How Long Can I Stay Outside Us With Green Card

Last Updated: nine/13/21 | September 13th, 2021

When I planned my move to Sweden a few years ago, I tried to figure out how to get past the 90-day limit placed on tourist visas in the Schengen Area. This is a problem encountered past thousands of travelers every yr and a question that regularly (especially this fourth dimension of year) pops up in my inbox.

"How tin I stay in Europe for more than 90 days?"

It's a uncomplicated question with a very complicated answer.

I always knew it was complicated, but until I started researching how to stay there longer, I never knew just how complicated.

Fortunately, in the process of this research, I came to learn there are a few ways to stay in Europe longer than 90 days; they just aren't well known.

This post will teach you lot the options for staying in Europe over 90 days as well as give you tips on how to move to Europe. Simply outset a few things:

It'south of import to annotation that Europe isn't just one identify — at that place are varying visa rules throughout the continent. When people talk most the "xc-day limit," they're talking nearly restrictions on the Schengen Area, which is the visa policy that governs 26 countries in Europe. It includes all of the European Spousal relationship — except Ireland — as well as a few non-EU countries.

Note: While I call it the "Schengen Visa," it's not an actual visa you necessarily demand to apply for. Depending on your residency status and country of citizenship, yous may demand to apply in accelerate for a Schengen Visa, however, those with an American passport do not need to employ in advance.

What is the Schengen visa?

The Schengen visa is a ninety-day tourist visa for Schengen Expanse countries, which are:

• Republic of austria
• Belgium
• Czech republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italian republic
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Republic of malta
• Netherlands
• Kingdom of norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

Additionally, there are several microstates that are de facto members of the Schengen Area. These are Monaco, San Marino, and State of the vatican city.

These Schengen countries have a border-free visa agreement that lets residents move throughout the Area without needing to show their passport every time they cross a border. Substantially, it'south as if they're one country, and you can movement as freely as yous desire.

Citizens of many countries are immune to enter the Schengen Area without having to get a visa beforehand. Your passport simply gets stamped upon your inflow and departure from Europe. You're immune to enter and leave from any country you lot want — they don't accept to be the same.

Hither is a map of the countries with visa waivers that can enter the Schengen without requiring a visa in advance.

Most visitors (including Americans) are allowed to spend 90 days in the Schengen Expanse in every 180-day period. The easiest manner to think of it is that you tin visit for 3 months then you lot have to leave for 3 months before you can return.

Withal, you can also bounce back and forth between Schengen and non-Schengen countries — yous just need to keep rails of all your dates of entry/go out.

When I visit Europe, I fly in and out of different countries all the fourth dimension. Your get-go entry in the 180-24-hour interval period is when your 90-day counter starts. These days don't demand to be consecutive — the total is cumulative. Once day 181 hits, the count resets itself.

For example, if I come to the Schengen Surface area in Jan and stay for sixty days then come back in June for 10 days, that counts every bit 70 days in 180 days. Simply days you lot are in the zone during the period count. If you go on January 1st and stay ninety straight days, y'all have to get out and technically can't come back until July 1st.

However, not all travelers are allowed such liberty.

Citizens from many countries demand to apply for a Schengen visa ahead of time. You lot'll be required to fill out paperwork beforehand and fly in and out of the state for which your visa is issued.

Even then, you still might not be granted a visa. Spoiler alert: citizens from African and Asian countries get screwed.

And so, with that beingness said, how DO you stay in Europe longer? How do you get effectually that rule? Allow me suspension it down for you.

Office 1: Staying or Moving to Europe the Easy Way

With so many visa rules, it'due south piece of cake to stay in Europe beyond 90 days as a tourist — y'all just need to mix upwardly the countries yous visit. The United Kingdom has its own rules that allow you lot to stay 180 days in a calendar yr.

Most not-Schengen countries such equally Ukraine, Moldova, Croatia, Ireland, and some Balkan countries allow you to stay for upwardly to 60 or 90 days. Albania even lets American's stay up to a year!

