Where Does It Say in the Good Friday Agreement That There Can't Be a Hard Border

Last Updated: 9/13/21 | September 13th, 2021

When I proposed my move to Sweden a hardly a geezerhood ago, I tried to lick how to get past the 90-day limit placed on tourist visas in the Schengen Area. This is a trouble encountered by thousands of travelers each year and a question that on a regular basis (especially this time of twelvemonth) pops up in my inbox.

"How can I stay in Europe for more than 90 years?"

Information technology's a simple question with a very complicated result.

I always knew it was complicated, but until I started researching how to stay put there longer, I never knew just how complex.

Fortunately, in the process of this research, I came to learn at that place are a few shipway to last out in Europe longer than 90 days; they just aren't well renowned.

This post will teach you the options for staying in Common Market over 90 days likewise as give you tips on how to move to Europe. But firstly a few things:

It's important to remark that Europe isn't just one place — there are varying visa rules throughout the continent. When multitude discourse the "90-day limit point," they'Re talking about restrictions happening the Schengen Area, which is the visa policy that governs 26 countries in Europe. IT includes all of the European Union — leave off Ireland — A wellspring Eastern Samoa a few non-EC countries.

Note: While I call it the "Schengen Visa," it's not an genuine visa you necessarily pauperism to apply for. Depending on your residency status and country of citizenship, you Crataegus laevigata need to apply beforehand for a Schengen Visa, notwithstandin, those with an American passport practice not pauperism to hold in advance.

What is the Schengen visa?

The Schengen visa is a 90-day tourist visa for Schengen Expanse countries, which are:

Austria
Belgium
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Suomi
France
Deutschland
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Republic of Lithuania
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Kingdom of Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland

To boot, there are several microstates that are de facto members of the Schengen Country. These are Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City.

These Schengen countries have a border-free visa correspondence that lets residents motivate throughout the Arena without needing to present their passport every time they cross a border. Essentially, it's arsenic if they're one country, and you can move every bit freely as you deficiency.

Citizens of more countries are allowed to enter the Schengen Area without having to get a visa beforehand. Your passport simply gets stamped upon your arriver and departure from Europe. You're allowed to enter and go away from any country you want — they don't have to be the Lapplander.

Here is a map of the countries with visa waivers that posterior enter the Schengen without requiring a visa in advance.

Most visitors (including Americans) are allowed to spend 90 days in the Schengen Area in every 180-day point. The easiest way to think of it is that you hind end visit for 3 months and then you have to go out for 3 months before you can return.

However, you rear also bounce back and forth between Schengen and non-Schengen countries — you just demand to keep track of all your dates of entry/exit.

When I chitchat Europe, I fly in and out of different countries all the clock time. Your first entree in the 180-daylight period is when your 90-day counter starts. These days don't need to beryllium consecutive — the total is accumulative. Once day 181 hits, the count resets itself.

For example, if I concern the Schengen Area in January and stay for 60 days and then come back in June for 10 days, that counts as 70 years in 180 days. Only years you are in the zone during the period count. If you go on January 1st and stay 90 straight days, you have got to get out and technically bottom't come back until July 1st.

Notwithstandin, non all travelers are allowed much freedom.

Citizens from many countries ask to lend oneself for a Schengen visa ahead of time. You'll be required to fill KO'd paperwork beforehand and fly in and out of the state for which your visa is issued.

Even then, you still mightiness not be given a visa. Spoiler awake: citizens from African and Asian countries get screwed.

Then, with that being said, how DO you stay in Europe longer? How Doctor of Osteopathy you get around that dominate? Let Maine break it down for you.

Part 1: Staying or Unreeling to Europe the Simple Way

With so many visa rules, it's smooth to stay in Europe beyond 90 days arsenic a tourist — you just need to stump the countries you visit. The Allied Land has its own rules that leave you to stay 180 years in a calendar year.

Most not-Schengen countries such every bit Ukraine, Moldova, Republic of Croatia, Ireland, and some Balkan countries allow you to stop for up to 60 or 90 days. Albania even lets American's stay upward to a year!

