How to Stay in Europe Longer Than 90 Days (Schengen Countries): The Ultimate Guide

Should undergraduate or master programs remain to be too costly for you, if not the shorter courses that span for a year or below, consider the language programs since these studies are often cheaper! (Italy is one example of this, as well as Spain).
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There is a type of tourist residence visa in Spain called “non-lucrative” and it is geared towards retired or rich persons who can stay for 1 year in the country. This is as long as they can provide proof that they don’t need to acquire work in Spain, that they are not carrying out any economic activity in Spain, and/or that their clients are not based in Spain — so basically, that the person generates their income outside of Spain. One important proof they need is for you to show that you have a monthly income of at least 2,130 EUR.
For more information: See Spain Embassy or consult your local Swedish embassy for more details on how to stay in Europe longer
. If you don’t leave by the time you hit 90 days, you are subject to a fine or deportation — worst case scenario, you will be banned from the Schengen Area for a period of time (1-3 years) or indefinitely. It’s sometimes considered as ‘okay‘ if you stay for a couple more days and even up to a week, but I advise that you don’t try and push your luck especially if you’re on a visa. And if you stay longer than a week, you should know that you’re going to be in big trouble.
Alternatively, check out my comprehensive visa guides per country.
Lowest yearly tuition fee possible: ,000+ (Php 44,200+)
The good thing about Hungary is that unlike the Scandinavian countries, it is one of the European countries that has a more affordable cost of living, thus, proving your ‘solvency’ would be easier than the others.
Proof of ‘means of support’ per month: At least 6+ (Php 25,000+)
For more information: See ‘Studying in Hungary‘
. Student visas in all Schengen countries are not hard to obtain as long as you are accepted, enrolled, or invited by a university or school — which, of course, you should apply for before entering a Schengen country. Naturally, you would have to pay for these courses but you can always work part-time while studying since most student visa-holders are allowed to do so. Otherwise, you could try to get a scholarship, apply to an exchange program (if you’re still studying), or simply enroll in FREE universities. I call this the ‘Waiting Game‘. If you are able to obtain a long-term visa that will enable you to stay in a Schengen member state for 5 to 10 years, then your citizenship is ostensibly secured. On the other hand, if you can inspect your family tree and discover that you have ancestors who are citizens or have become residents in EU countries in the past, your years of ‘waiting‘ can be shortened! Examples of these are:
This is a delicate subject because almost all Schengen countries do NOT tolerate extensions once you get into the area with a short-term (less than 90 days) tourist visa. Be that as it may, the good news is: it’s still and always possible if you’re resourceful and creative enough. (Extensions for long-term visas for studies, work, etc. are a different matter altogether).
Nevertheless, it’s said by most travelers (who are free to enter Schengen countries with just a passport) that southern countries like Greece, France, Spain, and Italy are not so strict on checks. While western countries like Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, and EFTA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) are very firm with entry and exits (primarily at the airports or train stations, more so if you’re going to an isolated island).
Unfortunately, this could be a bit tricky for those who would typically need a visa to enter any European country since most visa applications have to be done in your home country… and to the best of my knowledge, it’s customarily NOT allowed to apply for 2 or more similar short-term visas in one appointment. (Correct me if I’m wrong). What you can do though is to get a Schengen Tourist Visa for 90 days (3 months) and then get another 180 days (6 months) tourist visa for the UK or through other European countries and that would technically enable you to stay in the European area for a long time. (Best to get multiple entry visas too so that, for example, you can go in and out of UK to France as many times as you want).
Unfortunately, this could be a bit tricky for those who would typically need a visa to enter any European country since most visa applications have to be done in your home country… and to the best of my knowledge, it’s customarily NOT allowed to apply for 2 or more similar short-term visas in one appointment. (Correct me if I’m wrong). What you can do though is to get a Schengen Tourist Visa for 90 days (3 months) and then get another 180 days (6 months) tourist visa for the UK or through other European countries and that would technically enable you to stay in the European area for a long time. (Best to get multiple entry visas too so that, for example, you can go in and out of UK to France as many times as you want).
Unfortunately, this could be a bit tricky for those who would typically need a visa to enter any European country since most visa applications have to be done in your home country… and to the best of my knowledge, it’s customarily NOT allowed to apply for 2 or more similar short-term visas in one appointment. (Correct me if I’m wrong). What you can do though is to get a Schengen Tourist Visa for 90 days (3 months) and then get another 180 days (6 months) tourist visa for the UK or through other European countries and that would technically enable you to stay in the European area for a long time. (Best to get multiple entry visas too so that, for example, you can go in and out of UK to France as many times as you want).