So, all you need to do to stay in Europe longer than three months is spend 90 days in the Schengen Area and and then visit the UK, go to the Balkans, hang out in Ukraine, potable wine in Moldova, and have a pint in Ireland. If you align your schedule right, you can easily be out of the Schengen Expanse for 90 days and then head back into the Schengen Area with a brand new Schengen visa.

Years agone, to get around this limit, I spent three months in Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and England as I waited for my clock to reset. After that, I headed back into the Shengen area for Oktoberfest.

If you want to travel the continent for a long fourth dimension without having to go through the various visa processes described below, vary your travel by visiting non-Schengen countries. There'due south plenty of countries to choose from while you await for your Schengen Visa clock to reset. This is the easy, hassle-gratis way of doing things.

—-> Need more than tips for Europe? Visit my destination guide and go in-depth information on what to see and do and how to relieve money.

Part two: Staying in the Schengen Area Past 90 Days

Only what if yous do desire to stay longer in the Schengen Expanse? What if the six months you want to exist in Europe is all in Schengen Surface area countries? What if yous want to live and work in Europe?

After all, the Schengen Area spans 26 countries and visiting so many destinations in 90 days can be a piddling rushed (you would have an average of only 3.5 days per state).

If you lot want to stay longer to travel, live, learn a language, or fall in love, then the "motility around" option suggested above isn't going to work for you. You need something else.

Luckily, in that location are a few means to exercise this — and I tin't stress enough the importance of the word "few." Because staying more than 90 days in the Schengen Expanse isn't like shooting fish in a barrel.

Kickoff, let'south empathize the rule:

The Schengen law states that y'all can't stay in the Expanse for more than than xc days. If you do, you're subject to a fine and possibly deportation and being banned from re-entering the Schengen Area. How that dominion is enforced, though, varies greatly from one country to some other. Overstaying by a day might not be the end of the earth, however, some countries do non mess effectually with visitors overstaying.

For case, Federal republic of germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, and Scandinavian countries are all very strict about entry and get out rules. If you overstay your tourist visit, there's a adept chance they'll pull you aside. Two Australians I know were detained leaving Switzerland due to overstaying their visa by two weeks. They were allowed to go with merely a warning, just they missed their flights and had to book new flights.

I know of someone who overstayed by six months, tried to leave from Amsterdam, and at present has an "illegal immigrant" stamp on her passport. In gild to enter Europe again, she must use for a visa at an embassy and be preapproved:

I made the mistake of attempting to go out from the Netherlands afterwards overstaying a Schengen visa and was defenseless. I overstayed by about a month, and they hand-drew some sort of insignia in my passport to note my overstay. They told me I'd have to contact the IND and discover out if I would be able to enter the Schengen states again.

Another blogger told me this happened to them as well then don't overstay your visa!

That beingness said, if you leave from Greece, France, Italy, or Spain you may be less likely to run into an issue, provided you (a) haven't stayed over too long and (b) didn't catch the immigration officer on a bad 24-hour interval.

When I left Hellenic republic, no one fifty-fifty looked at my passport. 1 of my friends met a guy in France, fell in love, and decided not to leave. A year later, when she finally did, the French officials didn't even look twice. Another friend flew into France and didn't even become an entry postage. Espana is some other place notorious for not caring and Americans who decide to overstay for months mention that as the easiest country to exit from.

Of course, I don't retrieve it'south wise to overstay. A day or two? Likely non the terminate of the globe. But, Matt, tin can I extend merely extend my Schengen visa/postage stamp?
Unfortunately not. But put, you cannot extend your tourist visa or entry stamp. There'southward a 90-twenty-four hour period limit, and that'southward that.

And so what'southward a tourist to practice?

1. Get a Working Holiday Visa

Working holiday visas are easy to get and the best manner to extend your stay — even if you don't desire to piece of work. These visas are designed for young travelers who want to work and travel abroad. Citizens of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand (and often South Korea, Israel, Hong Kong, and Nihon) are eligible for one- to two-twelvemonth working holiday visas from almost of the Schengen countries.

