Hi everyone,
Two years ago, I got a 5-year visa. But I had to change my plans and haven’t used it yet.
Do you think it’s still valid? I’d like to go to India at the beginning of the year.
I’ve got a big doubt. Do you know where I can find this info?
Thanks a bunch!
Hi Lula,
If it weren’t you, I wouldn’t have replied, thinking it was a troll prank...
If you applied for a 5-year visa two years ago but never used it, I assume you didn’t actually go to India. In that case, YOU DID NOT OBTAIN A VISA—which is only issued upon arrival in India. What you received was an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) that’s only valid for 4 months!!!
I’m surprised because you’re not naive, and all this is clearly explained on the official website: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in
So you’ll need to start the process all over again. Just do it.
And this time, make sure to read everything carefully, especially the photo and document requirements for uploads.
Good luck
Helloooo,
Thanks for replying—really appreciate it!
You’ll see they use the term e-visa.
But your answer’s got me even more confused:
I got this by email back then (hiding personal details):
Nationality :-
FRANCE
Visa Type :-
e-Visa
Service Name :-
eTOURIST VISA
No. of Entries :-
Multiple
Date of issue of ETA :- December 28th, 2022
Date of expiry of ETA :- December 27th, 2027
Visa Processing Fee Paid (Excluding Bank Charges) :- $80
e-Visa Validity period is 5 Years from the date of issuance of this ETA.
When I check their site now:
Application Status :- Granted
ETA Number : (deleted)
Nationality :- FRANCE
Visa Type :- e-Visa
Service Name :- eTOURIST VISA
No. of entries :- Multiple
Activities Permitted :-
Well, yes, it's the ETA! It's valid for 4 months. That means once you've obtained it (Granted), you can (must) travel within 4 months, and your VISA is only issued upon arrival. Make sure to arrive at one of the airports listed as possible entry points.
You seem to doubt me, that's not very nice. You can trust me. I'm experienced and I don’t just say anything... Otherwise, I wouldn’t have replied to your message.
But didn’t you download/print your ETA when you received it? Everything is written on it...
Okay, I’m totally lost now because what you’re talking about is the ETA. And the ETA is only valid for 4 months after you receive it! But you got yours in 2022. Let’s hope they understood you correctly. Especially since everyone who read my reply agrees with me! 😏
I really hope everything goes smoothly when you arrive...
I feel like such an idiot !
At the same time, it’s not surprising because they’re very strict about photo requirements: white or light background, no smiling, shoulders only, no chest visible, the face must take up almost the entire photo frame, etc...
Yet, I know a young woman who submitted a photo with a black background, a big smile, and her entire upper body visible down to her chest—basically the exact opposite of what’s required.
Normally, her photo should’ve been rejected, and so should her visa application. But she got her ETA approved in 48 hours!!!
Or, as a friend told me, maybe they’re getting so few applications and so few Western tourists in India that they’re no longer strict about their paperwork requirements.
I don’t know what to do. If I trust their response, I’ll be freaking out until I’m on the plane.
So, for my peace of mind, I’ll probably apply for another one...
As for your air... let’s keep that between us. ;)
On top of that, they add another layer in their requirements, specifying that the ETA IS NOT THE VISA and doesn’t guarantee that the visa will be automatically granted upon arrival.
Which airport are you arriving at?
Anyway, make sure to print this response in case you run into any issues upon arrival to prove your good faith.
good evening lula, hello everyone
just read carefully above:
Date of issue of ETA: December 28th, 2022
Date of expiry of ETA: December 27th, 2027
Visa Processing Fee Paid (Excluding Bank Charges): $80
e-Visa Validity period is 5 Years from the date of issuance of this ETA.
which shows the ETA expiry date, i.e., December 27th, 2027
so it’s valid! sorry marien, but that’s what’s written! and have a great trip, lula!
prenons soins de la terre pour le futur des prochaines générations!
