Schengen calculator for Canadian citizens: the 90/180 rule

Yes. The Government of Canada's travel advice says Canadian citizens don't need a visa for the Schengen area, but visa-free travel only covers stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The 90 days are shared by all 29 Schengen countries. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the day you expect to leave the area.

The 90/180 rule in short

Every day you're in the area, the days you spent in Schengen countries during the last 180 days (today included) must not exceed 90. Arrival and departure days count in full. Days drop out of the window one at a time, so a second trip is limited by how recent the first one was. The details are in the 90/180 rule, explained and how Schengen days are counted.

The Entry/Exit System

Since 10 April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) has replaced passport stamps at Schengen external borders, after a gradual start on 12 October 2025. Canada's travel advice says it collects information about your trip plus your facial image and fingerprints when you enter. The system records every entry and exit, and the Commission says it detects overstays automatically. You no longer get stamps to count from, so keep your own dated record. Our EES guide covers the official check.

ETIAS: announced, not started

Canadians will need an ETIAS travel authorization before visiting the 30 participating European countries. As of September 2026 it isn't in operation. Canada's advice, updated on 24 September 2026, says applications aren't open yet and to apply only through the official EU website once it launches. The EU's ETIAS site says the start date will be announced several months in advance; no date has been confirmed. The fee is set at EUR 20. ETIAS won't change how your days are counted. See ETIAS in 2026.

Bilateral agreements with Canada

Canada signed visa-waiver agreements with many European countries, most between 1949 and 1962. The EU's most recent published list of those still notified (2019) includes Canadian entries for 14 states, among them Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. The durations vary from 60 days to 3 months, and each covers only that one country.

Denmark's is the one we could confirm on a current government page. The Danish Immigration Service says Canadians may stay in Denmark for up to 3 months counted from their first entry into Denmark or another Nordic country, regardless of earlier stays elsewhere in Schengen, minus time spent in Denmark or another Nordic country in the previous 6 months.

Staying longer: youth mobility and long-stay visas

If you're 18 to 35, International Experience Canada (IEC) may let you work and travel abroad for up to 2 years, depending on the destination. Canada has youth mobility agreements with over 35 countries and territories, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden and other Schengen states. You apply to the country you'll work in for its work permit or visa, and its rules decide who qualifies.

Otherwise, Canada's advice is that you need a long-stay or residency visa for stays longer than 90 days. A national visa or permit stops your days counting only in the country that issued it; see long-stay visas and residence permits.

Use the calculator

Our free Schengen calculator works out your days used, days left and whether a planned trip fits, on the same rolling window the border uses. Create a free account to keep your trips, add a long-stay visa or permit when you get one, and get an email before you run short.

Not legal advice. This guide explains the published rules as we understand them on the date above. Rules and how they're applied change, and border officers make the final decision. Check the official sources below, and get professional advice for your own situation.