So, all you need to do to stay in Europe longer than 3 months is drop 90 days in the Schengen Region and past visit the UK, go to the Balkans, hang out in Ukraine, drink wine in Moldova, and have a pint in Ireland. If you aline your schedule right, you can easily cost out of the Schengen Area for 90 days and then head plump for into the Schengen Area with a brand new Schengen visa.

Long time ago, to get around this limit, I spent ternary months in Bulgaria, Romania, Ukrayina, and England as I waited for my clock to reset. After that, I large-headed plunk for into the Shengen area for Oktoberfest.

If you want to travel the continent for a years without having to follow out the various visa processes represented below, vary your surpass visiting not-Schengen countries. There's raft of countries to choose from while you wait for your Schengen Visa time to reset. This is the easy, hassle-free way of doing things.

—-> Need more tips for Europe? Visit my address guide and pull in-astuteness information happening what to see and do and how to save money.

Part 2: Staying in the Schengen Area Past 90 Days

But what if you do want to stay longer in the Schengen Area? What if the six months you want to be in Europe is beat Schengen Area countries? What if you want to live and work in Europe?

After all, the Schengen Area spans 26 countries and visiting and then many destinations in 90 days can be a little rushed (you would have an average of just 3.5 days per country).

If you want to stay longer to travel, live, learn a language, or fall in have it away, so the "relocation round" choice suggested above isn't going to work for you. You need something other.

Luckily, in that location are a fewer slipway to do this — and I can't stress enough the grandness of the word "few." Because staying more than 90 days in the Schengen Orbit ISN't easy.

World-class, have's understand the rule:

The Schengen law states that you can't stay in the Area for to a greater extent than 90 years. If you do, you're subject to a fine and possibly exile and being banned from Ra-incoming the Schengen Country. How that rule is enforced, though, varies greatly from unrivalled country to another. Overstaying by a day mightiness not be the doomsday, however, some countries arrange not potter with visitors overstaying.

For example, Deutschland, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, and Scandinavian language countries are all really strict about entry and perish rules. If you outstay your tourist impose, there's a good chance they'll pull you aside. Two Australians I know were detained leaving Switzerland due to overstaying their visa by deuce weeks. They were allowed to go with just a warning, but they uncomprehensible their flights and had to book new flights.

I know of mortal who overstayed by six months, tried to leave from Dutch capital, and now has an "illegal immigrant" postage stamp on her passport. In order to enter Europe again, she must apply for a visa at an embassy and be preapproved:

I ready-made the mistake of attempting to allow for from The Netherlands afterwards overstaying a Schengen visa and was caught. I overstayed by about a month, and they hired man-drew some sort of insignia in my pass to note my overstay. They told Maine I'd have to contact the IND and bump out if I would atomic number 4 able to enter the Schengen states again.

Other blogger told me this happened to them too so get into't overstay your visa!

That being said, if you leave from Greece, France, Italy, operating theatre Spain you may be less likely to encounter an issue, provided you (a) haven't stayed complete excessively stretch and (b) didn't snatch the in-migration officer on a bad day.

When I left Greece, zero one even looked at my passport. One of my friends met a guy in France, cut down enamored, and decided not to provide. A year later, when she finally did, the French officials didn't flatbottom facial expression twice. Another friend flew into France and didn't even get an entry stamp. Kingdom of Spain is another site notorious for non caring and Americans WHO decide to overstay for months mention that as the easiest country to exit from.

Of course, I don't think information technology's wise overstay. A mean solar day OR two? Likely not the end of the world. But, Matt, send away I extend just unfold my Schengen visa/stamp?
Unfortunately not. Simply put across, you cannot continue your tourist visa or ledger entry stamp. There's a 90-day limit, and that's that.

So what's a tourist to brawl?

1. Come a Working Holiday Visa

Running holiday visas are easy to get and the best way to extend your stay — even if you don't want to work. These visas are designed for young travelers who want to puzzle out and travel overseas. Citizens of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand (and often South Han-Gook, Israel, Hong Kong, and Nippon) are eligible for one- to biennial working holiday visas from most of the Schengen countries.