» Find Work or Stay as a Freelancer

Unfortunately, this could be a bit tricky for those who would typically need a visa to enter any European country since most visa applications have to be done in your home country… and to the best of my knowledge, it’s customarily NOT allowed to apply for 2 or more similar short-term visas in one appointment. (Correct me if I’m wrong). What you can do though is to get a Schengen Tourist Visa for 90 days (3 months) and then get another 180 days (6 months) tourist visa for the UK or through other European countries and that would technically enable you to stay in the European area for a long time. (Best to get multiple entry visas too so that, for example, you can go in and out of UK to France as many times as you want).

» Do a Union or Reunion in Europe

Unfortunately, this could be a bit tricky for those who would typically need a visa to enter any European country since most visa applications have to be done in your home country… and to the best of my knowledge, it’s customarily NOT allowed to apply for 2 or more similar short-term visas in one appointment. (Correct me if I’m wrong). What you can do though is to get a Schengen Tourist Visa for 90 days (3 months) and then get another 180 days (6 months) tourist visa for the UK or through other European countries and that would technically enable you to stay in the European area for a long time. (Best to get multiple entry visas too so that, for example, you can go in and out of UK to France as many times as you want).

» Apply for Citizenship

Unfortunately, this could be a bit tricky for those who would typically need a visa to enter any European country since most visa applications have to be done in your home country… and to the best of my knowledge, it’s customarily NOT allowed to apply for 2 or more similar short-term visas in one appointment. (Correct me if I’m wrong). What you can do though is to get a Schengen Tourist Visa for 90 days (3 months) and then get another 180 days (6 months) tourist visa for the UK or through other European countries and that would technically enable you to stay in the European area for a long time. (Best to get multiple entry visas too so that, for example, you can go in and out of UK to France as many times as you want).

» Hold a Long-Term Tourist Visa

Unfortunately, this could be a bit tricky for those who would typically need a visa to enter any European country since most visa applications have to be done in your home country… and to the best of my knowledge, it’s customarily NOT allowed to apply for 2 or more similar short-term visas in one appointment. (Correct me if I’m wrong). What you can do though is to get a Schengen Tourist Visa for 90 days (3 months) and then get another 180 days (6 months) tourist visa for the UK or through other European countries and that would technically enable you to stay in the European area for a long time. (Best to get multiple entry visas too so that, for example, you can go in and out of UK to France as many times as you want).

» In & Out Hop

Unfortunately, this could be a bit tricky for those who would typically need a visa to enter any European country since most visa applications have to be done in your home country… and to the best of my knowledge, it’s customarily NOT allowed to apply for 2 or more similar short-term visas in one appointment. (Correct me if I’m wrong). What you can do though is to get a Schengen Tourist Visa for 90 days (3 months) and then get another 180 days (6 months) tourist visa for the UK or through other European countries and that would technically enable you to stay in the European area for a long time. (Best to get multiple entry visas too so that, for example, you can go in and out of UK to France as many times as you want).