Hello VagamOnde,
So kind of you to chime in. And good call by Marien to tag you.
So you’d say it’s all good. Not sure if that reassures me or not. What would you do in my shoes? Would you head straight to the airport?
hi lula, yeah, I’d leave without worrying. but since I’m no longer in India and have never done an e-visa, things often change in these processes, so it’s best to read carefully.
prenons soins de la terre pour le futur des prochaines générations!
I’m sorry, Lula, if I worried you and if I said something silly.
Regarding what I said about the ETA being valid for 4 months, it might have been my misinterpretation of this:
For e-Tourist Visa (01 year / 05 years), e-Business Visa, e-Medical, e-Medical Attendant and e-Conference visa, applicants from eligible countries/territories can apply online at least 4 days before the date of arrival. Applications can be made up to 120 days in advance of the proposed travel date.
(ii) For e-Tourist Visa (30 days), applicants from eligible countries/territories can apply online at least 4 days before the date of arrival. Applications can be made up to 30 days in advance of the proposed travel date.
I interpreted that you *had* to travel within 120 days after applying.
I assumed you’d given your arrival date in India within that 120-day window, even though you’re traveling 2 years later...
I read all the fine print at the bottom of the ETA page, including this:
This electronic travel authorization does not entitle you to guaranteed entry into India. Your entry can still be refused upon arrival.
That’s what made me say the ETA is a travel authorization, but it’s not the visa. The actual visa will be the little sticker pasted in your passport.
Basically, after reading that, I concluded the ETA is granted, but the real visa isn’t *really* confirmed until you arrive at the destination airport.
I’m truly, sincerely sorry if I freaked you out, and I wish you a great trip and hope everything goes smoothly when you arrive. Let us know how it goes here, I hope!
From now on, I’ll refrain from answering questions like this where everyone has their own interpretation of Indian requirements and regulations.
excuse marien, but that's what it says! and have a great trip lula!
I'm particularly surprised that you're saying the opposite here of what you privately agreed with about my intervention. And I congratulate you for reassuring Lula, whom I’ve upset so much.
given that I'm no longer in India and having never done an e-visa, things often change in these processes, so it's important to read carefully.
It's true that you, who have never applied for an e-visa and haven’t traveled in several years, are in a better position to talk about e-visa requirements. And it's too bad that I read all the fine print carefully and with my long experience of the Indian administration's rigidity and complications.
Marien, don’t be sorry, please. I asked this question because I was unsure myself, and I vaguely remembered that the validity was limited.
On the contrary, thank *you* for taking the time to reply and letting us exchange thoughts. I’ll definitely share later what I ended up doing and whether I re-entered India with this e-visa or another one.
"It’s true that you, who’ve never applied for an e-visa and haven’t traveled in years, are in a better position to talk about e-visa eligibility requirements."
Just pointing out that I did respond to your call-out, and I could’ve just as easily not replied since I don’t know much about the e-visa (aside from your adventures in our private chats).
My take on the ETA details in the post is exactly what I read carefully—no interpretation needed.
Come on, let’s not argue about it! Go pack your bags, your departure’s coming up!
prenons soins de la terre pour le futur des prochaines générations!
Everything written here seems pretty confusing.
I was in the same situation and I went to the official website with my reference number—application file—and I printed out the e-visa/ETA. When I arrived at immigration in India, they stamped my passport after I showed them the paper.
Nothing complicated!!!
I was supposed to leave in March 2020 and COVID hit me.
So I only went back in November last year, 2023.
Validity: January 2020 to January 2025. And I’m heading back on November 10th to take advantage of my visa while it’s still valid! !
Lula,
As a safety measure, it’d be a good idea to send an email in English to support-boi@mha.gov.in AND visasupport@gov.in explaining your situation clearly.