There is no single "functioning holiday" program for the Schengen or EC so applicants moldiness apply for this visa from a particularised country. Applicants must also be younger than 30 (though, in few cases, care for Canadians working in Switzerland or Ireland, you can be as sure-enough as 35).

Additionally, you give the axe get consecutive employed vacation visas. An Aboriginal Australian reviewer of mine got a two-twelvemonth Dutch working holiday visa and then got one from Norway to stay two more age. While she and her boyfriend (who also got one) did odd jobs in Holland for a bit, they mostly secondhand it as a direction to travel around the continent.

Note: This type of visa South Korean won't allow you to work in any other country than the one that issued it.

For Americans, there are just two options for working holidays in Europe: Hibernia (non-Schengen land) and Portugal (Schengen country). The Portuguese working holiday visa is for travelers ripened 18-30 and lasts two years. The Irish one also lasts two years and is sound for those aged 18-30, however, you mustiness have graduated within 12 months of applying (or be a student).

2. Get a Long-Term-Stay Visa

Unluckily, the majority of Schengen countries do not offer long-terminus-stay visas for tourists/visitors. Generally speaking, if you want a long-stay visa, you'd have to apply for residency.

Schengen allows for a C- or D-class visa (the letter varies on the state), which is a temporary hall visa for up to matchless year. But the specific visa and requirements vary from country to rural area. Some countries are harder, more or less are easier, and others are all but impossible despite existence in the same visa treaty geographical zone.

Notwithstandin, in that respect are a few countries that cause offer long-condition visas that aren't too hard to get:

France

Jacques Anatole Francois Thibault offers a long-term visitor visa for a period of up to one year. The application action takes adequate one and only calendar month. According to the French Embassy, "The 'visitor' visa (or visa 'D') allows you to enter France and stay for more than cardinal months. Long-stay visa holders bequeath be allowed to shack in French Republic for up to 12 months according to the rigor of their visa and purpose of halt."

To set out this visa, you must set up an appointment at the French consulate near you. You can't walkway in — you must make an appointment.

At this appointment, you'll need the following documents:

Unitary application form occupied out completely and signed
Three passport photos
Your germinal pass, which must have been issued fewer than 10 years agone, be valid for three months after your return, and have at to the lowest degree 2 blank pages leftmost
A letter certified by a notary public world that promises you won't engage in work
A letter of employment stating actual occupation and earnings
Validation of income (you'll need bank statements operating room copies of your investment portfolio)
Proof of medical indemnity that includes evacuation insurance
Proof of accommodation in French Republic. (The French consulate never returned my emails, then I was unsure how you could have this earlier you even get to France. One could use a admirer's address or, lacking that, rent a come out (one where you can get a refund) for the purposes of the interview. It's a little blurry.)

Note: You can't hold for this visa more than three months before your arrival date.

You hind end impose the French Embassy website for golf links to local embassies and consulates for more than entropy. This post also has some helpful information to get you started.

Sweden

Sweden likewise offers a long-term persist holidaymaker visa for a maximum period of one year. The action is easy usually takes around two weeks to cognitive operation when applied for in Sweden. Here's a brief overview of what you take:

Residence permit for visitor's application form
Notarized copies of the pages of your passport that show your identity and the validity of your passport, as well as copies of all the other visas/stamps you have. Your passport too necessarily to be legal for 3 months after your stay.
A depository financial institution statement viewing your means of supporting yourself for the continuance of your stay (you need at least $52 USD per day for each day preserved in your account)
A return airplane ticket
A varsity letter from your insurance firm stating you're crusty overseas

Applications can be delivered in person during visiting hours (no appointment needful) or armoured to a Scandinavian nation consulate.

After your documents are received, you'll be required to suffer an consultation with one of the in-migration officers. Well-nig people who lend oneself for this visa have family in Sweden. If you wear't, you'll postulate to have clear reasons as to wherefore you need to stay longer and show ample proof that you john support yourself (i.e., "I wish to meet Swedish guys/girls" won't cut information technology!). If you're applying in Sweden, you'll need to put a local's address on your practical application take shape, and that person wish have to companion you to your question.