There is no unmarried "working holiday" programme for the Schengen or EU then applicants must apply for this visa from a specific land. Applicants must likewise be younger than 30 (though, in some cases, like for Canadians working in Switzerland or Republic of ireland, you tin can exist as old every bit 35).

Additionally, yous can get consecutive working holiday visas. An Australian reader of mine got a ii-yr Dutch working holiday visa and then got one from Norway to stay two more years. While she and her boyfriend (who also got one) did odd jobs in The netherlands for a bit, they mostly used information technology equally a way to travel around the continent.

Note: This type of visa won't let you to piece of work in any other land than the one that issued it.

For Americans, there are only ii options for working holidays in Europe: Republic of ireland (non-Schengen country) and Portugal (Schengen country). The Portuguese working holiday visa is for travelers aged xviii-30 and lasts two years. The Irish i also lasts two years and is good for those anile 18-30, however, you must accept graduated inside 12 months of applying (or exist a pupil).

two. Get a Long-Term-Stay Visa

Unfortunately, the majority of Schengen countries do non offer long-term-stay visas for tourists/visitors. Generally speaking, if y'all want a long-stay visa, you lot'd accept to apply for residency.

Schengen allows for a C- or D-class visa (the letter varies on the country), which is a temporary residence visa for up to ane year. But the specific visa and requirements vary from state to state. Some countries are harder, some are easier, and others are near incommunicable despite being in the same visa treaty zone.

However, there are a few countries that practice offer long-term visas that aren't too hard to get:

French republic

France offers a long-term visitor visa for a flow of upwards to i year. The application process takes upwardly to i month. According to the French Diplomatic mission, "The 'visitor' visa (or visa 'D') allows you to enter France and stay for more than than 3 months. Long-stay visa holders will be allowed to reside in France for up to 12 months according to the validity of their visa and purpose of stay."

To get this visa, yous must set up an date at the French consulate near you. You lot can't walk in — y'all must make an appointment.

At this appointment, yous'll need the following documents:

• Ane application form filled out completely and signed
• 3 passport photos
• Your original passport, which must have been issued less than x years agone, exist valid for iii months after your return, and take at least ii blank pages left
• A letter of the alphabet certified by a notary public that promises you won't engage in work
• A letter of employment stating current occupation and earnings
• Proof of income (you'll need bank statements or copies of your investment portfolio)
• Proof of medical insurance that includes evacuation insurance
• Proof of accommodation in French republic. (The French consulate never returned my emails, so I was unsure how you could have this earlier you even become to France. One could use a friend'southward accost or, lacking that, hire a place (one where yous can get a refund) for the purposes of the interview. It's a lilliputian fuzzy.)

Note: You can't utilise for this visa more than three months before your arrival date.

Y'all can visit the French Diplomatic mission website for links to local embassies and consulates for more than information. This postal service besides has some helpful data to get you started.

Sweden

Sweden as well offers a long-term stay tourist visa for a maximum period of 1 year. The process is easy commonly takes effectually two weeks to process when applied for in Sweden. Here'south a brief overview of what you need:

• Residence permit for company's application class
• Notarized copies of the pages of your passport that bear witness your identity and the validity of your passport, likewise as copies of all the other visas/stamps yous accept. Your passport too needs to be valid for iii months after your stay.
• A bank argument showing your means of supporting yourself for the duration of your stay (you need at least $52 USD per day for each mean solar day saved in your account)
• A return airplane ticket
• A letter from your insurance company stating you're covered overseas

Applications tin can exist delivered in person during visiting hours (no date needed) or mailed to a Swedish consulate.

After your documents are received, you'll exist required to accept an interview with one of the clearing officers. Most people who utilize for this visa have family in Sweden. If you don't, you'll demand to have clear reasons equally to why you demand to stay longer and prove ample proof that you can support yourself (i.east., "I want to meet Swedish guys/girls" won't cutting it!). If you're applying in Sweden, you'll need to put a local's address on your awarding form, and that person will take to accompany yous to your interview.

