taw1492

Hi there,

We are interested in traveling Europe with our kids for 1 year. In order to do this without a visa, we were thinking we can go to Ireland for three months, UK for 6 months and then Italy for 3 months. While in Ireland we can travel to the Schengen Zone and then stay out while we are in the UK so that we can spend the full 90 days in Italy. Is this doable?

Thanks!

janisj

Yes -- as long as you are only in Schengen 90 days in 6 months.

(do realize that 6 months in the UK is the max allowed but it is not guaranteed you will be granted 6 months entry. It is 'up to' six months. You must demonstrate that you won't be working.)

nukesafe

The rule for Schengen travel is 90 days in any 180 days, as I understand it. How you break that up with shorter visits from Ireland and/or the UK would depend on how you structure your timing. Perhaps other posters can shed more light here.

michelhuebeli

This tool can be helpful:
http://www.schengen-calculator.com

nukesafe

Neat link, Michel! Lots of folks will thank you.

Alec

About visiting Ireland and UK. They are both in common travel area, meaning when moving from one to the other you won't face the usual immigration checks. Moreover, when you first land in Ireland, you will get 3-month stay, which is also valid for UK (but only for 3 months). Whereas if you arrive in UK first and get the 6-month leave to enter, that is valid for Ireland too. So in order to avoid confusions, after your Ireland visit, exit to somewhere like France, and then enter UK in order to obtain fresh 6-month stay in UK. While you may get less than 6 months, normal tourists get 6-month stamp as a routine. Clearly you need to look like tourists and not someone who may overstay or work illegally, so make sure you carry evidence of adequate funds (e.g. bank statement) and strong ties at home, such as property ownership, job to return to or business to take care of.

StCirq

I agree with Alec. It is really important to have proof of funds and proof of property owned and business ties and such (translated to the language of the country involved - in France at least we just had to do this).

rialtogrl

Why six months in the UK? You can do 90 days in Ireland, then 90 in Italy, then 90 in the UK and 90 somewhere else in the Schengen area. Just curious.

hetismij2

No they can't. 90 days in 180 means they have to be away for 180 days before they can re-enter Schengen if they use up their 90 days in one go. It s a rolling count. look at the link michel posted.

rialtogrl

hetismij2 - if you are 90 days in Schengen, you have to leave for 90 days, then you can reenter. Not after 180.

Believe me, I do it every year.

Alec

Another thing to bear in mind is that UK border force take rather a dim view of people who stay the maximum 6 months permitted, then return to start another lengthy stay within a year (it's not set in stone as such but this is the sort of scenario they will pick up). So you may need some explaining to do, that you aren't trying to live in UK without suitable visa. If they aren't convinced by your answers, they can deny you entry and put on the next flight back to where you boarded the plane.

michele_d

I agree with rialtogrl...with a year you can have two 90 day stays on the continent. There is so much to see.

janisj

Not quite sure why some think 6 months in the UK isn't a good thing

Nothing in the OP indicates that 3 months in Ireland, 6 in the UK and 3 in Italy (plus some side trips) is 'settling'.