Does a Passport Renewal Restart the 90-day Clock for Visiting Schengen Countries?
If you've recently renewed your passport, you might be wondering if it resets the 90-day rule for visiting the Schengen countries. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.
While it might seem logical that a new passport without entry and exit stamps would reset your 90-day clock, this is not the case.
The rule remains the same. Visa-free travellers to the Schengen area can spend up to 90 days within a 180-day period in the Schengen Zone without needing a visa or residency permit and this applies to non-EU nationals including British citizens.
When you enter and leave the Schengen Zone, your passport is stamped to track your stay. Even if your new passport doesn’t have these stamps, the information is still stored digitally. This means border control can easily access your travel history to ensure you’re complying with the 90-day rule.
The primary reason a new passport doesn’t reset the 90-day allowance is due to the digital scanning system used by the Schengen Zone. When you enter or exit, your passport details are scanned and recorded, making it easy for border authorities to track your movements and enforce the 90-day rule.
The EU is introducing a new Entry and Exit System (EES) to tighten the scanning process further. Although its implementation has been delayed, once active, it will enhance the monitoring of entry and exit, making it even harder to overstay.
If you overstay your 90-day visa free access, you risk being fined when you leave the Schengen Zone. It’s crucial to adhere to the 90-day rule to avoid any penalties or complications in future travels.
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