Is There a Rule Against Using Family as Employment References?

Last Updated: ix/thirteen/21 | September 13th, 2021

When I planned my motion to Sweden a few years agone, I tried to figure out how to get by the xc-day limit placed on tourist visas in the Schengen Surface area. This is a trouble encountered by thousands of travelers every twelvemonth and a question that regularly (particularly this time of twelvemonth) pops upwardly in my inbox.

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

It's a unproblematic question with a very complicated respond.

I always knew information technology was complicated, merely until I started researching how to stay in that location longer, I never knew merely how complicated.

Fortunately, in the process of this inquiry, I came to learn there are a few means to stay in Europe longer than ninety days; they just aren't well known.

This post will teach you the options for staying in Europe over ninety days too equally requite yous tips on how to move to Europe. But offset a few things:

It'due south important to note that Europe isn't only one place — at that place are varying visa rules throughout the continent. When people talk about the "90-day limit," they're talking about restrictions on the Schengen Area, which is the visa policy that governs 26 countries in Europe. It includes all of the European union — except Ireland — as well as a few not-EU countries.

Note: While I call information technology the "Schengen Visa," it'south not an actual visa y'all necessarily need to apply for. Depending on your residency status and country of citizenship, y'all may need to apply in accelerate for a Schengen Visa, however, those with an American passport practice non need to apply in advance.

What is the Schengen visa?

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

Austria
Kingdom of belgium
Czech republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Republic of latvia
Lithuania
Principality of liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland

Additionally, there are several microstates that are de facto members of the Schengen Area. These are Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican city.

These Schengen countries have a edge-costless visa agreement that lets residents motility throughout the Area without needing to show their passport every time they cross a edge. Essentially, it's as if they're i country, and y'all can move every bit freely as you lot desire.

Citizens of many countries are allowed to enter the Schengen Area without having to get a visa beforehand. Your passport simply gets stamped upon your arrival and departure from Europe. You're allowed to enter and leave from any land yous want — they don't have to be the same.

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

Most visitors (including Americans) are allowed to spend 90 days in the Schengen Expanse in every 180-mean solar day menstruum. The easiest mode to think of it is that you can visit for three months and and so y'all take to exit for 3 months before you can return.

Notwithstanding, you can as well bounce back and forth between Schengen and non-Schengen countries — you just need to keep track of all your dates of entry/exit.

When I visit Europe, I wing in and out of different countries all the time. Your starting time entry in the 180-twenty-four hours catamenia is when your xc-day counter starts. These days don't demand to be consecutive — the full is cumulative. Once day 181 hits, the count resets itself.

For example, if I come to the Schengen Area in January and stay for 60 days and and then come back in June for x days, that counts every bit 70 days in 180 days. Only days you are in the zone during the period count. If you become on January 1st and stay 90 direct days, you have to leave and technically can't come back until July 1st.

However, not all travelers are allowed such freedom.

Citizens from many countries need to apply for a Schengen visa ahead of fourth dimension. You'll be required to fill out paperwork beforehand and fly in and out of the land for which your visa is issued.

Even and so, you still might not exist granted a visa. Spoiler alert: citizens from African and Asian countries get screwed.

And so, with that being said, how DO you stay in Europe longer? How do you get around that dominion? Let me break information technology downwardly for you lot.

Part one: Staying or Moving to Europe the Easy Way

With so many visa rules, it's easy to stay in Europe beyond 90 days as a tourist — you simply need to mix up the countries you visit. The Britain has its own rules that let you to stay 180 days in a calendar year.

Most non-Schengen countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, Croatia, Ireland, and some Balkan countries permit yous to stay for upwards to 60 or xc days. Albania even lets American'southward stay up to a year!

So, all you demand to do to stay in Europe longer than 3 months is spend ninety days in the Schengen Area and then visit the UK, become to the Balkans, hang out in Ukraine, drink wine in Moldova, and have a pint in Ireland. If you align your schedule right, yous can easily be out of the Schengen Area for 90 days and so head back into the Schengen Expanse with a make new Schengen visa.

Years agone, to get around this limit, I spent iii months in Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and England as I waited for my clock to reset. After that, I headed dorsum into the Shengen area for Oktoberfest.

If you want to travel the continent for a long time without having to go through the diverse visa processes described below, vary your travel by visiting not-Schengen countries. At that place'south enough of countries to choose from while you wait for your Schengen Visa clock to reset. This is the piece of cake, hassle-complimentary fashion of doing things.