In any case, you must travel with the same passport as the one listed on your ETA (keep the old one and bring it with you if you get a new one. If the old one is no longer accessible, you’ll need to apply for a new visa. But be careful—some people have been denied a new visa when they already had a valid one....😐
Lula,
As a safety measure, it’d be helpful to send an email in English to support-boi@mha.gov.in AND visasupport@gov.in clearly explaining the situation.
In any case, you must travel with the same passport as the one listed on the ETA (keep the old one and bring it with you if you get a new one. If the old one is no longer accessible, you’ll need to reapply for a visa. But be careful—some people have been denied a new visa when they still had a valid old one....😐
Thanks, Babibi, for being less categorical.
Sorry for chiming in again. Your nuanced take is wise. If it were me, I’d ask the right questions again, making sure to draw Indian Visa Online’s attention to the fact that I waited TWO YEARS—well over the 120 days mentioned—before traveling.
That little phrase saying the e-visa isn’t automatically granted on arrival, even if the ETA is GRANTED, really doesn’t sit well with me.
I’ve run into jerks MULTIPLE TIMES who made me sweat for 30 or 40 minutes before stamping my passport, asking dozens of questions, pulling mysterious faces, leaving their counter to check with a supervisor, etc. And there you are, wondering what’s wrong—are they gonna stamp it or not? It’s ALWAYS worked out in the end, but what a nightmare!!!
There are national rules, but every airport—and especially every agent at their own counter—does things their own way. One will stamp your passport in 5 minutes without asking a single question, while another will drag it out for over half an hour, grilling you with 50 suspicious questions. One will thank you for visiting India so often, and another will find it super sketchy that you come so often...
An example of the inconsistency I’m talking about is what Babibi mentioned about applying for a new visa while still having a valid one. I’ve done it twice, and both times, the existing visa was simply canceled in favor of the new one. Yet I’ve heard of other travelers being denied a new visa... because they had a valid one.
But it gets even better.
I’ve been denied the famous "entry visa" multiple times—the one that lets you stay in India indefinitely for 5 years as a resident—because I was a TENANT and not a HOMEOWNER.
Yet I know someone in the exact same situation (tenant, not homeowner) who was granted that same entry visa without any issues at a different embassy...
Good luck!!!
Hi,
I hold a 5-year visa that, by the way, just expired. I’ve been visiting India every year, and up until last February, I hadn’t had any issues at all.
This time, though, I ran into a particularly zealous official who scrutinized my passport and noticed that I come to India "often." Which is pretty relative, if you ask me.
Without saying a word, he disappeared into an office. About 20 minutes later, he came back and asked me to follow him. I tried asking questions, but all he said was "wait here." So, I waited in a hallway. One of his colleagues eventually showed up (after making me wait even longer), passport in hand, and asked me a few questions about my past trips to India. "What did you go do in such-and-such place?" Places where very few foreigners probably go, but okay...
He told me there’s nothing to do in those cities. I said that’s exactly what interests me. Anyway, he found it weird...
But I still got my stamp!
The whole thing made me realize that thanks to the forms filled out at hotels, the police and immigration services track your movements very precisely.
I was told it’s for security reasons—to protect me.!
Hello,
Holder of a 5-year visa that, by the way, just expired, I’ve been coming to India every year, and up until last February, I hadn’t had the slightest problem.
This time, I ran into an overzealous official who scrutinized my passport and noticed that I came to India "often." Which is pretty relative.
Without saying a word, he left for an office. About 20 minutes later, he came back and asked me to follow him. I questioned him, but all he said was "wait here." So I waited in a hallway. One of his colleagues arrived (after making me wait even longer), passport in hand, and asked me a few questions about my past trips to India. What did you go do in such-and-such a place? Places where very few foreigners probably go, but okay...
He told me there’s nothing to do in those cities. I said that’s exactly what interests me. Anyway, he found it weird...
But I got my stamp!
Bottom line, this made me realize that thanks to the forms filled out in hotels, the police and immigration services track your movements very precisely.
I was told it was for security reasons, to protect me!
