Is the UK in the Schengen Area?
No — the United Kingdom is not in the Schengen Area, and it left the EU in 2020. Time you spend in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland does not count toward your 90 days in any 180, and the UK applies its own visitor rules.
In the Schengen Area: No
In the EU: No
Days count toward 90/180: No
Facts checked 5 October 2026. Entry rules change and differ by passport. Confirm them with the official source linked in each section, or your own government's travel advice, before you travel.
Do days in the UK count toward the 90/180 rule?
No. The 90/180 rule only counts days inside the 29 Schengen countries. Leaving for London stops new Schengen days being added, but it does not reset the ones you have already used: those keep counting until they are more than 180 days old.
The UK has never been part of Schengen, even when it was in the EU.
Visiting the UK on a visa-free passport
US, Canadian and Australian citizens can usually visit for up to six months per visit, and EU citizens can visit without a visa too. Most visa-free visitors, including EU citizens, now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they travel. Irish citizens do not.
Rules depend on your passport and the purpose of the trip, so check GOV.UK before you book.
How EES applies to UK trips
EES is not used at UK borders. It applies when you enter Schengen from the UK. At Dover, Folkestone (Eurotunnel) and London St Pancras (Eurostar), French border officers check you before departure, so that is where your EES registration and your Schengen day count begin.
British citizens are non-EU visitors in Schengen now, so they are registered in EES and get 90 days in any 180 like everyone else.
Sources: GOV.UK: EU Entry/Exit System; EU: EES FAQ
A common place to wait for days to come back
Because UK days do not count, many long-term travellers spend time in Britain while old Schengen days roll out of the window. Work out how long you need to be away before you book the return.
For more places whose days do not count, and how long each lets you stay, see where to go when your Schengen days run out.
Check your own Schengen days
Whatever the answer for United Kingdom, your 90 days are counted across all 29 Schengen countries together, and each day looks back 180 days. Add your stays to see how many days you have used and the last day you can stay.
Count your days before you go
Add past stays and a planned trip. Stay180 shows days used in the last 180 and your leave-by date. Free, no account needed.
Common questions
- Does the UK count as Schengen for the 90-day rule?
- No. Days in the UK never count toward the Schengen 90/180 limit. They do not reset your Schengen count either: days already used keep counting until they are more than 180 days in the past.
- Can I use a Schengen visa to visit the UK?
- No. A Schengen visa is not valid for the UK. Depending on your passport you need a UK visa or a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Check GOV.UK for your nationality before you travel.
- Do British citizens get 90 days in Schengen?
- Yes. Since Brexit, British citizens can visit the Schengen Area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all 29 Schengen countries together, and are registered in EES.