—-> Demand more than tips for Europe? Visit my destination guide and become in-depth information on what to run across 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 Expanse? What if the vi months yous desire to exist in Europe is all in Schengen Area countries? What if you desire to live and work in Europe?

After all, the Schengen Surface area spans 26 countries and visiting then many destinations in 90 days can exist a niggling rushed (you would take an average of just 3.v days per country).

If you want to stay longer to travel, live, learn a language, or autumn in honey, and so the "motility effectually" option suggested to a higher place isn't going to work for you. You need something else.

Luckily, there are a few ways to practise this — and I can't stress enough the importance of the word "few." Because staying more than than 90 days in the Schengen Area isn't easy.

Get-go, permit's understand the rule:

The Schengen law states that you can't stay in the Area for more 90 days. If yous exercise, you're subject field to a fine and possibly displacement and beingness banned from re-inbound the Schengen Surface area. How that dominion is enforced, though, varies greatly from one country to another. Overstaying by a day might not exist the end of the world, however, some countries do not mess around with visitors overstaying.

For example, Germany, the netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, and Scandinavian countries are all very strict near entry and exit rules. If you overstay your tourist visit, there'due south a practiced take chances they'll pull you aside. Two Australians I know were detained leaving Switzerland due to overstaying their visa by two weeks. They were allowed to go with just a warning, just they missed their flights and had to volume new flights.

I know of someone who overstayed past six months, tried to leave from Amsterdam, and now has an "illegal immigrant" stamp on her passport. In gild to enter Europe again, she must utilise for a visa at an embassy and be preapproved:

I made the error of attempting to leave from the netherlands afterward overstaying a Schengen visa and was caught. I overstayed by about a month, and they hand-drew some sort of insignia in my passport to annotation my overstay. They told me I'd have to contact the IND and discover out if I would be able to enter the Schengen states once more.

Another blogger told me this happened to them also so don't overstay your visa!

That being said, if you leave from Greece, France, Italian republic, or Spain you may exist less likely to run into an upshot, provided you lot (a) haven't stayed over too long and (b) didn't take hold of the immigration officeholder on a bad mean solar day.

When I left Hellenic republic, no 1 even looked at my passport. One of my friends met a guy in French republic, fell in love, and decided not to get out. A twelvemonth later, when she finally did, the French officials didn't even await twice. Another friend flew into France and didn't fifty-fifty get an entry stamp. Spain is another place notorious for not 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 to overstay. A day or 2? Likely not the end of the world. But, Matt, can I extend just extend my Schengen visa/stamp?
Unfortunately non. Only put, you cannot extend your tourist visa or entry stamp. There's a ninety-mean solar day limit, and that'due south that.

So what's a tourist to exercise?

1. Get a Working Holiday Visa

Working vacation visas are easy to get and the best way to extend your stay — fifty-fifty if yous don't desire to work. These visas are designed for young travelers who want to work and travel abroad. Citizens of Commonwealth of australia, Canada, and New Zealand (and ofttimes South korea, State of israel, Hong Kong, and Nihon) are eligible for one- to two-year working holiday visas from most of the Schengen countries.

There is no single "working holiday" program for the Schengen or Eu so applicants must utilise for this visa from a specific land. Applicants must also be younger than 30 (though, in some cases, like for Canadians working in Switzerland or Ireland, you can exist as one-time as 35).

Additionally, you tin can go sequent working holiday visas. An Australian reader of mine got a 2-yr Dutch working holiday visa and then got one from Norway to stay two more than years. While she and her boyfriend (who likewise got 1) did odd jobs in Holland for a bit, they more often than not used it equally a style to travel around the continent.

Note: This type of visa won't allow you to work in whatever other land than the ane that issued it.

For Americans, there are merely two options for working holidays in Europe: Ireland (non-Schengen country) and Portugal (Schengen state). The Portuguese working holiday visa is for travelers anile 18-30 and lasts ii years. The Irish one also lasts two years and is skillful for those aged xviii-30, however, you must accept graduated inside 12 months of applying (or exist a educatee).

2. Go a Long-Term-Stay Visa

Unfortunately, the majority of Schengen countries do non offer long-term-stay visas for tourists/visitors. Generally speaking, if y'all want a long-stay visa, you'd have to utilize for residency.

Schengen allows for a C- or D-class visa (the letter varies on the country), which is a temporary residence visa for upwards to one twelvemonth. But the specific visa and requirements vary from land to land. Some countries are harder, some are easier, and others are nearly impossible despite existence in the aforementioned visa treaty zone.