A huge thank you for your testimony—it backs up my own experience. I sounded like I was talking nonsense...
So it really is just a story of some overzealous guy or gal at the counter. And the time it takes is incredibly stressful. Especially since, as you said, no matter how much you ask what’s going on, they don’t answer and just give you this super unpleasant, mysterious, suspicious look!
It was in Mumbai in the middle of the night, of course.
Luckily, no one was waiting for me, and I wasn’t in a rush since I was waiting for my hotel room to be ready.
But that doesn’t excuse this way of doing things. As you said, this mysterious attitude could be worrying.
It feels like a bad crime novel.
I probably ran into an overzealous official looking for a promotion
As you said, that mysterious attitude could be worrying.
It feels like a bad crime novel.
I probably ran into the overzealous official looking for a promotion
I would’ve thought Bangalore—there’s a bunch of zealous types like that there...
What you’re describing, I’ve experienced 4 or 5 times, always in Bangalore and nowhere else. Last May, when I LEFT India, I ran into one of those guys who made me sweat for 40 minutes!!!
His argument was: You have a tourist visa and you don’t move around! You always stay in the same place! And why do you come so often? And why do you stay so long? etc...
One day, when I arrived, I was the first one off the plane and nearly the first at the immigration counter. That was the worst day! Over 40 minutes of hassle with dozens of questions, repeating the same ones to see if I’d trip up. At one point, I turned around—the whole room was empty, over 350 people had already gone through!!!
I’m starting to think about only entering and exiting India through Delhi, where it’s always quick and easy. But when you need to go to the deep south, it’s really not ideal.
This time, less than a week ago, it took 5 minutes. But I had a new passport and a new visa...
I'm leaving in early January with a new passport and a new 5-year visa. Fingers crossed I get it!
I'll see if they question me again and keep you posted.
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I’m a bit embarrassed because I need to travel to Quebec from February 27th to March 13th. I’m a regular visitor to Canada—this will be my 10th trip since 1997, plus a year as a permanent resident (2000–2001) and a cross-country run from Vancouver to Halifax in 2011. So, I’m definitely not a terrorist!
But since our last trip in July 2015, they’ve introduced this eTA thing. Seems more like a way to make money than to actually secure Canada, if you ask me, but anyway, that’s not the point.
I applied for an eTA for myself, my wife, and our two kids. They all got approved within hours, but not me! I was asked to create a GC key and then an IRCC account, which I did. Normally, you get news within 72 hours, but since Monday, January 15th, nothing!
In the "message" section of the account, it says "explanation letter (required)" with a deadline of January 25th, but I can’t find any explanation anywhere—despite searching the Canadian government website and Google. No links, nothing!
I’ve emailed them but haven’t heard back yet. I’m thinking of calling the Canadian embassy in Paris tomorrow. Even though I’m not stressing yet, it’d be a bummer if everyone else got to go without me!
If anyone’s had this issue before or knows what this explanation letter is about, I’d love to hear more.
hi there
I’m heading to Seoul in September, and to do that I need to get a travel authorization that we apply for through K-ETA....... turns out I can (barely, I admit) fill out the form up to the address of our "stay location," but every address I’ve entered has been rejected by the system. I’ve tried my hotel, the Lotte Hotel (which is well-known in Seoul), the airport—basically, I’ve entered at least 20 addresses, all rejected....
So, to anyone who’s successfully gotten the authorization, could you tell me which address you used to get that "elusive" approval?...
Question for those who’ve done it:
In theory (French national), I’m visa-exempt for a 30-day tourist stay, but on France Diplomatie it says on this page
Hi there,
I know there are similar topics here and elsewhere, but they’re a few years old, and I need an up-to-date answer to make sure I don’t throw over 1000 € out the window. Thanks for your patience.
I’m planning a trip from France to Alberta/British Columbia, and I’m unsure about which bank card to use for the security deposit with the rental company (I’m thinking of going with AVIS).
