Unfortunately, it is almost time to go home – back to Canada. Schengen rules mean we must leave Europe.
What’s Schengen? The European Union is comprised of 28 countries – 27 after Brexit. There are 26 Schengen countries. There are seven EU countries that are not part of Schengen and four Schengen countries that are not part of the EU. For example, the UK is (for now) part of the EU but it is not part of Schengen. Switzerland is part of Schengen but it is not part of the EU.
What does this mean? Member countries of Schengen have a uniform visa system. A citizen from a non-Schengen country can only stay in the Schengen area for three months in any six-month period. For us, that means we can stay for three months, must leave the Schengen area for three months, and then can return for another three months. If we are in France for three months, we cannot go to another Schengen country and stay there. We cannot be in any Schengen country for another three months.
As we arrived in France (a Schengen country) in mid-March, we must leave by mid-June. And stay away until mid-September.