Nonetheless, at that place are a few countries that exercise offer long-term visas that aren't too hard to go:

France

France offers a long-term visitor visa for a menstruum of upward to ane yr. The application procedure takes up to ane calendar month. According to the French Embassy, "The 'visitor' visa (or visa 'D') allows you lot to enter France and stay for more than iii months. Long-stay visa holders will be immune to reside in France for upwards to 12 months according to the validity of their visa and purpose of stay."

To get this visa, you must prepare an appointment at the French consulate near you. Y'all can't walk in — you must brand an date.

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

One awarding class filled out completely and signed
Three passport photos
Your original passport, which must accept been issued less than ten years ago, be valid for three months later on your return, and accept at least two blank pages left
A letter certified by a notary public that promises yous won't engage in work
A letter of the alphabet of employment stating current occupation and earnings
Proof of income (you lot'll need bank statements or copies of your investment portfolio)
Proof of medical insurance that includes evacuation insurance
Proof of adaptation in France. (The French consulate never returned my emails, then I was unsure how you could have this before you even get to France. One could apply a friend's accost or, defective that, rent a place (one where you lot tin can get a refund) for the purposes of the interview. Information technology's a little fuzzy.)

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

You lot tin visit the French Embassy website for links to local embassies and consulates for more information. This post also has some helpful information to get you started.

Sweden

Sweden too offers a long-term stay tourist visa for a maximum period of one year. The process is like shooting fish in a barrel commonly takes around 2 weeks to process when applied for in Sweden. Here'due south a brief overview of what you demand:

Residence let for visitor'southward application form
Notarized copies of the pages of your passport that testify your identity and the validity of your passport, every bit well as copies of all the other visas/stamps you accept. Your passport besides needs to be valid for 3 months after your stay.
A bank statement showing your ways of supporting yourself for the duration of your stay (you demand at least $52 USD per day for each day saved in your business relationship)
A render plane ticket
A letter from your insurance company stating you're covered overseas

Applications can be delivered in person during visiting hours (no engagement needed) or mailed to a Swedish consulate.

Subsequently your documents are received, y'all'll be required to have an interview with one of the immigration officers. About people who apply for this visa have family in Sweden. If you don't, you'll need to take articulate reasons as to why you demand to stay longer and show ample proof that you can support yourself (i.e., "I want to see Swedish guys/girls" won't cut information technology!). If you're applying in Sweden, you lot'll need to put a local'southward address on your awarding form, and that person volition have to accompany you to your interview.

Y'all can learn more about the process on this government page.

Spain

Spain offers a long-term visa targeting retirees called the Non-Lucrative Residence Visa. Information technology requires that you spend at least 183 days in Spain, which would make you lot a legal resident for tax purposes here. During this time, yous are unable to work in Spain (so yous'll need to take enough savings to get you by). All the same, studying and unpaid internships are permitted.

The big take hold of for this visa is that you need to have over 27,000 EUR in your bank business relationship. That's around $32,000 USD. Since the visa is designed for retirees, the assumption is that yous're coming hither to balance on your financial award later on a lifetime of saving up — hence the sizeable requirement.

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

In addition to having sizable savings, y'all'll as well need to fill up out the application, submit your passport and additional photos, pay a fee, and provide the following:

Proof of private health insurance (from an authorized company in Spain)
A doctor'due south note certifying that yous're healthy
A criminal background bank check translated into Spanish

You must apply for this visa in your country of residency as you will be interviewed every bit part of the process. The awarding varies per country, usually between 120-520 EUR (it's around 125 EUR for Americans and simply over 500 EUR for Canadians).

This consulate page has all the specific details you demand regarding the awarding.

Portugal

Portugal has multiple long term stay visas. Showtime, in that location is a Aureate Visa, which requires a minimum investment in the country of $300,000 USD. More realisticly, is the D7 visa, which is similar to Spain's retirement visa.

It requires proof of insurance, a groundwork bank check, an application and interview, etc. The main difference, however, is that you simply demand an income of around $9,000 USD instead of the $32,000 USD in savings the Spanish visa required. You even so cannot work on this visa, so your income must be passive (investments, pension, rental property, etc.).

The D7 visa can piece of work for digital nomads, though there is a separate visa that might piece of work ameliorate: the D2 visa.

