EUROPEAN UNION

Pretoria, 2 August 2013

Press Statement
Changes in calculation of short stay in the Schengen area

Due to recent amendments to the Schengen Borders Code, the notion of the
"short stay" in the Schengen area ("90 days in any 180 days period") has been
defined more precisely. A new method of calculation will apply from 18 October
2013.

The relevant provisions of the Schengen Borders Code establish the following:
Article 5 (1)
For intended stays on the territory of the Member States of a duration of no more than
90 days in any 180-day period, which entails considering the 180-day period preceding
each day of stay, the entry conditions for third- country nationals shall be the following:
().
Article 5 (1) a
For the purposes of implementing paragraph 1, the date of entry shall be considered as
the first day of stay on the territory of the Member States and the date of exit shall be
considered as the last day of stay on the territory of the Member States. Periods of stay
authorised under a residence permit or a long-stay visa shall not be taken into account in
the calculation of the duration of stay on the territory of the Member States.

A more detailed explanation and practical examples of calculation are available on the
European Commission/Directorate General for Home Affairs' website:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/border-
crossing/index_en.htm.

Through this website, travellers have access to a practical tool called the short-stay
calculator allowing them to calculate the period of allowed stay under the new rules.
The calculator is a user-friendly tool to support the application of the new definition. A
user guide to this calculator can be found at the following address:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/border-
crossing/docs/short_stay_schengen_calculator_user_manual_en.pdf

For more information on travelling to the European Union please refer to the following
website: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/south_africa/eu_travel/visa/index_en.htm

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E-mail: Delegation-S-Africa@eeas.europa.eu Website: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/south_africa