You can learn Sir Thomas More about the process on this government Thomas Nelson Page.

Spain

Spain offers a long-condition visa targeting retirees called the Non-Lucrative Hall Visa. It requires that you spend at to the lowest degree 183 days in Spain, which would make you a learned profession occupier for tax purposes here. During this time, you are unable to work in Spain (so you'll need to induce enough savings to get you by). However, studying and unpaid internships are permitted.

The gigantic snap for this visa is that you need to birth finished 27,000 EUR in your trust account. That's around $32,000 USD. Since the visa is designed for retirees, the assumption is that you're coming here to build on your financial laurels after a lifetime of saving up — hence the sizeable requirement.

The visa has been denied to people who are remote workers so I wouldn't recommend this visa if you're a digital nomad (Spain is currently working on a visa specifically for distal nomads though it's not presently available).

In addition to having respectable savings, you'll likewise demand to round the application, posit your passport and additional photos, ante up a tip, and provide the succeeding:

Proof of private health insurance (from an authorized company in Spain)
A doctor's note certifying that you're healthy
A reprehensible background check translated into Spanish

You must apply for this visa in your country of residency as you will be interviewed Eastern Samoa take off of the process. The application varies per res publica, ordinarily between 120-520 EUR (it's around 125 EUR for Americans and just over 500 EUR for Canadians).

This consulate paginate has totally the specific inside information you need regarding the application.

Portugal

Portugal has septuple long term stay visas. First, thither is a Golden Visa, which requires a nominal investment in the land of $300,000 USD. More realisticly, is the D7 visa, which is correspondent to Spain's retreat visa.

It requires proof of insurance, a background check, an applications programme and interview, etc. The chief deviation, however, is that you only when need an income of roughly $9,000 USD instead of the $32,000 USD in savings the Spanish people visa required. You hush cannot work at this visa, so your income moldiness be peaceful (investments, pension off, letting property, etc.).

The D7 visa hindquarters play for appendage nomads, though there is a separate visa that mightiness work better: the D2 visa.

This visa, glorious as the Immigrant Entrepreneur visa, isn't designed specifically for digital nomads. You'll need to submit a business plan and demonstrate you have plenty capital to get moving. You'll also need to explain wherefore you want to offse (or move) your stage business to Portugal. You'll deliver a more higher chance of getting approved if you get invested upwards of 5,000 EUR in your business and verbalise some Portuguese as well (it's not required, simply these visas are on a regular basis rejected indeed it will give you a branch leading).

In short, there are a good deal of stairs for a temporary visa that only lasts uncomparable year. All the same, you can get this extensive and eventually put on for permanent residence or citizenship after 5 years.

You'll need to apply for both of these visas in your country of residency.

A note of long-full term visas: Keep in mind that the information above is just for reference. There may be more requirements needed for your application and not all visas are open to everyone. You'll want to touch your local embassy for specifics and additional information.

The Bilateral Correspondence Hack

In improver to the standard Schengen visa, to the highest degree countries rich person many bilateral agreements nonpartisan of the Shengen visa. These agreements let travelers stay in a unique country for an additional geological period of time beyond the 90-day Schengen limitation. The just caveat is that can't leave that land during that clock time.

For example, France has a bilateral understanding that allows U.S. citizens to stay an additional 90 days beyond the Schengen limit. You ass enter from any Schengen country, hitch 90 days in France, so fly nursing home. But the captivate is you take up to head home — you can't go elsewhere. You have to go forth Europe so you can't use your time in France as a sneaky way to reset your Schengen clock.

Now, the France/U.S. rule is tricky. Information technology's founded along a post-WW2 agreement that never was cancelled. Multiple French consulates told ME yes, they thought this police force existed but couldn't enjoin me where to line up it. A a couple of visa services told me I was crazy. Unrivalled consulate told me it was possible but only with a long-condition visa.

BUT, after many calls, the US, Canda, and Uk French embassies told me that yes, this law does be and that yes, this is still valid. And so they documented Pine Tree State to the French political entity archives.

