Canadian staying too long in spain

[ELF]

Hey,
Ive been in Barcelona for almost 2 and a half months and im not alowed to stay for more than 3 months. i want to stay till sept 1st. Now i herd if i go over my limit i will be never alowed back into Barcelona which woulding be cool.

How does the whole leaving and entering back thing work? Can i just leave for 3 days then come back?

Let me know,
Eric

[juliagulia]

I'm not sure on specifics, but just to be sure, why don't you travel the rest of europe for a little (two weeks, maybe?) then come back till the 1st? You could jump over to France, and from there have access to most of Western Europe (maybe BeNeLux, or England, etc.)

I mean, I'm sure it's awesome, but just curious, what makes you want to stay in Spain for over three months? I can barely stand staying in one vacation spot for a week without feeling some sort of tug to go somewhere new

[travelpunk]

Originally posted by ELF@Jul 10 2006, 03:05 AM
How does the whole leaving and entering back thing work? Can i just leave for 3 days then come back?

[snapback]130316[/snapback]

I believe that you can't be in the European Union for more than 3 months at a time. France is part of the EU, so that won't work.

I believe that you can go out for 3 days and then come back in.

From Barcelona, you may want to go south to Morroco across from Tarifa, Spain, but I think you leave from Algeciras, Spain.

Or, you may be able to just go into Switzerland as they are not part of the union or anywhere in Eastern Europe (you may need proper visas in some countries, but not sure).

Just make sure that you get your passport stamped no matter which country you enter. This will have the dates to confirm that you left Spain.


Now, I will tell you from first hand experience that I over stayed my visit to Spain by 11 months (14 months total) !

Other than a week in Portugal, I did not leave the country at all in that time. From what I was told at the time was that Americans (or Canadians) don't go to Spain (or really most countries) to take away jobs, so we're not seen as a threat.

In this case, I took my chances and had no problem re-entering the US after being gone for 14 months, nor did I have a problem re-entering Spain two years later for a 2 week vacation.

All this was after 9/11 as well.

So, whatever path you, good luck and let us know how it turns out !


Check here for visas and foreign entry (Canadian citizens)

Check here for further info on visa's and foreignn entry requirements (US citizens)

[Echeverry]

Isn't Turkey a good loopy, for the fact that it doesn't just belong to Europe????? I'm just having my regular ideas.

[blinkchick2134]

I think Morroco would be your best bet. The ferry from Algeciras, Spain is pretty cheap, i think 60 euros round-trip...not sure though.

[space virgin]

IIRC you have to leave for 3 months... leaving for a couple of days used to be an option but no longer. Damn Schengen Agreement!! But you can spend that 3 months in the UK rather than heading home. It's a cheaper plane ticket at least!

[DJ_VeeeNoM]

Yeah but is he up for the U.K? or anywhere else?

[xanthuos]

Originally posted by space virgin@Jul 10 2006, 11:16 PM
IIRC you have to leave for 3 months... leaving for a couple of days used to be an option but no longer. Damn Schengen Agreement!! But you can spend that 3 months in the UK rather than heading home.* It's a cheaper plane ticket at least!

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Yep....the Schengen Agreement limits most non-EU travelers to a maximum of 90 days in an 180 day period - so if you're in a signatory country for 3 months straight, you can't just leave the Schengen zone for a few days and then come back in...you have to be gone for 3 months before you get more "time."
"The general rule stipulates a maximum 90-day stay within a 180-day period beginning from the first day of entry. Provided a multiple-entry visa has been granted, one may leave and return a number of times within the 180-day period but the combined stay within the region must total no more than 90 days."

Also, Switzerland will soon implement the Schengen rules as well. As others have said, the UK and Ireland are not party to the Schengen agreement.

[travelpunk]

Originally posted by xanthuos@Jul 12 2006, 06:30 PM
Yep....the Schengen Agreement limits most non-EU travelers to a maximum of 90 days in an 180 day period - so if you're in a signatory country for 3 months straight, you can't just leave the Schengen zone for a few days and then come back in...you have to be gone for 3 months before you get more "time."
"The general rule stipulates a maximum 90-day stay within a 180-day period beginning from the first day of entry. Provided a multiple-entry visa has been granted, one may leave and return a number of times within the 180-day period but the combined stay within the region must total no more than 90 days."

Also, Switzerland will soon implement the Schengen rules as well.* As others have said, the UK and Ireland are not party to the Schengen agreement.

[snapback]130744[/snapback]

Thank you guys for clarifying that !

[xanthuos]

Originally posted by travelpunk@Jul 13 2006, 02:32 AM
Thank you guys for clarifying that !

[snapback]130779[/snapback]

Hey, no problem TP...we all must strive to contribute!

[ELF]

Hey
thanks for the quick replys...

I´ve been thinking about what im going to do, it seems that even if i leave to france or italy or anywhere in the EU it makes no difference.

I think im going to goto Morocco for about a week then come back, im sure this should be ok. I have heard a fiew stories of people overstaying and they can still come back in, i guess ill risk it. But if im not allowed to re-enter spain.. ill be SOOOO crushed.

what do you guys think?

Eric

[juliagulia]

Well, if you manage to get in, more power to ya. If not, remember you can still go to England!

[toddkaz]

Hey don't forget the chances of them catching you of being in spain are pretty slim....When you depart from spain to home or to another place just exit the country by train or bus...that way you don't have to show your passport.
Go for it!