Beating Schengen. Bosnia & Herzegovina

[barryd]

Don't think you do need it for only two previous stays, but if lots of previous short stays it's a very handy tool.

Either way, the date in the "date of entry" needs to be after your last date of leaving in the previous stay box

I Don't think I need it either. We left Schengen in September and won't be back until June 1st next year so its perfectly simple to work out.

 

[barryd]

When I had bikes I used Express Insurance as they covered 365 full comp in Europe. They were the only one I could find at the time.

Thanks. Ill check them out. A lot of companies did more than 90 days years ago when we used to frequently go for up to six months with the bike but it seems virtually none do now. The other thing to watch out for is some say 90 days but are limited to maximum 45 days "per trip".

 

[YeoBlade]

I'm in and out 5 times a year or more,I just fill in the days in EU on this app and it updates as time moves on. Simple

 

[Boris7]

My brother used to have two passports to get round this sort of thing, though I forget which countries he was hiding stamps for. Doubt it was Israel.

Why would you need two passports to stay over 90 days in the EU?

You just need the right one an EU passport just sorts the issue. If you don’t have one get a French visa and enter/leave through France your not checked at inter EU borders.

 

[Geek]

Why would you need two passports to stay over 90 days in the EU?

Similar. Not identical. Nothing to do with the EU.

Some countries won't let you in if you have stamps in your passport from one of the countries they don't like.

 

[Boris7]

Similar. Not identical. Nothing to do with the EU.

Some countries won't let you in if you have stamps in your passport from one of the countries they don't like.

I know, I travelled most of my life on business, but the thread is relating to the Schengen area NOT Israel or an another conflict nation.

​

 

[Geek]

I know, I travelled most of my life on business, but the thread is relating to the Schengen area NOT Israel or an another conflict nation.

​

My comment wasn't about that. It was about having two passports. And I specifically said it wasn't to do with Israel.

 

[Boris7]

My comment wasn't about that. It was about having two passports. And I specifically said it wasn't to do with Israel.

Or the subject in hand it seems.

 

[Geek]

Or the subject in hand it seems.

Directly relevant to what Runnach had posted. My comment was a direct reply to that.

 

[Boris7]

But that’s not the subject in hand, perhaps your just argumentative

 

[runnach]

When I referenced Israel, was more to do with the other side of the coin re: Fazerloz post 3 "make sure you get the stamps". Good practice to refer to Gov.UK Foreign travel advice, and more so the further east you plan to travel.

 

[Boris7]

When I referenced Israel, was more to do with the other side of the coin re: Fazerloz post 3 "make sure you get the stamps". Good practice to refer to Gov.UK Foreign travel advice, and more so the further east you plan to travel.

The physical stamp is less important now as passports are electronically tagged. But you should stay on top of where the passport travels and when.

 

[barryd]

Why would you need two passports to stay over 90 days in the EU?

You just need the right one an EU passport just sorts the issue. If you don’t have one get a French visa and enter/leave through France your not checked at inter EU borders.

I looked at doing this. It can give you six months in France and you can still have your 90 days in the rest of Schengen. I think in theory you could spend longer than six months in Europe with this. However (There is always a however). Its a right PIA to get, involves driving halfway across the country for interviews etc, jumping through all sorts of hoops and documentation and a fair chunk of money (About £400) which would not be a problem but there are no guarantees and no refunds. I'm a member of a French Visa group in FB and was going to go this route but last time I checked a fair few were being rejected.

 

[Boris7]

I looked at doing this. It can give you six months in France and you can still have your 90 days in the rest of Schengen. I think in theory you could spend longer than six months in Europe with this. However (There is always a however). Its a right PIA to get, involves driving halfway across the country for interviews etc, jumping through all sorts of hoops and documentation and a fair chunk of money (About £400) which would not be a problem but there are no guarantees and no refunds. I'm a member of a French Visa group in FB and was going to go this route but last time I checked a fair few were being rejected.

Obviously I’ve not looked into this in detail Barry as it doesn’t effect me but I know of 2 people who have successfully applied (but thier circumstances may be different to yours)

Good luck with it all mate.

 

[barryd]

Obviously I’ve not looked into this in detail Barry as it doesn’t effect me but I know of 2 people who have successfully applied (but thier circumstances may be different to yours)

Good luck with it all mate.

