After receiving your Schengen visa, many travelers get confused about what the information on the visa sticker means.
Here’s a simple guide to help you understand it clearly.

✅ Step 1: Check That Your Name Matches Your Passport

Before checking anything else, make sure your name and surname on the visa match exactly with your passport.
If there is any spelling error, contact the embassy or visa application center immediately to correct it — otherwise, it may cause problems at immigration.

Example: How to Read a Schengen Visa Sticker

1. “From … Until …” – Valid Travel Dates

This shows the period during which you are allowed to enter and leave the Schengen Area.

• From: The first date you are allowed to enter.
• Until: The last date you must leave the Schengen Area.

Don’t be confused if the dates cover a whole year — that doesn’t mean you can stay for the entire year.
You still need to check the next section: “Duration of Stay.”

2. “Duration of Stay” – Number of Days You Can Stay

This indicates the total number of days you are allowed to stay within the Schengen Area during the validity period (“From – Until”).

Example:
From: 01 Oct 2022 — Until: 30 Sep 2023
If “Duration of Stay” is 90 days, it means you can stay a maximum of 90 days in total within any 180-day period, not continuously for a whole year.

3. Understanding the 90/180 Rule

This rule means:

“You can stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.”

Simple way to count:

• The first day you enter a Schengen country (including transit) counts as Day 1.
• Then count forward 180 days (about six months).
• Within that 180-day window, your total stay must not exceed 90 days.

If you’ve stayed 90 days, you must leave the Schengen Area for at least 90 days before re-entering.

Example:
If you stay 60 days in France and 10 days in Switzerland (also Schengen), that’s 70 days total — you still have 20 days left within your current 180-day period.

For an easy calculation, you can use the official EU day calculator here: ec.europa.eu

4. “Number of Entries” – How Many Times You Can Enter/Exit

This section shows how many times you can enter and leave the Schengen Area.

Examples

• 01 (Single Entry):
  Germany → Switzerland → Italy → France → Return to Thailand
  ✅ Still counts as one entry because you didn’t leave the Schengen Area.
  
• 02 (Double Entry):
  Germany → Italy → exit to the UK → re-enter France → Return to Thailand
  ✅ Counts as two entries.
  
• MULT (Multiple Entry):
  Germany → UK → France → Montenegro → Poland → Return to Thailand
  ✅ You can enter and exit multiple times, as long as your visa is valid and you follow the 90/180 rule.

Summary

• Check your Number of Entries to know how many times you can enter and exit
• Check your name matches your passport
• “From – Until” = Visa validity period
• “Duration of Stay” = Number of days you can stay
• Follow the 90/180 rule