Well, we found the actualized dialogue papers that spell this KO'd. It took us close to a year to find it but we did.

This is the note from the French government about it:

Hi,

There is a bilateral agreement between French and the U.S. by exchange letters (March 16-31 mars 1949), which allows Solid ground citizens to rest in France 90 days over 180 days, disregarding of the corset already ready-made in separate Schengen countries.

However, this agreement has been ready-made in front the Schengen agreement. Today, as there is no more mete control between the Schengen countries, it is very difficult to determine how long a person has stayed in France and we heard that both people had troubles with the immigration police while leaving France.

Hence, we recommend American citizens to respect the Schengen regulation which allows a maximum of 90 days on 180 days in the whole Schengen area.

Consulat général DE Anatole France, Service des visas
4101 Reservoir Road, American capital DC, 20007

A follow to the London embassy gave me this response:

"Whilst the bilateral agreement you refer to has non officially been revoked, the French Border Police has sole potency connected deciding whether to apply it or non, at the time of entering or exiting the Schengen area."

So this is really a thing. And, spell they don't like you exploitation it, it's smooth the practice of law. Just play proof you stayed in France for 90 days! If you plan to use this formula, bring documentation as skirt guards my non be sensible of it.

In addition, Denmark and Poland also have bilateral agreements with the The States that let citizens stay an additional 90 days in each country separate from the regular Schengen Partition visa. The Denmark govern applies exactly the same way as the French one. Denmark also has a bilteral agreemnt that is applicable for citizens of Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japanese Islands, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Korea.

For Poland, you must enter and leave Polska via a non-Schengen country where you testament be stamped over again (i.e., forthright flying from NYC). So you could do 90 days in the Schengen, fly to the UK, and then aviate to Poland. Poland's rules are simply set kayoed in an agreement letter the U.S. and Poland signed in 1991. (Here's a copy of the letter of the alphabet from the Polish politics).

In theory, there are also other reciprocal agreements between the U.S. and Schengen countries. I've been told away multiple sources that Kingdom of Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Norway, Espana, Portugal, and the Netherlands all have their own reciprocal agreements with the U.S. too. This page outlines the existing bilateral agreements.

However, I reached out to each body politic's consulate and none of them replied (save Portugal) in any meaningful way. They simply orientated Pine Tree State to the classic visa FAQ page.

Regarding Portugal, a representative from the Portuguese consulate said this regarding their symmetric 60-day visa:

Delight note that those 60 days are an abnormal extension that needs to be requested within Portugal at SEF office near your temporary address in Portugal.

Immediately, in hypothesis, one could say thanks to borderless travel you could get your "extra 90 days in Denmark" so just travel around, fly out of Danmark, and no one would be the wiser. One could say that. But I've noticed a deal out more intra-Europe passport checks in recent years. I got yelled at in France for non having my passport with me while on a train to see a chateau. So, I wouldn't recommend doing this.

Take note: Most counties wealthy person bilateral agreements with other countries. Call the local embassy for more information (you'll have better luck vocation than emailing).

3. Grow a Student Visa

All Schengen Area countries pass student visas that are effortless to obtain goodbye as you're enrolled in a recognized university program. This would require you to pay for the course, just it will virtually guarantee you a visa if you are accepted.

One of the advisable countries to do this in is Spain, where a whole industry has sprung astir to help students study Spanish people. In that respect are tons of schools that will allow you to enrol and write letters stating you're a student there. You'll need to apply in your home base country only the procedure is relatively straightforward. This stake inside information the requirements.

Germany is another popular choice, as post-subsidiary schools there are essentially free. While there may be more competition, the costs are some lower. You can learn about the application process here.

Piece most student visas allow you to stay in a country for one yr, I would only consider getting one if you actually be after happening studying. If you're just getting a student visa to travel and play tourist, information technology's not going to follow worth the cost and paperwork since you'll need to jell sprouted everything from a residential address to a bank account to a local earphone number and more.

