The Brexit 90-day Travel rule, Travelling in the EU and Schengen Zones Explained
With our Twilight policy you’re entitled to 90 days travel in Europe, and with our Horizon policy you’re entitled to 9-months travel in Europe. However, with the passing of Brexit there is now more regulation for UK citizens when travelling in Europe. In this blog we’ll explain the Schengen agreement, the countries that it includes, and how this affects travel in Europe.
What is the Schengen area?
The Schengen agreement is a treaty signed by 27 EU countries creating an area of free borderless movement.
The 27 countries in the Schengen area are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The Schengen Visa policy means that non-EU citizens can stay in the Schengen area without a visa for up to a duration of 90 days within a 180-day period. This means that you can spend up to 90 days in any Schengen country or a combination of Schengen countries within a 180-day period, anything beyond this you will require a visa for the country you are visiting.
An example of how the 90-day period works:
If you enter a Schengen country, for example France, on January 1st and stayed in France for 30 days, this would mean that you have used up 30 days out of the 90-day allowance. From this point you will have 60 remaining over the 180-day period (This period will span from 1st January – 29th June.)
If after your 30 days in France you were to travel home to the UK for 3 days and then travel to Germany for an additional 30 days, 60 days in total would be used up of your 90 days. Days when you are not in a Schengen travel area will not count towards your 90-day allowance.
(It’s important to consider when travelling that each day you spend in a Schengen country will count towards the 90-day limit, regardless of whether you are staying in the country or travelling through it.)
From Germany if you were to travel to Austria spending a total of 15 days, then travelling to Hungary spending 15 days, the total of 90 days limit would be used up for the 180-day period. You would not be able to enter a Schengen zone until the start of a new 180-day period (30th June.)
If you wanted to continue travelling you would need to go to a non-Schengen country, for example bordering Hungary is Romania, a non-Schengen country that will allow you to stay a total of 90 days within a 180-day period (note this period is a separate 180-day period from the Schengen 180-day period.) You could stay in this country until the start of a new 180-day Schengen period.
It’s essential to keep track and the duration of your travels so you do not exceed the 90 day travel limit, a helpful tool to track this is the Schengen calculator : Schengen Calculator – Calculate Your Legal Short-Stay in Europe (schengenvisainfo.com)
Areas we cover and whether they fall into the Schengen area.
Schengen
|
Non-Schengen |
| Austria | Great Britain |
| Belgium | Northern Ireland |
| Croatia | The Channel Islands |
| Czech Republic | Isle of man |
| Denmark | The Republic of Ireland |
| Estonia | Andorra |
| Finland | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| France (including Monaco) | Bulgaria |
| Germany | Cyprus |
| Greece | Gibraltar |
| Hungary | Romania |
| Iceland | Serbia |
| Italy (including San Marino and the Vatican City) | |
| Latvia | |
| Liechtenstein | |
| Lithuania | |
| Luxembourg | |
| Malta | |
| Netherlands | |
| Norway | |
| Poland | |
| Portugal | |
| Slovakia | |
| Slovenia | |
| Spain | |
| Sweden | |
| Switzerland |
When travelling always check the entry requirements for any country you’re visiting to find out the rules and regulations. For more information on travelling to the EU and Schengen areas visit: https://www.gov.uk/travel-to-eu-schengen-area.
Protect your motorhome with Comfort Insurance
We have over 30 years’ experience providing protection cover for motorhomes and campervans. If you’re struggling to find a policy that’s right for you, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team by calling 0208 984 0666 or emailing info@comfort-insurance.co.uk.
Disclaimer: At the date of publication all information within this article was factually accurate. However, changes in circumstances over time may impact the accuracy of the information.
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We’re a family run business with over 30 years' experience in the provision of specialist motorhome and campervan insurance. With a wealth of awards under our belt, we pride ourselves on providing a friendly and professional service, offering you the most comprehensive cover money can buy - starting from just £200!