You tin learn more nearly the procedure on this government folio.

Spain

Espana offers a long-term visa targeting retirees called the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa. It requires that you spend at least 183 days in Spain, which would make you a legal resident for revenue enhancement purposes here. During this time, you are unable to work in Kingdom of spain (so y'all'll demand to have plenty savings to get y'all by). Nonetheless, studying and unpaid internships are permitted.

The big catch for this visa is that you need to have over 27,000 EUR in your bank account. That's effectually $32,000 USD. Since the visa is designed for retirees, the assumption is that you're coming hither to rest on your financial honour after a lifetime of saving upwardly — hence the sizeable requirement.

The visa has been denied to people who are remote workers so I wouldn't recommend this visa if yous're a digital nomad (Espana is currently working on a visa specifically for distal nomads though it'south not currently available).

In addition to having sizable savings, y'all'll too demand to fill out the application, submit your passport and boosted photos, pay a fee, and provide the post-obit:

• Proof of individual health insurance (from an authorized company in Kingdom of spain)
• A doctor'south notation certifying that you're good for you
• A criminal background check translated into Castilian

You must apply for this visa in your land of residency as you will be interviewed as part of the process. The awarding varies per state, usually between 120-520 EUR (information technology'southward around 125 EUR for Americans and simply over 500 EUR for Canadians).

This consulate page has all the specific details you lot need regarding the application.

Portugal

Portugal has multiple long term stay visas. First, at that place is a Golden Visa, which requires a minimum investment in the country of $300,000 USD. More than realisticly, is the D7 visa, which is like to Spain'south retirement visa.

Information technology requires proof of insurance, a background bank check, an application and interview, etc. The main difference, however, is that you merely demand an income of effectually $9,000 USD instead of the $32,000 USD in savings the Castilian visa required. You lot even so cannot work on this visa, so your income must be passive (investments, pension, rental property, etc.).

The D7 visa can work for digital nomads, though at that place is a carve up visa that might work better: the D2 visa.

This visa, known every bit the Immigrant Entrepreneur visa, isn't designed specifically for digital nomads. You'll need to submit a business plan and demonstrate you have enough upper-case letter to become started. You'll likewise demand to explain why yous desire to get-go (or movement) your business organization to Portugal. You'll have a much higher hazard of getting approved if you have invested upwardly of v,000 EUR in your business and speak some Portuguese also (information technology'south not required, but these visas are regularly rejected and then it will give you a leg upwardly).

In brusk, there are a lot of steps for a temporary visa that only lasts one year. Yet, yous can become this extended and eventually apply for permanent residency or citizenship afterward 5 years.

You'll demand to use for both of these visas in your country of residency.

A note of long-term visas: Keep in heed that the information to a higher place is just for reference. There may be more requirements needed for your awarding and non all visas are open to anybody. You'll want to contact your local embassy for specifics and boosted data.

The Bilateral Understanding Hack

In improver to the standard Schengen visa, virtually countries have numerous bilateral agreements contained of the Shengen visa. These agreements let travelers stay in a specific country for an additional period of time beyond the 90-24-hour interval Schengen limit. The only caveat is that can't exit that country during that time.

For example, France has a bilateral understanding that allows U.South. citizens to stay an additional ninety days beyond the Schengen limit. You tin can enter from whatsoever Schengen country, stay 90 days in France, and then fly home. Merely the catch is you lot have to become home — you tin't go elsewhere. You have to exit Europe so you can't utilize your time in France as a sneaky way to reset your Schengen clock.

At present, the France/U.Due south. rule is catchy. It's based on a mail-WW2 understanding that never was cancelled. Multiple French consulates told me yes, they idea this constabulary existed only couldn't tell me where to observe it. A few visa services told me I was crazy. One consulate told me it was possible only only with a long-term visa.

Merely, subsequently many calls, the U.s., Canda, and U.k. French embassies told me that yeah, this law does exist and that aye, this is yet valid. Then they referenced me to the French national archives.