Cheers. I'll probably have a stab at it at some point. This might be a bit of a different option though as its a bit of a curve ball and we will get to see some countries outside of Western Europe in the Balkans.

 

[Boris7]

Cheers. I'll probably have a stab at it at some point. This might be a bit of a different option though as its a bit of a curve ball and we will get to see some countries outside of Western Europe in the Balkans.

One thing I miss about work Barry was people paid me to drive to such places and I normally got to stay 2-10 days all expenses paid. My first Croatia trip was unbelievable we built an tennis event and I hired a villa with no work for 9 days I went site-seeing got back to the villa complex most nights and was surrounded by good looking ladies.

I’d be mindful of Moldova as well as Romania and Bulgarias eastern coast regions just now. If it’s not too far for you you can get down to Istanbul and see the new canal construction in progress, it’s perfectly safe their just now (and I suspect it will not be so as we approach 2028)

Sofia is well worth the effort. Serbia is a good place to spend time in as is Kosovo.

 

[barryd]

One thing I miss about work Barry was people paid me to drive to such places and I normally got to stay 2-10 days all expenses paid. My first Croatia trip was unbelievable we built an tennis event and I hired a villa with no work for 9 days I went site-seeing got back to the villa complex most nights and was surrounded by good looking ladies.

I’d be mindful of Moldova as well as Romania and Bulgarias eastern coast regions just now. If it’s not too far for you you can get down to Istanbul and see the new canal construction in progress, it’s perfectly safe their just now (and I suspect it will not be so as we approach 2028)

Sofia is well worth the effort. Serbia is a good place to spend time in as is Kosovo.

Cheers. Sounds a great job. Whats up with those countries? I hear Romania is stunning.

 

[Trotter]

I been reading this conversation with interest. And also not without a fair bit of confusion.
Especially on how do I make the best use of my 180.
A lot of head scratching, and then the penny dropped.

First week of January.
A quick drive, using under seven days, to see Carlos, arrange ferry and insurance. Marocco for a month or so.
Then into Portugal, Pomarao to meet up with the usual shower, staying there until the time would be right to get back into the UK in time for the first of the Motorhomer meets of the year.
I should have more than enough time, to reset the Schengen clock, before September. And another European trip.

If there’s a hole in my calculation, for goodness sake, don’t hesitate to tell me

 

[barryd]

I been reading this conversation with interest. And also not without a fair bit of confusion.
Especially on how do I make the best use of my 180.
A lot of head scratching, and then the penny dropped.

First week of January.
A quick drive, using under seven days, to see Carlos, arrange ferry and insurance. Marocco for a month or so.
Then into Portugal, Pomarao to meet up with the usual shower, staying there until the time would be right to get back into the UK in time for the first of the Motorhomer meets of the year.
I should have more than enough time, to reset the Schengen clock, before September. And another European trip.

If there’s a hole in my calculation, for goodness sake, don’t hesitate to tell me

I just asked ChatGPT to work mine out. I can't get that calculator to work. We can't tell you though unless you state when you are coming back after Portugal but it sounds to me like it should be fine.

 

[marchie]

I been reading this conversation with interest. And also not without a fair bit of confusion.
Especially on how do I make the best use of my 180.
A lot of head scratching, and then the penny dropped.

First week of January.
A quick drive, using under seven days, to see Carlos, arrange ferry and insurance. Marocco for a month or so.
Then into Portugal, Pomarao to meet up with the usual shower, staying there until the time would be right to get back into the UK in time for the first of the Motorhomer meets of the year.
I should have more than enough time, to reset the Schengen clock, before September. And another European trip.

If there’s a hole in my calculation, for goodness sake, don’t hesitate to tell me

I think you may have a problem, Del - see the EU Schengen Calculator screenshot attached. Your trip in January 2026 will consume 85 days of your 90 days and starting your Sep 2026 trip leaves only 5 days within the 180 Screenshot cuts the explanatory text, but says'Start of 90 days period: 01/09/26
Start of 180 days period: 03/06/26
The stay may be authorised for up to: 0 day(s)
At 28/02/27 a stay may be authorized for 90 days'

Steve