This is the point where many people get confused,
because they do not realize there is a difference between visa validity and the
duration of stay in a visa.
Duration
of Stay – is the maximum of days you are permitted to remain
in the Schengen. The first day you enter Schengen is counted as “Day 1”, even
if you enter just a few minutes before midnight. Whereas, the “Last Day” is
counted the day you leave Schengen, even if it is just a few minutes after
midnight.
Visa
Validity – on the other hand, is the period of time from which
to which you can use your visa to enter and stay in the Schengen Area.
Example:
the duration of stay in your visa is 10 days, whereas the validity of your visa
is from 1 January to 20 January. In this case, you can enter the Schengen Zone
anytime within this period. You can enter i.e. on 3 January and leave on 12
January. On the other hand, if you enter
on 15 January, you will still have to leave on 20 January, despite of not
having spent the number of days you were permitted to stay.
On the other case, if you have a double-entry visa,
with a visa valid from January 1 to March 1, and a duration of stay of 10 days,
then you can enter the Schengen Area twice within this period. You are still
not allowed to remain more than 10 days during both trips. If during the
first trip you stay 7 days, then in the second trip you can stay for three days
at most. If you make just one trip and spend 10 days in any of
the member states, then you have no right to enter the country despite of the
fact that you visa is still valid.
As per a multiple-entry visa, if i.e. you have a
three-year multiple-entry visa, which becomes valid on January 15, 2018 then
you will be permitted to enter and leave the Schengen whenever you want until
January 15, 2021. You should not forget that there is a rule of 90 days limit
per each 180 day-period.
90/180 Schengen Visa Rule
Another point where most
multiple-entry Schengen visa holders get confused, as well as the nationals of
the countries that are permitted to enter Schengen visa-free. Most people think that the
180-day period starts on the day you visa becomes valid, which is not true.
Actually, the 180-day period keeps rolling. Therefore,
anytime you wish to enter the Schengen, you just have to count backwards the
last 180 days, and see if you have been present in the Schengen for more than
90 days throughout that period.
Check the Schengen visa calculator to calculate the remaining
number of days that you can stay in the Schengen zone.
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