Well, nosotros found the actual diplomatic papers that spell this out. It took united states of america shut to a twelvemonth to find information technology but we did.

This is the notation from the French government about information technology:

Howdy,

There is a bilateral understanding between French and the U.Due south. by exchange letters (March 16-31 mars 1949), which allows American citizens to stay in France 90 days over 180 days, irrespective of the stays already made in other Schengen countries.

Notwithstanding, this agreement has been made before the Schengen agreement. Today, as at that place is no more than border control betwixt the Schengen countries, it is very difficult to determine how long a person has stayed in France and nosotros heard that some people had troubles with the clearing police while leaving French republic.

Therefore, we recommend American citizens to respect the Schengen regulation which allows a maximum of 90 days on 180 days in the whole Schengen area.

Consulat général de French republic, Service des visas
4101 Reservoir Road, Washington DC, 20007

A follow to the London embassy gave me this response:

"Whilst the bilateral understanding you refer to has non officially been revoked, the French Border Police has sole potency on deciding whether to utilise it or not, at the time of entering or exiting the Schengen area."

So this is actually a affair. And, while they don't similar you lot using it, it's however the law. Just bring proof you stayed in France for 90 days! If you lot plan to employ this rule, bring documentation as edge guards my not be aware of it.

Additionally, Denmark and Poland as well have bilateral agreements with the U.s.a. that let citizens stay an additional 90 days in each country carve up from the regular Schengen Zone visa. The Denmark rule applies exactly the aforementioned way every bit the French one. Denmark likewise has a bilteral agreemnt that is applicable for citizens of Commonwealth of australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South korea.

For Poland, you must enter and leave Poland via a non-Schengen country where y'all will exist stamped again (i.e., direct flying from NYC). So you could do 90 days in the Schengen, fly to the U.k., and so fly to Poland. Poland's rules are simply laid out in an agreement letter the U.S. and Poland signed in 1991. (Here'south a copy of the letter from the Smooth authorities).

In theory, in that location are besides other bilateral agreements betwixt the U.Southward. and Schengen countries. I've been told by multiple sources that Belgium, Italy, Republic of hungary, Norway, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands all have their own bilateral agreements with the U.S. as well. This folio outlines the existing bilateral agreements.

However, I reached out to each country's consulate and none of them replied (salvage Portugal) in whatever meaningful way. They merely directed me to the standard visa FAQ page.

Regarding Portugal, a representative from the Portuguese consulate said this regarding their bilateral sixty-twenty-four hours visa:

Please note that those threescore days are an exceptional extension that needs to be requested within Portugal at SEF office near your temporary address in Portugal.

Now, in theory, one could say thanks to borderless travel you lot could get your "extra 90 days in Denmark" and so but travel effectually, wing out of Kingdom of denmark, and no one would be the wiser. I could say that. But I've noticed a lot more than intra-Europe passport checks in recent years. I got yelled at in French republic for not having my passport with me while on a train to run into a chateau. So, I wouldn't recommend doing this.

Notation: Most counties have bilateral agreements with other countries. Call the local diplomatic mission for more information (y'all'll accept better luck calling than emailing).

3. Go a Student Visa

All Schengen Area countries offer student visas that are easy to obtain so long as you're enrolled in a recognized university plan. This would crave yous to pay for the course, only it volition virtually guarantee you a visa if yous are accustomed.

I of the all-time countries to practice this in is Spain, where a whole industry has sprung up to help students study Spanish. There are tons of schools that will allow y'all to enroll and write messages stating you're a student at that place. You'll need to utilise in your home country but the process is relatively straightforward. This post details the requirements.

Federal republic of germany is another pop choice, equally post-secondary schools there are essentially costless. While there may be more than competition, the costs are much lower. You can larn most the application process here.

While most educatee visas let yous to stay in a land for 1 yr, I would only consider getting one if you actually plan on studying. If you're just getting a student visa to travel and play tourist, information technology's not going to be worth the toll and paperwork since you lot'll need to fix everything from a residential accost to a banking company business relationship to a local telephone number and more.

