Hi everyone,
I'm a Canadian planning on buying roundtrip airfare to Italy, arriving in Milan and then departing from Milan six months later as a tourist. However, I am also going to purchase a train ticket to Paris (before I leave Canada) from Milan, departing three mths into my Italy stay. After three mths in Paris I will return to Milan via drive from friend or train and then depart back to Canada.

My question is, will immigration allow me into Italy as a tourist with a return ticket also departing from Italy six mths later (tourist only allowed 3 mths. in Italy) when I will also show a one-way train ticket purchased to depart 3 mths into my stay to Paris, therefore only making my stay in Italy 3 mths?

By the way, I will be staying with friends of my family in Milan, that being the reason for my arriving and departing from there!
Hope this all isn't too confusing, as I'm not sure I have explained myself too well!
thanks for any advice!
kate

Hi Katie, that is a good question, and I do understand your question.

Have you thought of calling the Italian Embassay or Consulate and seeing if you can get an answer.

Also, perhaps your airline could advise you.

I could see Italy taking the position that just because you have a train ticket to Paris how would they know you are going to stay in Paris for 3 months.

Also, a question. Is the 3 month time limit for Italy or for the entire European Union? In otherwords, are you allowed to stay just a total of three months regardless of where in the European Union you travel to. Somehow I think that is the case.

If it is not have you thought about flying into Milan and flying home from Paris, in otherwords an open jaw ticket.

Hopefully someone else on Fodors will have better information that I do.

In the meantime I would start by talking to your airlines. They should now the rules and requirements.

I hope you get this worked out.

KNOW the rules --- oh heavens, sometimes my typing is terrible.

Let us know what you find out please.

This question has come up on SlowTalk and EuroTrip and other forums I'm sure also.

My understanding is the following, but is worth what you are paying for it.

You are not allowed to spend three months in Italy and then go to Paris. You get 90 days total in the Schengen zone, which includes a bunch of European countries, including France and Italy. But you can spend 90 days in a non-Schengen zone (the UK, the new EU countries, Switzerland, and Norway are in this). No more than 180 days in Europe altogether, without further permits or visas.

I know some posters say they've had no problems with flouting this rule, and that's probably true quite often, but you are taking a risk and it could bar you entry to Europe in the future, if you pursue this plan as stated.

You've misunderstood the rules. What you're planning is illegal. There's nothing complicated or obscure about it.

You need to apply to the Italian embassy for an extended stay visa in very good time before your proposed trip.

The Schengen rules are very simple. People from most non-European western countries (like Canada) get permission to stay in the Schengen countries as a whole for 90 days in any 180. Where you go inside the Schengen area is no more relevant than whether a Frenchman arriving in Montreal spends his time in Quebec or Ontario.

You may get away with overstaying your visa, or you may not: that depends on how energetic authorities are feeling. But on day 91, wheter you're in Milan or Lapland, you become an illegal alien liable to immediate deportation.

I wonder what happens if you LEAVE the Schengen area, say by going into Switzerland, and then return? Does this re-set the "90-day rule"?????

No, you can't just go to Switzerland to re-set your 90 days. The rule is that non-EU/non-EEA foreigners are allowed to stay in Schengen (which is EU minus UK minus Ireland minus new members that joined in 2004 plus Norway plus Iceland) for "90 days in any 180 day period". So if a Canadian enters Schengen on January 1st, he/she can stay in Schengen until March 31st, after which date he/she needs to leave Schengen and can NOT return to Schengen until July 1st.

I just went through the process for a MX visa - cost $134. and required 3 notarized letters and my USA PP. I had the Visa in 24 hours.
M

Mikemo Quick Question. What is this MX Visa. Never heard of it. Real interrested. My travel visa about to expire in Italy. Desperately need a way to stay. Thanks... aartist