I contacted Avis Canada, and they told me a credit card is absolutely required. I asked my bank for a credit card (a *real* credit card), but they only offered me a deferred debit card.
My question: For a rental with Avis Canada, is a Gold International Mastercard deferred debit card usable for the security deposit needed to finalize the rental? Is the "CREDIT" label enough? (Some cards say "CREDIT" and others say "CARTE DE CREDIT"—seems minor, but it’s actually a big deal in how the card works.)
I’ve seen conflicting info everywhere I look... My bank says it’s *usually* okay (the deferred debit card), while Avis Canada insists it *must* be a credit card, not debit—even when I mention the deferred debit card.
I know the whole credit card concept is already confusing, and on top of that, some sites say a deferred debit card counts as a credit card, while others say it doesn’t.
Thanks to anyone who can share a recent experience!
Have a great day
Hi there,
I’m heading to Senegal in January for a month and was wondering if I just need my French driver’s license or if I should get an international permit?
Thanks!
JL
Hi,
I’m bringing Seresta, an anxiolytic (tranquilizer) from the benzodiazepine family,
to help me sleep.
I’ll have the prescription with me.
Will this be a problem at customs, and do I need to declare it?
Same question for antibiotics?
Thanks a bunch!
I’m heading to Laos next spring, but I have a question about the Thai arrival/departure form. I’ll be flying PAR-BKK, then taking the train to Laos (so exiting Thailand), and later re-entering Thailand by train to catch my return flight. Do I need to fill out two forms in this case?
Hi there,
I have a 9-seater passenger vehicle that I use for my business in Paris, transporting people.
I’m planning to go to Algeria with my family.
The vehicle registration lists my company as the owner.
Can I get a TPD (Temporary Admission Document)?
Will I need a KBis extract or a power of attorney?!?
Thanks for your help.
Worst case, I can add my personal name as a co-owner on the registration, but that would be a real shame!
Hi,
I’m writing to ask for some info—I’ve heard that you **must** have travel insurance to land in Zanzibar.
What’s the process, and which insurance should I get?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Best,
Seb
Hi, are there any travelers who’ve recently crossed the border between Karakalpakstan (Uzbekistan) and Beineu in Kazakhstan?
It was closed for a while.
Thanks for any info!
I bought a one-way flight (Ryanair) and a return flight (EasyJet) to spend a week in Morocco in April.
My passport expires 3 weeks after the return date.
Some websites say the passport must be valid for 3 months at the time of entry.
However, it will still be valid both on entry and return, but its validity will only be 1 month at the time of entry (and 3 weeks on the return date, everything prepaid).
It's an individual family trip.
The consulate can't give me an answer—they're still looking into it (really!)
Last year, we stayed for 3 months in Thailand, north of Khao Lak, and were able to benefit from the 2-month visa exemption, renewable for one month by going to Takua Pa to validate a 1-month extension (1,900 baht).
This year, it’s a disaster for us—not only were we planning a 4-month stay, adding a visa run in between (which some say is quite risky), but the law is apparently changing in the coming months with the return of the 1-month exemption (plus the usual 1-month option). So, we looked into applying for a 6-month multiple-entry visa, allowing a maximum of 60 consecutive days in Thailand. However, I can’t find anywhere the minimum time required outside Thailand between two stays—do any of you have an idea?
Thanks for the info! If you’d like tips on Khao Lak and the surrounding areas, we’ve got some experience, though things change fast!
Cheers,
Bruno.
My partner, our 8-year-old daughter, and I are going on vacation to Gex.
We’ve decided to spend one day in Switzerland and another in Italy. Will we need ID (national ID card or passport)? Do we also need ID for our daughter?
Hello,
We’ll soon be moving to Madagascar long-term.
As a French national, I need to obtain a short-stay visa that can be converted to a long-stay one. To do this, I have to send the required documents to the Madagascar embassy in Paris.
No issues with that procedure so far.
