About Schengen Visa Duration of stay and visa validity

Whateveryour Schengen Visa type, when applying for or using your visa it is important to remember the difference between the duration of stay and visa validity. Duration of stay is the maximum number of days you are allowed to stay in the Schengen Area for - it begins when you enter the area and ends on the day you leave. Visa validity is the period of time during which you can use your visa to enter and stay in Schengen Countries.

Multiple-entry visas

In addition to standard multiple-entry visas, once you have proved you are a regular visitor to the Schengen Area, you can apply for longer multiple-entry visas.

90/180 Schengen Visa Rule

One important thing for multiple-entry visa holders to remember is the nature of the 90/180 rule. Most think the 180-day period starts when your visa becomes valid, but it keeps rolling - meaning you need to count back from the date you plan to re-enter the Schengen Area to check you haven’t spent more than 90 days there in the past 180 days.

The types of multiple-entry visas are: One-year multiple-entry SchengenVisa

You can apply for this Schengen Visa type provided that you have used three visas within the previous two years. When you apply for this Schengen Visa type, you will need to show proof of your previous visas and the trips you made to the Schengen Area. You may enter for 90 days over each 180-day period.

Three-year multiple-entry Schengen Visa

The three-year multiple-entry visa is granted to applicants who have obtainedand lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for one year within the previous two years. The 90/180 rule applies.

Five-year multiple-entry Schengen Visa

You can apply for a five-year multiple-entry visa if you have obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for at least two years over the past three years.

Limited Territorial Visa

Another type of visa is a Limited Territorial Visa that only allows you to travel through one country. These are generally only issued in peculiar or emergency cases when a standard visa to visit Europe is unobtainable.