How stays are counted

Countries count your days in a few different ways. The planner handles each one, but it helps to know which rule you're working with.

Arrival and departure days both count

Arrive on the 1st and leave on the 30th, and you've used 30 days. On a travel day between two countries, that day counts in both.

Per visit

Many countries give a fixed number of days each time you arrive, such as 30 days in Thailand. Leaving and coming back usually starts a new count, but officers can refuse entry to people who seem to live there on back-to-back visits.

90 days in any 180: the Schengen area

The 29 Schengen countries share one allowance. On any day of your trip, look back 180 days and count every day you spent anywhere in the area. That total can't be more than 90. Days roll off as they pass out of the window, so time outside the area earns days back.

Example: 60 days in Portugal, then 3 weeks in Thailand, then Spain. In Spain you have 30 days left, not 90, because Portugal is still inside the 180-day window.

Yearly caps

Some countries cap your total days in a calendar year or in any 12 months, such as Colombia's 180 days per calendar year. Every visit in that period adds up.

Digital nomad visas

When you want to stay somewhere longer than visitor rules allow, a digital nomad visa usually gives you 6 months to 2 years if you can show remote income. Time on that visa doesn't count against visitor days.

Where our rules come from

Every rule comes from a government, embassy or EU source, and we show the date we last checked it. When we couldn't confirm something officially, we say so. Rules change, so confirm before you book.