Schengen Zone troubles

Either one would work, theoretically (as long as you remember that it goes by number of days, not months). The second plan would require careful documentation to show when you were in and out. As long as you never exceed 90 days in any 180 days you will be OK.

As Nancy and to reinforce - maintain your records - take a stamp in your passport whenever possible and keep travel ticket stubs, hotel bills/receipts.

Amy - are you entitled to a French, British (or other EU passport)? That may make life a lot easier. As has been said you need official advice.

As Nancy says, the rule is 90 days within any 180 period. Some people erroneously think every time they re-enter Schengen, their previous visit is erased. The way you outline the plan, it will work (counting days, not months). Also be aware that some non-Schengen countries may have their own visit limitations.

For some reason this seems to cause much confusion, but to simplify, in any given six months, or more technically 180 days, you cannot be there more than 90 days. So for your first option, you are OK, you were there 90 days, left for 90 days, and while in the last 180 days you were there 90 days, each day one drops off, you add one since you are there, so at no point do you exceed 90 days in 180. Your second option is a little more troublesome. There for 30 Days, Leave for 60 days, come back for 60 days...you are now at your limit with 30 days left in your 180 days. When you return after 60 more days, the first 30 days are no longer an issue, but the 60 days spent in the Schengen the second time are still witin the last 180 days. At the end of 30 of your planned 90 days, you look back and you have now been in the Schengen zone for 90 of 180 days, if you stay another day, then you will hit 91, since you last entered 150 days ago. Your options are to either leave the Schengen zone for 30 days, at which time you could return for another 60, or you could have stayed away from the Schengen zone for 90 days instead of 60 the second time and have no issues. One way to figure it out since you picked easy 30 day blocks, lay out 30 day blocks on paper, "X" those that you will be away, and then look at each 6 block sequence, if any ezceed 3 "In Schengen" blocks, you have an issue.

Paul - on closer study, I think you are right - the plan to be in for 2 months, out for 2 months, then in for 3 months will not comply. She needs to be out 3 months in between. But this exchange also points out, Amy, that you cannot take our advice on this - you MUST confirm this with your state department or a foreign embassy. When you are staying so long in Europe, you are essentially living there, and that is not permitted without a special visa.

Paul and Douglas are right - the second option won't work. And if it takes us that long to realize it while sitting at home looking at it on paper, how are you going to accurately keep track while on the road?

Thanks everyone. Was just hoping to avoid winter with the second option (by spending it in Greece or Spain) as I get more than enough of it in Canada. I did not understand that one must leave the Zone for the required block of time starting again since the Last day spent in the zone. I thought it was 6 months (three in, three out) from the first time you enter the zone. In example, if you entered the zone in January and stayed less than 90 days, you could re-enter after June. I guess that is not the case, if you went to The Zone for 89 day in the begining, left, and then spent one day in may you would have to leave for another 90 days. This is slightly confusing me. But I will just go with the simplified first option. And no I am not entitled to a french or british passport. I will perhaps look into the Youth Mobility Agreements Canada has made. And yes I know it goes by days, talking about it in terms of months is easier for me to grasp, but is just an aproximation. Your replies were helpful, as I have never traveled anywhere and all these complicated requirements and rules are new to me.I guess it's time to find out some definitive, official information.
Thanks- Amy

@amy There are no "visa runs" allowed in the Schengen Zones. There are no "resets". The check is always based, each morning you wake up, on how many of the previous 180 days you spent within Schengen area. At any time that count can exceed 90 days (in a visa-free tourist trip). considering your last example (assume all months 30 days long) day 1- arrive in Schengen Zone (SZ) / days accumulated in the zone last 180: 0 day 30- leave for, say, UK / days accumulated in SZ last 180: 30 day 60- back to SZ / days accumulated in SZ last 180: 30 day 120- leave for, say, Turkey / days accumulates in SZ last 180: 90 day 180- back to SZ / days accumulated in SZ last 180: 90 (at this day, your first stay starts to "move out" of the counting window as it has passed 180 days. Each new day an "old" stay day is "removed")
day 240- leave for Canada / days accumulates in SZ last 180: 90

While the rolling clock example Andre outlines is an easy way to think about it, this does not factor in the "date of first entry" consideration. In Amy's example, she will "enter" Schengen for two months, then leave for 2 months. That allows her another month in and then she has to leave again for a month to clear out that earlier 2 month stay. Then she can re-enter for another 2 months. In her example, she will be in Schengen for a total of 5 months in a 7 month period - almost for sure not allowed. As I mentioned earlier, each new "entry" does not negate the old clock. In Andre's outline, as soon as you hit the 90 days in, you must leave.

Why don't you just apply for a Schengen Visa and make it easy? You basically have to apply and demonstrate an adequate means of financial support (proof of credit, bank guarantee, etc), a return ticket (or booking), and documentation of lodging arrangements. My understanding on that last one is you need reservations for about the first 6 months, but you can change your plans once "on the ground." Worth talking to the consulate of the country you plan to enter first.