Maxi-Pedia Forum

Schengen Visa => Schengen Visa Q&A => Topic started by: Tripper on July 28, 2016, 04:28:07 pm



Title: Italy Long-stay Visa
Post by: Tripper on July 28, 2016, 04:28:07 pm
I travel on a U.S. passport.  In 2017, I would like to stay in Italy for 5 months, thus I need a long-stay visa.  During these 5 months, I would like to visit Hungary for a few days.  The information on the long-stay Italian visa says it is only good for that country and that the visa-holder cannot use it to travel to a different country. 

Would the following be legal? Could I use a Schengen Visa for the first 90 days and spend 70 days in Italy and 20 days in Hungary?  (Italy and Hungary are both Schengen countries.)  Next, could I have my long-stay Italian visa commence on the 91st day even though it would not be my first day in Italy?

Thanks in advance for your help. 



Title: Re: Italy Long-stay Visa
Post by: yaris on August 23, 2016, 10:56:41 am
Hi, as a U.S. citizen, you can travel to any Schengen country visa free, assuming you satisfy the 90/180 days rule. If you wish to remain in any Schengen country longer than 90 days in any consecutive 180 days, you need the long-term visa for that country. This long-term visa for a particular Schengen country does not affect your visa free travel to other Schengen countries, again, under the condition of the 90/180 rule now applicable to you visa-free Schengen countries. So, you can stay in Italy on your long-term visa and paralel to that take a trip to Hungary under the regular visa-free status. Enjoy your journey.