The European Commission publishes an official short-stay calculator for the 90/180 rule. Independent tools like SchengenStay.EU should implement the same rolling-window logic. This page explains how to use the Commission tool and how to compare outputs without treating either result as a visa or a guarantee of entry.
Commission modes
- Check — evaluate past or ongoing stays for compliance on a given day.
- Planning — ask how long you may stay from a future entry date given past trips.
- Do not use it to override a shorter “duration of stay” printed on a visa sticker.
- Residence permits and long-stay visas follow different rules.
Step-by-step comparison
- List every Schengen presence day with accurate entry and exit dates.
- Enter the same list in the Commission calculator and in SchengenStay.EU.
- Compare maximum stay from your planned entry and any earliest re-entry hint.
- If results diverge, check for missing day trips, swapped dates, or timezone mistakes — not “secret rules.”
What we add
Our tool keeps state in your browser, draws a timeline, supports shareable plan links, and pairs results with plain-language guides. The Commission page is the reference implementation for the arithmetic. Method notes: methodology.
What neither tool decides
Purpose of stay, funds, passport validity, SIS alerts, prior bans, and officer discretion sit outside the day count. A green compliance result is necessary arithmetic, not permission to board.
Use both calculators before expensive bookings. If they disagree, fix the inputs until they match.
Run your dates on both tools
Matching results reduce arithmetic risk before you book.Frequently asked questions
Which calculator is “correct”?
Both should match if dates match. The Commission tool is the official reference for short-stay arithmetic.
Does a matching result guarantee entry?
No. Border officers decide admission against all entry conditions.
Can I use it with a Type C visa?
Only if the sticker allows the full 90; a shorter printed duration controls.