Where to go when your Schengen days run out
When you are close to 90 days in the last 180, you have to be outside the Schengen Area until enough old days roll off. Many countries right next to Schengen have their own visitor rules, and days there do not count toward your 90.
Facts checked 28 September 2026. Stay lengths are for common Western passports and are mostly as the UK government states them for British travellers. Your passport may get a different allowance: check your own government's travel advice and the source linked in each row.
First, work out how long you need to be out
Leaving does not reset the count. What you need is the date when enough of your old days have fallen outside the 180-day window for the next trip you want to take. That can be a few days or several weeks.
Stay180 shows your days used in the last 180 and, for any entry date you choose, the last day you could stay. Move the entry date until the trip you want fits — that tells you how long to spend outside.
How long do you need to be outside?
Add your stays, then try different re-entry dates in the planner. The earliest date that gives you the trip you want is how long you need to be out.
Countries next to Schengen
None of these is in the Schengen Area. Each keeps its own count, so a stay here does not use any of your 90 Schengen days.
| Country | Visa-free stay | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Up to 6 months per visit for US, Canadian and Australian citizens | Most visa-free visitors now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling. GOV.UK: ETA |
| Ireland | Up to 90 days, decided by the officer at the border; British citizens have no limit | Not in Schengen and not part of EES. Travelling on to the UK still needs a UK ETA unless you are exempt. Irish Immigration Service |
| Albania | US citizens: up to 1 year. British and Canadian citizens: 90 days in 180 | Albania keeps its own count, separate from Schengen. GOV.UK: Albania |
| Montenegro | 90 days in any 180 (British passports) | You must register with the police or local tourist office within 24 hours; hotels normally do this for you. GOV.UK: Montenegro |
| Serbia | 90 days in 6 months (British passports) | Register with the police within 24 hours; hotels normally do this. To go from Kosovo into Serbia you need a Serbian entry stamp from an airport or another land border. GOV.UK: Serbia |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 90 days in 6 months (British passports) | Register your address within 72 hours; hotels normally do this. GOV.UK: Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| North Macedonia | Up to 3 months (British passports) | Register with the police within 48 hours; hotels normally do this. GOV.UK: North Macedonia |
| Kosovo | Up to 90 days (British passports) | If you plan to go on to Serbia, route through a third country such as North Macedonia or Montenegro. GOV.UK: Kosovo |
| Moldova | 90 days in 6 months (British passports) | The UK government advises against all travel to the Transnistria region. GOV.UK: Moldova |
| Türkiye | 90 days in any 180 for US, British, Canadian and Australian passports | No visa needed for these passports. Türkiye has its own 90/180 count, separate from Schengen's. Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| Georgia | Up to 1 year for US, British, Canadian and Australian passports | Since 1 March 2026, working in Georgia — including remote work — needs a work permit. Travel health insurance is required. GOV.UK: Georgia |
| Armenia | Up to 180 days a year for US, British and Australian passports | Canadians need a visa; an e-visa is available. Armenia MFA: visa-free list |
| Morocco | Up to 90 days for tourism (British passports) | Make sure your passport is stamped on entry. Extensions are handled by the police and are not guaranteed. GOV.UK: Morocco |
| Tunisia | Up to 90 days (British and Canadian passports) | Overstay fines are collected when you leave. GOV.UK: Tunisia |
| Cyprus | 90 days in any 180, counted separately from Schengen (British passports) | In the EU but not yet in Schengen, and not part of EES. If you arrive through the north, for example Ercan airport, the Republic of Cyprus treats it as illegal entry. GOV.UK: Cyprus |
No longer an option: Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia
Older advice suggests Bulgaria, Romania or Croatia as a break from Schengen. That is out of date. Croatia joined on 1 January 2023, and Bulgaria and Romania became full Schengen members on 1 January 2025. Days in all three now count toward your 90.
Places that look outside but are not
Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican have no border controls with their Schengen neighbours, so treat time there as Schengen time. Andorra is outside Schengen, but you can only reach it through France or Spain and there are no Schengen exit checks at its borders, so it is not a practical way to stop the count.
Gibraltar has changed too: since 15 July 2026 Schengen checks happen at its airport and port, and the UK government says time there counts toward your 90 days. For every member and territory, see the Schengen countries list or look up a single place, such as is the UK in the Schengen Area?
Before you go
- Leave Schengen before your last allowed day, not on the day after. The Entry/Exit System records your exit date automatically.
- Check the entry rules for your own passport. Allowances differ, and some countries require registration within a day or two of arrival.
- Plan your return date with the rolling window in mind, so the next Schengen stay fits from its first day to its last.
Common questions
- Does leaving Schengen reset my 90 days?
- No. Leaving only stops new days being added. Days you already spent keep counting until they fall outside the last 180 days. Time outside Schengen gives old days a chance to roll off; it does not wipe them.
- Are Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia still outside Schengen?
- No. Croatia joined Schengen on 1 January 2023, and Bulgaria and Romania became full members on 1 January 2025. Days in all three now count toward your 90.
- Does time in the UK or Ireland count toward Schengen?
- No. Neither the UK nor Ireland is in the Schengen Area, so days there do not use any of your 90. Each has its own visitor rules, and the UK now requires most visa-free visitors to get an ETA first.
- Do Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican and Andorra count?
- Treat them as Schengen time. Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican have open borders with Schengen neighbours. Andorra is outside Schengen but can only be reached through France or Spain, and there are no Schengen exit checks at its borders.