Ideal for second-home owners, backpackers and digital nomads, Schengen Simple is an app that helps visitors manage their travel allowance in Schengen Zone countries such as France, Spain and Portugal. Jenny Southan reports

Since Britain left the European Union, spending time in Schengen Zone countries has been limited to no more than 90 days within a 180-day window. (The Schengen Zone is composed of 29 countries: 25 EU member States and four non-EU countries – Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.) The same rule applies to other foreigners seeking to spend time in the Schengen Zone.

From late 2025, border controls will become even tighter with the introduction of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) and (in 2026) European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which will automate and strictly enforce border rules. With these new digital border checks in place, understanding and accurately tracking your 90/180 travel allowance has never been more important.

Available to download by both Apple smartphone users – and, as of this month, Android – Schengen Simple was founded in 2023 after software developer and digital nomad George Cremer became frustrated with the limitations of his own complex travel spreadsheet – and the lack of accurate tools available to track the EU’s 90/180-day rule.

Like many Brits post-Brexit, Cremer found himself subject to the strict Schengen stay limit, which restricts stays to a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. “I built the tool I needed,” says Cremer. “Most apps only tell you if you've overstayed. I wanted something predictive that could fully maximise my 90/180 allowance and protect my future plans.”

While the rule may sound simple, the rolling 180-day window introduces significant complexity, especially if you already have future trips planned. Most Schengen calculators only count backwards 180 days from each date, identifying past overstays rather than proactively preventing future ones. While these calculators can indicate if you've already overstayed, they are unable to predict how long you could safely travel for.

Key features of Schengen Simple

• Comprehensive travel planning: Know your maximum stay on any given date while preserving existing plans.
• Passport Control calendar: A clear view of your travel history to show border officials when needed.
• Allowance analysis: See which trips could be shortened to increase flexibility for future travel

Schengen Simple’s predictive model solves this. By analysing both past and future travel plans, it calculates users' exact legal allowance for every date – ensuring they can confidently travel without risking fines, entry bans, or visa complications.

So, if they've pre-booked a future trip, Schengen Simple "protects" that allowance by showing how long they can travel beforehand without compromising their upcoming plans. They’ll always know exactly how long they can stay without breaking the rule.

Over the last couple of years, Schengen Simple has become essential for UK tourists, second-home owners, and professionals across industries such as entertainment, seafaring, logistics and tourism.

Cremer (pictured above) says: “Our mission from day one was simple: remove the complexity from Schengen travel planning and allow users to travel stress-free. It’s great to see Schengen Simple positively impact so many travellers.” Cremer now lives in France with his wife and co-founder, software developer Lucy Zidour, and their young family.