Portugal Expat Forum

visa clarification

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crshedd

1/1/2017 12:00 EST

as i read the visa requirements from various european countries, my understanding is that as a citizens of the usa, we can use our passport for a 90 day stay in each country (within a 180 day period) without applying for a visa.

this is different from a schengen visa which allows for a 90 day stay in all schengen countries during a 180 day period, if i read this right.

so, as a north american, can my wife and i spend 90 days in spain, then 90 days in portugal, then 90 days in italy and then return to spain for 90 days more? can we do this indefinitely?

thank you for any insight you may give.

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LovetheBeach

1/1/2017 14:00 EST

crshedd, here is the link to the EU page : http://ec.europa.eu/immigration/do-i-need-a-visa/do-i-need-a-short-stay-visa_en

It clearly states that you may stay a TOTAL of 90 days in all the Schengen area, not 90 days in each country. So, no, you cannot spend 90 days each in Spain, Portugal, and Italy. The following European countries are NOT part of the Schengen area, so you should check their requirements separately: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania, and the UK (for the time being). If you are still confused, here is the link to the webpage listing all Schengen area countries: http://www.schengenvisainfo.com/schengen-visa-countries-list/

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OldPro

1/2/2017 13:59 EST

No, you have it confused. You do not need a Schengen visa to visit any Schengen country but you still have to comply with the 90 in 180 rule.

Judging by your question, what you want to do is stay in Europe for an indefinite period of more than 90 days in total.

You cannot do that if you visit only Schengen countries but you can if you also visit non-Schengen countries.

So you can't do what you asked but you could for example spend 90 days in Italy (in Schengen), then 90 days in the UK or Ireland (outside Schengen), then 90 days in Spain (in Schengen), then 90 days in Gibraltar (outside Schengen), then 90 days in Portugal (in Schengen) then 90 days in Cyprus or Serbia or Romania or Macedonia, etc. which are all not members of Schengen.
http://www.scientificera.com/life/68-life/804-list-of-non-schengen-countries.html

The problem lies in most people who want to spend an extended amount of time visiting European countries, wanting to visit primarily Schengen member countries and that cannot be done.

So think about what you can do and don't waste time looking for a way to do what you cannot legally do.

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