The reference period of 180 days within which the foreigner can spend for up to 90 days in the Schengen area will be looked at backwards from each day of the stay (i.e. the calculation of stay will be done within 180 days preceding each day of stay).

The applicants are entitled to apply for the visa for up to 90 days within any 180 days. The application will be processed in regards to the previous stays in the Schengen area and the supporting documents submitted with the application. Same calculation system will be applied for those third country nationals who do not need a visa in order to stay within the Schengen area for a stay up to 90 days.

Administrative bodies and travellers have access to a practical tool/internet application called Schengen calculator, allowing them to calculate the period of allowed stay under the new rules (based on the input of the information on the date of entry and dates of previous stays). Based on this calculation it will be possible to calculate the number of days of a legal stay within the Schengen area that can be applied for. The calculator can be found on the website of the European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/border-crossing/index_en.htm, clicking on the link „short stay calculator“. The website contains also the user manual of the Schengen calculator.

The above-mentioned changes apply from October 18, 2013, with no transitional period.