Visa Validity vs Duration of Stay

The difference between validity and stay, and how to calculate.

Validity ('Entry Before') is the last day you can enter. Duration of stay is the maximum days per entry. A 6-month validity with 30-day stay means you can enter within 6 months, staying up to 30 days each time.

Stay starts on the day of entry, per the entry stamp. Schengen uses a rolling '90 days in any 180-day window' rule.

Overstaying leads to fines, entry restrictions, and a record that hurts future visas. In serious cases, detention and deportation.