Want to stay in Europe longer than 90 days? Here's how

Sydney Morning Herald

4 days ago

'You have to make sure that you have the stamps from the border police in your passport to be able to prove that you have left the Schengen Area. Afterwards, you are allowed to go back to Germany once for 90 days, but only to Germany.'
An information officer representing the government of the Netherlands provided this information: 'The agreement currently allows Australian citizens to apply to the Dutch immigration service (IND) for an extension of their 90-day visa-free period in the Schengen area if they have already spent 90 days or less in another Schengen country or part of 90 days in another Schengen country and part in the Netherlands.
'If the extension is approved by the IND, they can then spend max 90 days in the Netherlands besides the days they have spent in the other Schengen country. So in total, Australian citizens can spend 180 days in the Schengen area: 90 days in one Schengen country and 90 days in the Netherlands. The extension of the IND has to be applied for before their first 90 days in the Schengen area are up. With the application, travellers have to prove that they have already spent (part of) their visa-free period of 90 days in another Schengen country (for example with hotel reservations, transport tickets, receipts).'
And according to a Danish government website: 'Citizens of certain countries are entitled to stay in Denmark for 90 days or three months, regardless of stays in other Schengen countries.' Australia is one such country.
Which countries still have visa waiver agreements allowing Australian travellers to extend their stay?
In addition to the three countries mentioned above, it is likely that the visa waiver agreement still applies for Australian citizens in Austria, Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway and Sweden. Note that the Nordic countries regard themselves as a single bloc for the purposes of the visa waiver agreement. If you spend 30 days in Sweden under the visa waiver, you could spend only a combined maximum of 60 days in Finland, Norway, Iceland and Denmark.
Can I leave a visa waiver country before my 90 days is up and return later on?
Provided the total number of days you stay in that country does not exceed the 90-day limit, you can leave and re-enter.
Could I spend 90 days in the Schengen area countries, spend the next 90 days in a European country under the visa waiver agreement and then re-enter the Schengen area for another 90 days?
No. For example, if you were to spend 90 days in the Schengen area, then the next 90-day period in The Netherlands under the visa waiver agreement, other Schengen area countries would rightfully say that you have not satisfied the rule requiring you to leave the area after 90 days and to remain outside for the next 90 days. However, it might be possible to stay for 90 days in the Schengen area, followed by 90 days in Germany and 90 days in Denmark under their visa waiver agreements.
Loading
It sounds complicated. How can I prove where I've been, and how long I've stayed there?
Keeping records of your travels is going to be crucial if you want to utilise the visa waiver agreements. According to a representative of the Danish government: 'You have to work out your order of travelling to make the most of it, and it's quite complicated. Since you might not have stamps in your passport as proof of your travels, you need to keep a detailed record. Airline tickets, train and hotel receipts can be used to show when and where you've travelled between countries, and that can provide evidence of your movements to prove you've not overstayed the time you're allowed.'