If I get this visa, once I arrive in Madagascar, I’ll need to provide the same documents to the Ministry of the Interior in Anosy. I’m trying to find an email address or website for the Ministry to check which documents I need to submit (I think they ask for additional ones).
If you have any info on this, I’d appreciate your replies.
Best regards,
M. Buisson Eric
I’d like to know if anyone has already applied for a private visa to Russia with an invitation from a Russian resident.
I traveled earlier this year with an e-visa, but since I want to stay longer, I’ll be visiting my friend who lives in eastern Russia.
For the visa application, does the invitation need to be on an official paper form issued by the Russian ministry? And most importantly, do I need to present the original for the application, or is there an electronic version that can be sent directly to the consulate in France?
Thanks for any info if you’ve gone through this process before!
I filled out the B2 form to apply for a visa, created an account on Atvis to pay the visa fees and schedule a meet-up, but every time I try to pay with my Boursobank Visa 1st card, they refuse the payment with a message telling me to check my details (address), even though everything is correct. Does anyone know why this is happening, or maybe they don’t accept Visa cards? Are you aware of this?
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Elisabeth
There are rumors going around about the ETA: it must absolutely be on your smartphone in the "ETA" app.
Paper documents might not be accepted.
Is this real or just a hoax?
Thanks, I’m leaving in 3 weeks. My passport is good to go and my ETA is still valid for a year, but I only printed the email I received.
Thanks everyone.
Hi there,
We need to apply for a B2 visa because we visited Iran in 2018. It currently costs $185, but they’re planning an additional $250 fee per person for the same visa—it’s been approved but not yet implemented. Does anyone know when this fee will take effect?
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Hi there,
In November, we're heading off on a 4-month trip. We'll be landing in China and plan to leave the country via a land border into Vietnam.
I’ve read that China may ask for proof of exit within 30 days (flight ticket or other reservation). Since we’d be leaving by land, I’m wondering how this works in practice.
Has anyone here been in this situation recently?
Did the airline ask for an exit ticket before boarding?
Did Chinese authorities require proof upon arrival?
Is a train/bus ticket to Vietnam sufficient?
Is a cancelable or flexible reservation accepted?
Hi there,
Just a question that’s probably been asked before (though usually the other way around for my situation :))
My wife and I are heading to the US.
On her ticket, it only has her maiden name (e.g., Martine DUPOND).
On her passport, it’s written as Martine DUPOND épouse AVRY.
No issues for travel, I hope I did the right thing with the ticket?
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I’m spending a few days in San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) and would like to cross the Argentine border to make a loop toward Salta and then return to Chile to drop off the rental car.
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I saw on the French Embassy in Peru’s website and the Peruvian Consulate in Paris’s site that the rule is to have a passport valid for 6 months *after the arrival date* (not the return date).
I arrive in Peru on August 13, 2019 (for about twelve days), and my passport is valid until February 16, 2020.
That’s 6 months and 3 days after my arrival date in Peru. In my opinion, I’m good to go.
But could I still be denied entry if they say I don’t cover the return date or that I’m too close to the 6-month mark?
I read on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that it’s possible to apply for a temporary driving permit in China, valid for 1 month.
I’m planning to rent a car (without a driver) to explore part of the country next August, so I was wondering:
Has anyone here already gone through this process upon arrival?
How long do the formalities take on the spot?
Is it possible to handle these steps in advance, before arriving in China?
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My departure is slowly approaching, and now that I’ve got my Russian visa sorted, I’m fine-tuning the rest of my trip to Tajikistan. Since the Tajik visa is no longer required for stays under 30 days (for French nationals), I’ll need to visit the Ministry of Interior (OVIR) to register within 10 days of entering the country. No big deal, though, since I had to go there anyway to apply for my GBAO permit. 😉 However, I’ve *seen* several reports from travelers (mostly motorized) mentioning that you need an entry permit for Kyrgyzstan, which has to be arranged in advance at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) in Dushanbe. Otherwise, you’re *stuck* at the Kyzyl-Art border (with no Wi-Fi, of course, to try and sort it out). The most recent report was from a year ago, so I’d love to know if this is still the case and if it’s indeed at the Kyrgyz Ministry (consulate?) where you need to go for this pre-authorization.