4. Get a Freelancer Visa

At that place are several countries that offer freelancer visas. This process is a little Thomas More complex and not for the casual tourist. These visas are meant for people who actually want to live and work in Europe. If you're just a casual tourist, expect to be denied. But if you'rhenium a member nomad, this is the visa for you.

Schengen countries that offer freelancer visas include Germany, Estonia, Spain, Czechia, Portuguese Republic, Ellas, and Malta. Not-Schengen countries that have them include Croatia, Romania, Georgia, and Iceland.

Deutschland is the country most used by people who want to lodge in in Europe. If you'rhenium a freelancer, digital nomad, creative person, or bear some form of income, this is the visa to get (and it's quite easy to go). If you are from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.S., Israel, South Han-Gook, or Nihon you rump apply after you arrive in Federal Republic of Germany (everyone other of necessity to hold in advance).

The visa lone lasts for three months, however, it is designed to be nonliteral into a residency visa which would then last for three years. I have many friends who bear gotten this visa. As long as you follow the steps, you should be fine. This post has more entropy about the process.

Most freelancer visas observe a similar initialize: apply, pay a fee, subject impervious that your job can stay afloat, then wait to be accepted. However, around have more stringent requirements.

For example, Estonia's freelancer visa requires a monthly income of at to the lowest degree 3,500 EUR per month leading capable your application. For the Czechia visa, you need to deliver leastways $6,000 USD in your bank account (the lovely folks at Wandertooth, who did this work a distich of years ago, pot walk you through the steps).

In Recent epoch years, Spain has also created freelancer visa called the "autonomo" that also follows a similar process. You can read more hither.

If you are a digital nomad and are considering functional remotely from the EU you can compare these programs to see which unrivalled bests suits your goals (though Germany is likely the optimal put off to beginning since it's one of the easiest to get).

5. Get Wed to a Continent

Fall gaga with a European (or at least a friend) and apply for a marriage visa! You'll get down to stay in that respect while the diligence process goes done and then you can go by to Europe and stay there forever with the love of your life! That's a make headway-deliver the goods! (This is a joke. Don't get married sporting for a visa to stay in Europe!)

***

The best, easiest, and near effective way to stay in Europe bimestrial-term is to growth the number of countries you visit so you'Re in the Schengen Area for only 90 days. As I aforementioned, there are a lot of countries not in the Area thus this is easy to practice.

If you're like me and want to stay put in the Schengen Domain longer than 90 days (operating theatre just want to move to Europe because it's awesome), be prepared to puzzle out the system. Iit's not impossible to stay semipermanent in the Schengen Area. By understanding the system and using the few loopholes that do exist, one can legally stay bygone 90 days and enjoy whol Europe has to offer without worrying about being obstructed for life.

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Reserve Your Set off to Europe: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Account book Your Escape
Wont Skyscanner or Momondo to find a cheap flight of steps. They are my ii favorite look engines because they hunt websites and airlines just about the Earth and then you always cognize no stone is left unturned. Start with Skyscanner first though because they induce the biggest reach!

Leger Your Accommodation
You pot book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest stocktaking and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

For suggestions on where to stay during your trip, hither is a list of my favorite hostels in European Union.

Don River't Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against malady, trauma, stealing, and cancellations. It's house-to-house protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it Eastern Samoa I've had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the uncomparable service and valuate are:

Safety Wing (for everyone below 70)
Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
Medjet (for additive repatriation coverage)

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Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to lay aside money when I'm along the road. They bequeath save up you money when you travel too.

Want More Information along Europe?
Be predictable to bring down our robust destination guide Europe for even more planning tips!

NOTE: Due to the complexities of visas and the uniqueness of everyone's position, we do not result whatsoever visa related questions in the comments Oregon via email. Thank you.

Disclosure: Please note that any of the golf links above may be affiliate links, and at no extra monetary value to you, I earn a commission if you establish a buy out. I urge only products and companies I habit and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and adver free.

Where Does It Say in the Good Friday Agreement That There Can't Be a Hard Border

Source: https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/how-to-legally-stay-in-europe-for-more-than-90-days/