Visa for Travel in Europe over 90 days?

Hi Nancy: Re your question, "Does leaving to go to the UK for a few days in the middle help?" Unfortunately, the 90 day clock is not reset by going to the UK for a few days in the middle of your 96-day stay in France, if the total number of days in France, in the 6 months following the date of first entry, exceeds 90 days. Here's a prior discussion of this: http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/24928/cant-stay-in-schengen-zone-more-than-3-mos-in-6-mos-following-first-entry.html The key part of the prior discussion, as to your question, is the original (i.e., the first) post in the above link. According to a US embassy website: "The tourist may enter and leave the Schengen area (25 countries including France) multiple times, except that the total number of days spent within any of these countries cannot exceed 90 days during the 6 months following the date of first entry.

However, if the TRIP is 96 days, and she leaves for 1 week, that leaves less than 90 in France.

Yes, but her original post says she'll be in France 96 days: "I am traveling to France and will be there for 96 days." The thrust of her question was whether zipping over to the UK resets the 90-day clock. It doesn't. One alternative--and it might be simpler than trying to get a visa--is to shorten the stay in France by a week.

All this constant Schengen talk really puts a damper on my fantasy travel. You know, where I'm free of constraints and employment, unlimited funds, and can travel for years at a time. I enoy refining that itinerary as I fall asleep at night. I just pretend that I'm issued a visa just for being fabulous as well as (imaginarily) independently wealthy.

Yep, I'm with you on the fantasy travel thing. I've heard fantasy travel saves a bunch on airfare. And look at the Schengen thing this way: it keeps the trust fundanistas from having all the fun.

Nancy - what is your purpose of your visit? There are different types of visas available. Some are easier to obtain than others. And the rules are slightly different (ie can be easier) for Canadians than for Americans. With the new regulations, it's nearly impossible to get the visa once you've entered France, so be sure to contact the French consulate in your home country.

Thanks for all the great feedback. In reply to why the travel - next year I turn 50 (gulp!) and am taking just over three months off work to celebrate/commiserate. I have rented a house in the south of France for exactly three months (but even that adds up to about 92 days) and was going to spend a few days in Paris before heading south (and after spending a weekend in London). I agree with one of the comments - I think we all dream of having limitless time and no boundaries as to what we could imagine doing. While I never did a year in Europe as was popular after university years ago, it does seem a shame that the option requires paperwork now. I am curious what the consequences would be when you go to leave the country after 96 days! A French jail? More red tape? Maybe you are just asked to leave sternly?!! Best plan I guess is to see the consul, as one wise reply suggested - better not to tempt fate. Any other thoughts very gratefully received!

Re your question about penalties and enforcement of the 90 day Schengen rule, see this prior discussion thread and particularly the post by Dennis: http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/44403/5-months-in-europe-on-a-serious-budgetshould-i-buy-a-eurail-pass.html Quoted from Dennis' post: "We paid over $500 for our daughter overstaying by 3 days. They will catch you at an airport, even on leaving. They can also take you aside for a long talk, forcing you to miss your flight home and having to pay full freight for a new flight (one that leaves immediately). The Schengen requirements are serious business. If you do not pay the fine they have the right to exclude you from Schengen travel for up to ten years. You need to research this, and ignore the travelers who advise you to take your chances."

Nancy, you really have 3 choices if you want to do this by the book. 1) You could pursue getting a visa to cover your stay. 2) You could reduce the length of your trip to 90 days 3) You could keep your trip at 96 days BUT spend at least 6 of those days outside of the Schengen area (e.g. UK, Ireland, Croatia, etc.). If you do this, be sure to keep records of the exact dates of your travels outside of France.

Laura's third option sounds like it works with your plan. The time you spend in England would not count toward your 90 days, since England (the UK, actually) is not party to the Schengen agreement and therefore time spent there should not count toward the 90 day restriction. As suggested though, keep good records of the dates you enter and depart England.

Nancy - You would need a long stay tourist visa. Provided you can show adequate savings and health insurance to cover your stay in France, (and aren't a wanted criminal), it shouldn't be hard to get a visa since you've already got a place to stay. You'll have to promise not to work while you're there. The biggest downside is that you have to apply in person, and there is a cost to the visa (not sure what it is for Canadians). You'll have to weigh the costs to decide whether it's worth it for those extra days.

And if she reduces her stay in France from 96 to 90 days, she'll be legal and won't have to hassle with getting a visa.

Getting a visa isn't the end of the world. I needed visas to travel to Japan, Phillipines, Korea, Australia, etc. Since I was living overseas, I had to mail my passport and wait for it to come back. The main thing is to plan ahead to give yourself time (unless you are located convenient to a French consulate). If you take a week from France and go to the UK, making it 90 days or under in France, you will be fine. I would keep hotel receipts to show you were indeed in UK for those days, in case you are asked.