This visa, known equally the Immigrant Entrepreneur visa, isn't designed specifically for digital nomads. Yous'll need to submit a business plan and demonstrate you take enough capital to get started. You'll likewise demand to explain why y'all want to start (or motion) your business to Portugal. You'll have a much higher gamble of getting canonical if you have invested upward of 5,000 EUR in your business and speak some Portuguese also (it's not required, but these visas are regularly rejected so information technology will give you a leg up).

In curt, there are a lot of steps for a temporary visa that only lasts 1 year. Nevertheless, you tin can get this extended and eventually utilize for permanent residency or citizenship afterwards 5 years.

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

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

The Bilateral Understanding Hack

In add-on to the standard Schengen visa, near countries have numerous bilateral agreements independent of the Shengen visa. These agreements let travelers stay in a specific state for an additional catamenia of time beyond the xc-day Schengen limit. The just caveat is that can't get out that land during that time.

For example, France has a bilateral understanding that allows U.South. citizens to stay an additional xc days beyond the Schengen limit. You lot can enter from whatever Schengen country, stay ninety days in France, and then fly home. But the catch is you have to go abode — you lot tin can't become elsewhere. You lot have to leave Europe so you lot can't use your fourth dimension in France equally a sneaky way to reset your Schengen clock.

Now, the France/U.S. rule is tricky. It'due south based on a post-WW2 agreement that never was cancelled. Multiple French consulates told me yes, they thought this constabulary existed but couldn't tell me where to find it. A few visa services told me I was crazy. One consulate told me it was possible simply just with a long-term visa.

BUT, subsequently many calls, the United states of america, Canda, and Uk French embassies told me that yes, this law does be and that yes, this is still valid. Then they referenced me to the French national archives.

Well, we found the actual diplomatic papers that spell this out. Information technology took united states of america shut to a year to find it merely nosotros did.

This is the note from the French government about it:

Hi,

There is a bilateral agreement between French and the U.S. past exchange letters (March sixteen-31 mars 1949), which allows American citizens to stay in France 90 days over 180 days, irrespective of the stays already made in other Schengen countries.

Even so, this agreement has been fabricated earlier the Schengen agreement. Today, as there is no more than edge control betwixt the Schengen countries, it is very difficult to determine how long a person has stayed in France and we heard that some people had troubles with the immigration constabulary while leaving France.

Therefore, 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 French republic, Service des visas
4101 Reservoir Road, Washington DC, 20007

A follow to the London embassy gave me this response:

"Whilst the bilateral agreement y'all refer to has not officially been revoked, the French Border Police has sole say-so on deciding whether to employ it or not, at the time of entering or exiting the Schengen area."

So this is really a matter. And, while they don't similar you lot using it, information technology'southward withal the constabulary. Just bring proof you stayed in France for 90 days! If you plan to use this rule, bring documentation as border guards my not be aware of information technology.

Additionally, Denmark and Poland also have bilateral agreements with the United States that let citizens stay an boosted 90 days in each land split from the regular Schengen Zone visa. The Denmark rule applies exactly the same way as the French 1. Denmark also has a bilteral agreemnt that is applicable for citizens of Commonwealth of australia, Canada, Chile, State of israel, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South korea.

For Poland, y'all must enter and leave Poland via a not-Schengen land where yous will be stamped again (i.e., straight flight from NYC). So yous could do xc days in the Schengen, fly to the UK, and so fly to Poland. Poland'south rules are merely laid out in an agreement alphabetic character the U.S. and Poland signed in 1991. (Here's a copy of the letter of the alphabet from the Smooth government).

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

However, I reached out to each country's consulate and none of them replied (save Portugal) in any meaningful style. They merely directed me to the standard visa FAQ page.

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

Please note that those sixty days are an exceptional extension that needs to exist requested within Portugal at SEF office near your temporary accost in Portugal.

Now, in theory, 1 could say thank you to borderless travel y'all could go your "actress 90 days in Denmark" and and then just travel effectually, fly out of Kingdom of denmark, and no one would be the wiser. Ane could say that. But I've noticed a lot more than 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.

Note: Nearly counties accept bilateral agreements with other countries. Call the local diplomatic mission for more than information (you lot'll have better luck calling than emailing).

iii. Become a Student Visa

All Schengen Area countries offering educatee visas that are easy to obtain so long equally you're enrolled in a recognized university program. This would crave you to pay for the course, just it will virtually guarantee y'all a visa if you are accustomed.