» Schengen Visa Extensions

If you are 25 to 31 and a citizen of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, you are eligible to get a working holiday visa that grants you the right to stay, work, or find work in the Schengen Area for one to two years .
For more information: See Work Holiday Visas for how to stay in Europe longer
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If you are 25 to 31 and a citizen of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, you are eligible to get a working holiday visa that grants you the right to stay, work, or find work in the Schengen Area for one to two years .
For more information: See Work Holiday Visas for how to stay in Europe longer
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If you are 25 to 31 and a citizen of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, you are eligible to get a working holiday visa that grants you the right to stay, work, or find work in the Schengen Area for one to two years .
For more information: See Work Holiday Visas for how to stay in Europe longer
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If you’re a freelancer, Germany’s self-employment visa is your top solution in finding ways on how to stay in Europe longer. This is not the kind of visa that makes you move your ‘company’ to Germany, but it’s a visa for being an artist, writer, digital nomad, accountant, etc. (their definition of being an artist is also pretty loose, so no matter your freelancer profession, there’s a chance you’re admitted). The best part? Application for this type of visa can be done while you’re in Germany and it can be approved in a week provided that you have fulfilled all the necessary requirements. If however, your tourist visa is close to expiring upon application, they will give you a temporary 3-month visa as they process your request (some people take this course of action since even if they don’t get approved, they have already managed to extend their stay).
For more information: See Berlin.de or this Get a Residence in Germany as an American for how to stay in Europe longer
UPDATE: Spain has also created a freelancer visa that’s called “autonomo” and the process is somewhat similar to Germany’s. For more information, check SpainGuru.
[*] Visa waiver applies only to holders of biometric passports
[1] Passport must include identity number
NOTE: This list is as of 2020. Ireland, UK, and their territories are allowed limitless entry to the Schengen Area – BUT, due to Brexit, UK citizens will soon have to apply for a visa

• Register as legal partners – if you have a significant other who is a national of one of the Schengen countries, it’s possible to come into the country with a tourist visa and then immediately jumpstart a live-in or cohabitation agreement (NOT marriage) to be able to remain in the country longer even after the expiry of your tourist visa. Customarily, applications like this only become successful if you can prove that you’re in a relationship for at least 2 years or have lived together for at least 1 year. (Countries that I know of who can take on these kinds of applications are Belgium and the Netherlands.)
• Partner with an NGO or Tourism Board – if you can find an NGO, tourism board, or organization that can vouch for you, it’s possible to gain an easy extension. Some travel bloggers have been able to use this method as they offer their skills of writing or blog ‘reach’ to the appropriate institutions. This is definitely worth your while, especially if a certain migration office is open to other types of visa applications (i.e. I’ve read an account of someone that’s able to do this in Romania; even if it’s not part of the Schengen Area yet, some legit member states can conceivably acknowledge this circumstance).

Overall, if you want to do use this method of ‘hopping’ around, just please remember to:

Lowest yearly tuition fee possible: FREE
Regardless of nationality, tuition fees in Finland are absolutely free at whatever level! (Plans of putting tuition fees on non-EU students for 2016 have been totally abandoned). But as per any student application abroad, you would need to prove that you can handle your own living expenses.
Proof of ‘means of support’ per month: At least 0+ (Php 27,800+)
For more information: See ‘Studying in Finland‘
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• Do your own research. I cannot stress this enough. Take my advice on how to stay in Europe longer with a grain of salt. Besides, the information that I post here is based on my own findings and experiences, so it’s your responsibility to ensure that the facts that I have here are still up-to-date or true at the time that you are reading this article. I say this because I certainly don’t want you to waste your money or time when you suddenly find out that certain conditions are changed, eradicated, etc.
• Check migration rules. Be well-informed of the rules that apply to you depending on your nationality or passport. Know your limits and your benefits. Speaking of a passport, always ensure that it is NOT expiring anytime soon.

I understand that a lot of people want to have the right to stay for more than 90 days or 3 months, especially since going on a complete ‘Eurotrip‘ can’t be done in such a short span of time. So with this post on how to stay in Europe longer, I will be giving you different ideas and options on how you can legally extend your European vacation! But first, let me give you some background information.