4. Become a Freelancer Visa

There are several countries that offer freelancer visas. This process is a little more than complicated and non for the casual tourist. These visas are meant for people who actually desire to live and work in Europe. If you're but a casual tourist, expect to exist denied. But if you're a digital nomad, this is the visa for you lot.

Schengen countries that offer freelancer visas include Federal republic of germany, Republic of estonia, Spain, Czech republic, Portugal, Greece, and Malta. Non-Schengen countries that have them include Croatia, Romania, Georgia, and Iceland.

Deutschland is the country nearly used by people who want to reside in Europe. If you're a freelancer, digital nomad, artist, or take some grade of income, this is the visa to get (and it'due south quite like shooting fish in a barrel to go). If you are from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.S., Israel, Republic of korea, or Japan you can apply after you lot arrive in Germany (everyone else needs to utilize in accelerate).

The visa simply lasts for three months, however, it is designed to be extended into a residency visa which would then last for 3 years. I have many friends who have gotten this visa. As long as yous follow the steps, you should be fine. This postal service has more data about the process.

Nearly freelancer visas follow a similar format: apply, pay a fee, submit proof that your business can stay afloat, then wait to exist accepted. All the same, some have more stringent requirements.

For example, Estonia'southward freelancer visa requires a monthly income of at least three,500 EUR per month leading up to your awarding. For the Czechia visa, y'all need to accept at to the lowest degree $6,000 USD in your bank business relationship (the lovely folks at Wandertooth, who did this process a couple of years ago, can walk you through the steps).

In recent years, Spain has likewise created freelancer visa called the "autonomo" that also follows a similar process. Yous tin can read more than here.

If you are a digital nomad and are because working remotely from the Eu you can compare these programs to see which one bests suits your goals (though Germany is likely the all-time identify to start since it's one of the easiest to get).

5. Get Married to a European

Fall in dear with a European (or at least a friend) and apply for a matrimony visa! Yous'll get to stay there while the awarding procedure goes through and then y'all can motion to Europe and stay there forever with the dear of your life! That's a win-win! (This is a joke. Don't get married just for a visa to stay in Europe!)

***

The all-time, easiest, and virtually effective style to stay in Europe long-term is to increase the number of countries you visit so you lot're in the Schengen Area for only ninety days. As I said, there are a lot of countries not in the Area so this is easy to practice.

If y'all're like me and want to stay in the Schengen Area longer than 90 days (or just desire to move to Europe considering it'southward awesome), exist prepared to work the system. Iit's not incommunicable to stay long-term in the Schengen Area. Past understanding the organization and using the few loopholes that exercise exist, one tin can legally stay by 90 days and bask all Europe has to offer without worrying about existence barred for life.

Go Your In-Depth Budget Guide to Europe!

My detailed 200+ folio guidebook is made for upkeep travelers similar you! Information technology cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets directly to the practical information you need to travel while in Europe. It has suggested itineraries, budgets, means to save money, on and off the browbeaten path things to encounter and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, confined, condom tips, and much more! Click here to learn more and get your copy today.

Book Your Trip to Europe: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flying
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to detect a cheap flight. They are my ii favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. Start with Skyscanner first though because they accept the biggest reach!

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and inexpensive hotels.

For suggestions on where to stay during your trip, here is a list of my favorite hostels in Europe.

Don't Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you lot against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It'southward comprehensive protection in case annihilation goes incorrect. I never continue a trip without information technology equally I've had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• Safe Fly (for everyone below 70)
• Insure My Trip (for those over seventy)
• Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)

Looking for the All-time Companies to Save Money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I listing all the ones I use to save money when I'k on the road. They will save y'all money when yous travel likewise.

Want More Information on Europe?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Europe for even more planning tips!

NOTE: Due to the complexities of visas and the uniqueness of everyone's situation, we do non answer any visa related questions in the comments or via electronic mail. Give thanks you.

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Disclosure: Delight note that some of the links to a higher place may be chapter links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend just products and companies I apply and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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