Abstract rules are easy. Real calendars are not. These six case studies use concrete dates so you can see how the rolling window behaves, then recreate them in the calculator.
How to use this page
- Each case states past trips, a planned entry, and the result.
- Entry and exit days are both counted.
- Reproduce the dates here and on the European Commission short-stay calculator.
Case 1 — Clean summer holiday
Past: none. Plan: enter 10 July for 21 days. Result: compliant; the window holds only those new days.
Case 2 — Full summer, Christmas return
Past: 1 June–29 August (90 days). Plan: 20 December–10 January. Result: often compliant because enough June days have aged out — but check the last day of the return, not only arrival.
Case 3 — Back-to-back long stays that fail
Past: 1 March–29 May (90). Plan: re-enter 15 June for 30 days. Result: fails; mid-June still looks back into March–May.
Case 4 — Eurostar weekends from London
Eight Friday–Sunday trips (3×8=24 days) plus a 14-day August holiday. Often fine on totals, but each weekend is three days, and UK time does not wipe Schengen days.
Case 5 — Nomad loop via the Balkans
60 days Spain, 40 days Albania/Kosovo, then 40 days Italy. The Balkans pause the clock; they do not reset Spain. Italy stacks on remaining Spanish days.
Case 6 — Earliest re-entry after a full 90
1 April–29 June used. Partial days return as early April dates age out; a full 90 returns only after the whole block leaves the window. See the re-entry guide.
If your history has overlapping trips or missing day trips, fix the diary first. The maths cannot repair bad inputs.
Reproduce any case in the calculator
Enter the same dates and compare maximum stay and earliest re-entry.Frequently asked questions
Why check the last day of a planned trip?
Each day has its own 180-day look-back. Arrival can be fine while departure is not.
Can I trust one calculator?
Use this site and the Commission tool. Matching results reduce arithmetic risk; they do not guarantee entry.
Do these assume visa-exempt travel?
Yes. Residence permits and national long-stay visas follow different rules.