How is the 90 days in 180 rule counted for a short stay in Spain?

Checked on 2026-10-25

Spain's immigration regulation limits a short stay, with or without a visa, to 90 days in total in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. The day you enter counts as the first day and the day you leave as the last. Time spent on a long-stay national visa or a residence permit is not counted.

Key facts

What	The law says	Source
Limit	90 days in total in any 180-day period	RD 1155/2024, arts. 7(2), 48
One trip or several	The limit covers one continuous stay or the sum of successive stays	RD 1155/2024, art. 48(1)–(2)
Where the days count	Across the Schengen area, from your first entry into it	RD 1155/2024, art. 48
Entry and exit days	Entry day = first day of stay; exit day = last day of stay	RD 1155/2024, art. 48(2)
Not counted	Time on a long-stay national visa or a residence permit	RD 1155/2024, art. 48(2)
With a visa	Days must also fall within the visa’s validity	RD 1155/2024, art. 48(1)

The rule

Spain’s immigration regulation follows the Schengen Borders Code. Whether you hold a short-stay visa or come visa-free, your stay can be one continuous period or several trips, but the total can’t go over 90 days in any 180-day period, counted from your first entry into the Schengen area (RD 1155/2024, art. 48). Days spent in other Schengen countries count too. The European Commission describes the Schengen visa as allowing a short visit “of up to 90 days in any 180-day period”.

How the days are counted

The regulation says the entry date is the first day of stay and the exit date is the last day of stay in the territory of the member states. Periods you spend in a Schengen country on a long-stay national visa or a residence permit are left out of the count.

If you have a visa, the regulation adds that the days must also fall within the period of validity of your visa. Having days left under 90/180 doesn’t let you stay after the visa expires.

The European Commission publishes a short-stay calculator to work out how many days you have left.

What a short stay is for

The Spanish Consulate General in London’s guidance says the Schengen visa covers tourism, business, family visits, medical treatment, studies, training or volunteering that last under three months, other non-gainful activities, and transit.

Staying longer: possible only in exceptional cases through an extension from the police (RD 1155/2024, arts. 32 and 49).

Sources

Change history

2026-10-25: Page created

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