Hi,
First time on here for a while but I'd like to seek some clarification of the above due to a difference in understanding between my own and that of the Schengen border staff.
I stayed in the Schengen area over the summer from 7 July - 13 Sep (69 days).
I have (yesterday) returned to the Schengen area for an intended stay of around 24 days returning to the UK on around 7 Jan, though have not booked the return flight yet.
My understanding when choosing the dates is that the 180 days was a "rolling window", and official documentation appears to confirm this (https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/border-crossing/short-stay-calculator_en).
Because I spent more than 90 consecutive days outside Schengen (14 Sep - 14 Dec = 92 days) my understanding is that a 7 Jan return date would not exceed the rule, because I would not have spent more than 90 days in Schengen in any 180 day period, counted backwards from the current day, for each day of the stay.
However the border staff advised me that I can only stay a maximum of 21 days, i.e. until 4 Jan, presumably by subtracting the 69 days of the previous stay from 90. This however does not take into account the fact that I would not exceed 90 days in any rolling 180 day window.
Official advice (see the above website) seems to confirm that I am correct - the above calculator suggests I can stay until 14/03/26 - but I want to be absolutely sure.
If I am correct and I can stay until 7 Jan, are there any tips to avoid trouble with border staff on the return? For example, would printing out the above documentation help? (The flights on 4 Jan are significantly more expensive, thus would prefer to avoid returning on that date if I am not legally obliged to).
Thanks.
First time on here for a while but I'd like to seek some clarification of the above due to a difference in understanding between my own and that of the Schengen border staff.
I stayed in the Schengen area over the summer from 7 July - 13 Sep (69 days).
I have (yesterday) returned to the Schengen area for an intended stay of around 24 days returning to the UK on around 7 Jan, though have not booked the return flight yet.
My understanding when choosing the dates is that the 180 days was a "rolling window", and official documentation appears to confirm this (https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/border-crossing/short-stay-calculator_en).
Because I spent more than 90 consecutive days outside Schengen (14 Sep - 14 Dec = 92 days) my understanding is that a 7 Jan return date would not exceed the rule, because I would not have spent more than 90 days in Schengen in any 180 day period, counted backwards from the current day, for each day of the stay.
However the border staff advised me that I can only stay a maximum of 21 days, i.e. until 4 Jan, presumably by subtracting the 69 days of the previous stay from 90. This however does not take into account the fact that I would not exceed 90 days in any rolling 180 day window.
Official advice (see the above website) seems to confirm that I am correct - the above calculator suggests I can stay until 14/03/26 - but I want to be absolutely sure.
If I am correct and I can stay until 7 Jan, are there any tips to avoid trouble with border staff on the return? For example, would printing out the above documentation help? (The flights on 4 Jan are significantly more expensive, thus would prefer to avoid returning on that date if I am not legally obliged to).
Thanks.
