't, it can be expensive. There is nothing in the middle or a sneaky work around.
Posted by
Ballwin
833 posts
As others have noted, your easiest bet (to avoid lots of paperwork, proof of finances, and so on that you would need to possibly get a long-term visa - a complicated process, I've heard) is to split your time between Schengen and non-Schengen countries. For example, visit the UK and Turkey for a while... Be very careful with the 90 within the last 180 days and I would allow a little bit of buffer room (use 85 of your 90 days instead of all of them) in case something comes up. Then once another 90 days have passed, return to the Schengen area and see some more. Unless you want to visit Asia and/or Africa, it may be difficult to go back and forth for 24 months - but that is up to you.
Posted by
United States
223 posts
My story....
This was going to be my year in Italy. First, I gave up the idea of 'working' (legal writing). I closed my law practice. Then I sold my house of 26 years, based on what the consolate had told me. Fine. I found a possible place, but I didn't want to sign a lease until I saw it. The consolate said that a "permesso", which I had, saying I could stay with my daughter and her family for the whole year, was fine. After a delay because Affordable Health Care seems to mean no international coverage, and I had to reopen my work for the group insurance from before, consolate said that I needed a lease first. I quoted language about families - not the part about marriage, and they said I was wrong. It's not worth the financial cost and bad relations to press the matter.
Everywhere you want to go is going to be about the same. You have to demonstrate financial stability. The lease has to be for the whole time you are there (or a string of contiguous leases.) The consulate or embassy's decision is 'law' unless you've defrauded them, so once you get their actual approval, you are good for that country.
If you research this forum you will see lots of examples as to how the Schengen math plays out. Fine collection is high sport worldwide these days, and it's important to avoid that. It's simplest to demonstrate your right to be in a country if you do the whole 90 at once, then do 90 in a non-Schengen country.
Italy says that I have to return to the states once I find a place on vacation and get a lease.
I'm now thinking of going to Spain to look for a place there for next year. I can visit Italy all I want on the Spanish visa.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Rules are rules and paperwork is paperwork.
Posted by
California
53 posts
You might as a RS travel adviser to chim in on this. ie how he does it.
Lots of good advice. There are numerous countries in Balkans, E. Europe (Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine) not in Schengen zone you can visit. Do not confuse EU with Sheng as not same. Here is a map. http://www.axa-schengen.com/en/schengen-countries
Make a nice plan for 90 days in each. If you do travel the full 24 I am sure you will find your spot(s) that call you to rest and return. Do not get to hung up on this. Fall in love with the East or Balkans. There are plenty of options.
L
Posted by
Bern, Switzerland
1035 posts
You might as a RS travel adviser to chim in on this. ie how he does
it.
Well since HE is not on holidays, HE is actually working I would expect he qualifies for a shot term working visa... There are working Schengen visas that allow non Schengen resident companies to send employees to work over here for up to 180 days per year. That plus a 90 day tourist allowance would give him 270 days.