"How long can I stay?" is one of the most common questions visa-exempt visitors ask about Germany. The answer is the Schengen 90/180-day rule — simple once you see it, but easy to get wrong. Here it is in plain language.
The Rule in One Sentence
You can spend a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area as a visa-exempt visitor — counted across the whole zone, not per country.
The Two Things People Miss
- It's the whole Schengen area, not just Germany. Days in France, Italy, Spain and most of the EU all count toward the same 90.
- It's a rolling 180-day window, not a calendar split. On any given day, look back 180 days; you must not have spent more than 90 days inside the zone in that window.
A Quick Example
Spend 60 days in spring, leave, then return in summer: you have 30 days left until older days "drop off" the back of the rolling 180-day window and free up again. Days are counted by date of entry and exit inclusive.
The trap is thinking "90 days per year" or "90 days per country." It is 90 days in any rolling 180, across all of Schengen.
How to Count Your Days
The EU provides an official short-stay calculator, and it is worth using before a long or multi-trip itinerary. Keep proof of your entry and exit dates — under the new EES, these are recorded electronically.
What Counts as Schengen
Most EU countries plus a few others are in Schengen. A handful of EU members and many non-EU countries are not, so days there don't count toward the 90 — but always check the current list, as it changes.
Staying Longer
If you need more than 90 days, you'll need a national visa or residence permit — the 90/180 rule is strictly for short stays. ETIAS, when it launches, does not extend it; it is just an authorisation to make those short visits. See our ETIAS guide.
Then Enjoy the Trip
With your days mapped out, plan the fun part — see our first-time Frankfurt guide and day trips, and let a fixed-price transfer handle the airport runs.