Does anyone have any recent info on this?
Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone.
I’m leaving for almost 3 months in the Philippines (11 weeks total) starting in early May.
I already have my round-trip ticket.
The problem is, I don’t have time to get a 2-month visa because the process takes nearly a month.
From what I’ve read here and there, I need a return ticket valid for less than a month when I arrive in the Philippines to prove my good faith.
After that, I can apply for a 30-day extension at the immigration office.
I’m planning to either buy a fully refundable ticket to the nearest country or a fake ticket.
For 3 months, I’ll need to extend my visa two more times before my return date to France.
My question is this:
Will immigration ask me each time I extend my visa by one month to show proof of an exit ticket matching the new visa extension date?
Is it possible to extend directly by 2 months before the initial 30 days expire?
Thanks in advance for your experiences and tips! 😊
I’ve been to Thailand several times, but it was about 20 years ago…
There’s a new system in place now, it seems.
TDAC – Thailand Digital Arrival Card.
Before arriving, I apply for a TDAC, okay.
If during my stay I cross the border to spend a few days in Malaysia and then re-enter Thailand,
do I need to submit a new TDAC application?
Do I use the same TDAC as when I first entered the country?
Or do I initially have to pay for a Thai multi-entry visa?
Thanks in advance for your insights—I can’t find the answer online.
My partner (Mexican) entered France on January 21st as a tourist. She was therefore entitled to stay for 90 days in the Schengen Area. She’ll be leaving for Mexico on April 16th, so she’ll have “used up” 86 days.
She plans to return to France on July 18th. According to the European Commission’s Schengen calculator, this new stay “may be authorized for a maximum of 90 days.” That’s not very clear ("may be," "for a maximum of").
The text of Article 6 of the European regulation (2016/399) states that for a stay planned in the territory of the Member States, not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period, one must examine "the 180-day period preceding each day of the stay." That’s not very clear either.
My partner wants to return to France for a 90-day period starting on July 18th. Is this possible?
There are two ways to look at it:
1) The first day she spent in the Schengen Area was January 21st. That day will drop out of the calculation 180 days later, on July 20th.
From July 20th, she’ll get back 1 day of possible stay; on July 22nd, 2 days; and so on. All the days from her previous stay (January 21st–April 16th) need to be outside the 180-day rolling window.
The last day of her stay was April 16th. Looking 180 days ahead, that brings us to October 13th. From that date, she’ll be able to return for a full 90 days.
2) The number of allowed days is calculated for each day of the new stay. In other words: the 180-day window is recalculated every day, not fixed at the entry date.
If she re-enters France on July 18th, she’ll only have a “credit” of 4 days. But with each day of her new stay, one day from the previous stay (January–April) will drop out of the calculation. The rolling window allows her to “replace” days from the previous stay with those of the new stay, without ever exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period.
In this case, my partner could stay in France for 90 days starting on July 18th.
The Prefecture doesn’t provide any information, nor does Air France, and in the forums I’ve checked, opinions are divided. Thanks for any insights you can share!
Hello,
We’re planning to travel to Indonesia (Sulawesi with family) next July and August for a stay longer than a month (about 6 weeks).
I’ve seen that it’s possible to get a 60-day visa before departure, but I’ve also read about people having a lot of trouble getting it (some even didn’t manage and had to leave without it).
We absolutely need to have these 4 visas BEFORE leaving because once we’re in Sulawesi, I’m not sure we’ll be able to go to an embassy to request a visa extension after 30 days.
In short, how can we **100% guarantee** that we’ll get our 4 60-day visas before our trip this summer?
