Letters: EU's Schengen 90-day calculator is not reliable for time in France

Reader says the dates it gives do not match reality

Close-up of a schengen visa required for travel to EU and France
Calculating your travel allowance can be a puzzle

To the Editor,

I read your online article about the couple who used the official '90-day' calculator for their French trip – but were told wrong dates – with interest.

We also use the official ‘Schengen calculator’ app and have found its calculation does not fit with the manual one.

We travel every second month and cannot rely on the app!

Donald M Campbell, by email

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Editor’s note: The police have emailed us confirming an initial calculation error by a border guard in the case of the previous couple, but stating they had rechecked our readers’ travel dates and the final date given to them to leave (a day less than the readers reported obtaining with the calculator) was correct. 

We note the EU calls the calculator a ‘helping tool only’, so it may be best to double check if you have very few days left.

Do you use a Schengen calculator to track your time in France? Do you find that it is an effective tool? Let us know about your experience via letters@connexionfrance.com