Confused about Schengen multiple entry

[aludden]

Hello!
I don't want to overstay but don't understand the rules on 90 days stay within 180 days when having multiple entries. I have been searching for hours and can't find the information.

I am a US citizen, so I just show up at the airport and get a stamp in my passport, no specific Visa.

I first came to Schengen on 7 Jan 2009, and left on 17 Feb 2009.

Then I came back on 17 June 2009.

So, do the 180 days go from 7 Jan to 6 July?

Did a new 180 day period start on 7 July? I did not leave Schengen since 17 June.

Does that mean I can stay 90 days from 7 July? i.e. 5 October?

Or is it 90 days from my latest entry, 17 June, which would be Sep 15?

I haven't seen anything in Europe.eu or anywhere else on the web that explains this. If you can direct me to a site I will look.

Thank you!
alex

[86ti]

The 180 days start from the first day of entry.

[aludden]

Thank you for your reply. Everything I read says your answer, but that doesn't explain to me if per the dates posted I can stay until 5 October or only until 15 Sep. - i.e. how the overlap of my two trips is handled.

Thanks!
alex

[86ti]

You are thinking too complicated! You are allowed to stay three months (or 90 days) out of six months (or 180 days or half-year depending on where you got the information). Counting starts from the first day of entry. The new period starts six months after the first entry which means that you can stay another three months in the six months that follow.

So to spare you the complicated maths involved here: 5 October if you want to consume your 90 days in one piece. You can then come back 7 Jan 2010 if your visa allows it.

[aludden]

Thank you!

That's what I hoped. I was worried, because that would make my current stay more than 90 days in one chunk (since 17 June), because part of the time is in one 180 day period, and the other part is in the next.

Of course, I plan to go to Croatia for two weeks in between, but didn't want to complicate it even more

Thanks!
alex