One of the best countries to do this in is Spain, where a whole industry has sprung up to help students study Spanish. There are tons of schools that will let you to enroll and write letters stating you're a educatee there. You lot'll need to use in your habitation land but the process is relatively straightforward. This mail service details the requirements.

Germany is another pop pick, as post-secondary schools there are essentially free. While there may be more competition, the costs are much lower. You can learn about the application process here.

While most student visas permit you to stay in a country for one year, I would but consider getting one if you really programme on studying. If you lot're only getting a student visa to travel and play tourist, information technology's non going to be worth the toll and paperwork since you'll demand to set upwardly everything from a residential address to a bank account to a local phone number and more.

4. Get a Freelancer Visa

At that place are several countries that offering freelancer visas. This process is a fiddling more complicated and not for the casual tourist. These visas are meant for people who actually desire to live and work in Europe. If you're just a casual tourist, expect to exist denied. Only if you're a digital nomad, this is the visa for you.

Schengen countries that offer freelancer visas include Germany, Estonia, Kingdom of spain, Czechia, Portugal, Greece, and Malta. Non-Schengen countries that have them include Croatia, Romania, Georgia, and Iceland.

Germany is the country nigh used by people who want to reside in Europe. If you're a freelancer, digital nomad, creative person, or have some form of income, this is the visa to get (and information technology's quite easy to get). If you are from Commonwealth of australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.S., Israel, South korea, or Nippon you can employ after you arrive in Germany (everyone else needs to utilize in accelerate).

The visa only lasts for three months, notwithstanding, information technology is designed to exist extended into a residency visa which would then final for three years. I have many friends who have gotten this visa. As long as you follow the steps, you should be fine. This mail has more information near the process.

Most freelancer visas follow a similar format: apply, pay a fee, submit proof that your business can stay afloat, then look to be accepted. Withal, some have more stringent requirements.

For instance, Estonia's freelancer visa requires a monthly income of at least 3,500 EUR per month leading upward to your application. For the Czechia visa, you demand to have at least $six,000 USD in your bank account (the lovely folks at Wandertooth, who did this process a couple of years ago, can walk you lot through the steps).

In recent years, Espana has besides created freelancer visa called the "autonomo" that also follows a similar process. You can read more here.

If you are a digital nomad and are because working remotely from the EU you can compare these programs to come across which one bests suits your goals (though Germany is likely the best identify to get-go since it'due south one of the easiest to get).

5. Become Married to a European

Fall in love with a European (or at least a friend) and utilise for a union visa! You'll get to stay there while the application process goes through and then yous can movement to Europe and stay in that location forever with the honey of your life! That's a win-win! (This is a joke. Don't get married just for a visa to stay in Europe!)

***

The best, easiest, and most effective way to stay in Europe long-term is to increase the number of countries you visit so you're in the Schengen Area for only 90 days. Every bit I said, there are a lot of countries not in the Area then this is easy to practise.

If you're like me and desire to stay in the Schengen Area longer than ninety days (or only want to move to Europe because it's awesome), be prepared to work the organization. Iit'southward non impossible to stay long-term in the Schengen Area. Past understanding the system and using the few loopholes that do exist, one can legally stay by 90 days and enjoy all Europe has to offer without worrying well-nigh being barred for life.

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Book Your Trip to Europe: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a inexpensive flying. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines effectually the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. Start with Skyscanner kickoff though considering they have the biggest reach!

Book Your Accommodation
You tin can volume your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and all-time deals. If you lot desire to stay somewhere other than a hostel, employ Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

For suggestions on where to stay during your trip, here is a list of my favorite hostels in Europe.

Don't Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against disease, injury, theft, and cancellations. Information technology's comprehensive protection in example anything goes wrong. I never go along a trip without it equally I've had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offering the best service and value are:

Safety Wing (for anybody beneath 70)
Insure My Trip (for those over seventy)
Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)

Looking for the All-time Companies to Save Money With?
Check out my resources page for the best companies to apply when you travel. I list all the ones I use to relieve money when I'm on the road. They volition save y'all money when you travel too.

Want More Data on Europe?
Exist sure to visit our robust destination guide on Europe for even more planning tips!

Annotation: Due to the complexities of visas and the uniqueness of everyone'south situation, nosotros do not respond any visa related questions in the comments or via email. Give thanks y'all.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links higher up may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to y'all, I earn a commission if you lot brand a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I apply and the income goes to keeping the site customs supported and ad free.

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