A Schengen visa comes with a fixed validity and stay duration. This means you are allowed to stay in the Schengen Area for only the specified period.
The Schengen immigration department has very strict rules and regulations. If you are found overstaying your visa, you may have to face serious consequences, including forced exit, ban from future entry and more.
In this blog, we will discuss the Schengen visa validity in detail, along with the consequences of overstaying your visa. To help you a bit more, we will also mention some ways to avoid overstay fines and penalties.
Schengen Visa Validity: How Long is a Schengen Visa Valid for?
A short-stay visa (Type-C) is the most common Schengen visa type. It comes with a validity of 180 days or six months. During this period, you can visit any Schengen country and stay for up to 90 days.
Note that multi-entry Schengen visas can be valid for up to five years, but the maximum stay duration can be at most 90 days within 180 days.
In essence, all short-stay Schengen visas, regardless of their entry type, follow the 90/180 rule, which allows you to stay for a maximum of 90 days within 180 days.
You can easily find the validity dates on your visa sticker.
Validity and Duration of Stay in Schengen Visa
Let’s now understand the Schengen visa validity period and duration of stay based on different types:
Single Entry Visa (<< 1 >>)
A single-entry Schengen visa allows you to enter and stay once in the Schengen Area. As discussed above, the validity and stay duration remains the same, i.e., 90 days within 180 days. Once you exit the Schengen Area, your visa expires.
Double Entry Visa (<< 2 >>)
A double entry visa allows you to enter the Schengen Area twice with the same validity and stay duration. The only difference is that you can re-enter the Schengen Area within the 180-day validity period.
Multiple Entry Visa (“MULT”)
A multiple-entry Schengen visa allows you to enter and stay in the Schengen Area multiple times during its validity. Depending on the purpose of the visit, it can have a validity ranging from six months to a maximum of five years.
With this visa, you can enter the Schengen Area any number of times but can not stay for more than 90 days within 180 days.
Consequences of Overstaying Schengen Visa
Schengen Area countries follow a highly advanced and effective border management system. This means that overstaying a Schengen visa is not going to go unnoticed. From heavy fines to serious legal actions, there can be several consequences of staying in the Schengen Area with an expired visa.
Hefty Overstay Fines and Penalties
In most cases, where the overstaying cases are minor, the guilty are required to pay a fine for each day they overstayed.
The fine can vary based on the member state in which you are caught overstaying. Not only that, you might also have to undergo other legal procedures, which can cause a lot of inconvenience.
Forced Deportation
If you are caught overstaying your visa for a noticeable period, you may face forced exit or deportation. Depending on your case, it can happen at the same hour or after a couple of days.
Further, if you have taken up paid work or have engaged in any illegal activity, then several legal charges will be pressed against you. In the worst cases, you may also be sentenced to prison.
Ban from Future Entry
In addition to the above punishments, you may also face a ban from future entry if you are found staying in the Schengen Area with an expired visa.
This can be either for the particular member state you are overstaying in or the entire Schengen Area. Further, you will be blacklisted so that other countries can identify you as a risky traveller.
Poor Travel History
Immigration officers usually check the travel history of the person at the time of security checks. If it is found that you have overstayed any visa or got blacklisted by some country, your entry may get delayed or even cancelled due to a poor travel record.
This means that overstaying a Schengen visa may not only prevent future entry into the Schengen Area but also hinder your plans to explore other countries worldwide.
Is it Possible to Extend the Duration of a Schengen Visa?
A Schengen Visa cannot be extended except for a few exceptional situations.
Hence, you can not apply for a Schengen visa extension to extend your trip. If you want to spend a few more days in the Schengen Area, then you will have to exit and apply for a fresh visa again.
Before applying for a Schengen visa again, it is advisable to consider long-term or other
types of Schengen visas based on your travel needs.
Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa: Is It Mandatory?
Yes.
Travel insurance is a mandatory document for obtaining a Schengen visa. Along with the other documents, you need to submit a travel insurance certificate with specified coverage.
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Our travel insurance plans offer coverage for trip cancellations, baggage loss, emergency hospitalisation, theft, loss of personal belongings and a higher claim limit of up to €50,000.
Unlike your Schengen visa, we also offer automatic
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Conclusion
Overstaying a Schengen visa is considered a violation of border security. Depending on the number of days you have overstayed your visa, you can face a number of consequences.
From fines and penalties to deportation and future travel bans, there is a range of actions that can be taken against you.
For these reasons, always stay within your validity period. If you need to stay for a longer period, then consider applying for long-term Schengen visas such as the National or Type-D visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get banned because you overstayed a Schengen visa?
Yes. There is a possibility of getting banned from future entry in case you have overstayed your Schengen visa.
What is the fine for overstaying my Schengen visa?
The fine for overstaying a Schengen visa can vary depending on the Schengen country in which you are caught. Besides, the duration of overstay can also impact the fine amount.
For how long is a Schengen tourist visa valid?
The Schengen tourist visa duration is 90 days within six months or 180 days. The same goes for Schengen visit visa validity.
Can I check the Schengen visa validity online?
The validity period is usually mentioned on the visa document. Depending on the member state for which you have a visa, it may or may not be possible to check the validity online.