Schengen calculator for UK citizens: the 90/180 rule

Yes, you can visit visa-free, but only for 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area. That's GOV.UK's wording: your total stay must be no more than 90 days in every 180 days. The days add up across all 29 countries, so a month in France and two months in Spain use the full allowance.

What changed after Brexit

Under EU free movement, Britons could stay in any member state without counting days. Now you're treated like any other visa-free visitor. In practice that means four things.

• A day limit. The 90/180 rule applies to every trip, including visits to your own holiday home.
• Passport rules. GOV.UK says your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive and must expire at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave.
• No bilateral extras. The EU's most recent published list of bilateral visa-waiver agreements (2019) contains none for UK nationals. So we know of no Schengen country where a British passport gets extra time.
• Penalties. GOV.UK warns that if you stay longer than allowed you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years.

If you were living in an EU country before Brexit and hold a residence document under the Withdrawal Agreement, the EU says it allows you to reside in that country. It works like a residence permit: days there don't use your 90, but days in other Schengen countries still do. Long-stay visas and residence permits explains how that's counted.

The 90/180 rule in short

On each day you're in the area, count your Schengen days in the 180 days ending that day. The total must stay at 90 or below. Arrival and departure days both count. There's no reset date: days drop out one at a time as they pass 180 days old. See the 90/180 rule, explained for the full picture.

The Entry/Exit System

Since 10 April 2026 the Entry/Exit System (EES) has replaced passport stamps at every Schengen external border. On your first crossing your fingerprints and photo are taken. GOV.UK says registration is free and your EES record is valid for 3 years. See our EES guide.

One practical point: GOV.UK's own step-by-step method for counting your days uses the dates stamped in your passport. Visitors' passports aren't stamped any more, so keep your own record of every entry and exit.

ETIAS for British travelers

ETIAS will apply to UK nationals. The EU's ETIAS site says you'll need an online authorization before you travel, checked before you board a plane, ferry, cruise or train, including at UK ports. As of September 2026 it is not in operation, no applications are open, and no start date is confirmed. An EU article from April 2026 pointed to the last quarter of 2026, but the site now says only that the date will be announced several months ahead. The fee will be EUR 20. Withdrawal Agreement residence documents will exempt you, except those issued by Ireland, and Cyprus's only cover Cyprus. See ETIAS in 2026.

Cyprus, Ireland and the UK itself

Cyprus isn't in Schengen. GOV.UK says you can stay there for up to 90 days in a 180-day period without a visa, separately from your Schengen days. MyTravelStatus counts Cyprus as its own figure. Ireland is outside Schengen too, and GOV.UK notes the Schengen rules don't apply to travel and work there: see does Ireland count?. Days at home in the UK never count. For the reverse direction, how visitors are treated in the UK, see UK visitor rules vs Schengen.

Staying longer than 90 days

GOV.UK says you may need a visa or permit to work or to stay more than 90 days, and that you must meet the rules of the country you're going to. Most people who spend long periods in one country apply for that country's national long-stay visa before they go. Check the embassy of that country: the conditions, such as income and health insurance, are national.

Use the calculator

Our free Schengen calculator counts the rolling window for you and shows your days left and your next day back. With a free account you can keep your trips, add a residence permit, and see Cyprus counted separately.

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.