Is Albania in the Schengen Area?
Albania is a European country outside the Schengen Area. It sets its own entry rules, and time spent there does not count toward the Schengen 90/180 limit.
Albania and the Schengen Area: the dates
Albania has never been part of the Schengen Area and applies its own entry rules.
Do days in Albania count toward my 90/180 limit?
No. Albania is outside the Schengen Area, so time spent there does not use up any of your 90 days. It only pauses your count while your oldest Schengen days age out of the 180-day window — leaving the zone does not reset the count to zero.
What this means for your trip
This is what makes Albania useful when your Schengen days are running low. Waiting here spends none of the allowance, and your oldest Schengen days keep ageing out of the 180-day window while you wait. It is a pause, not a reset: the days you already spent stay on the clock until they age out on their own. You still have to meet the entry requirements Albania sets for your passport, which are a separate question from the Schengen rules.
Nearby countries outside the 90/180 limit
These neighbouring countries sit outside the Schengen Area, so time spent there does not count toward the 90/180 limit either.
Frequently asked questions
Is Albania in the Schengen Area?
No, Albania is not part of the Schengen Area. It is a separate country with its own visa and entry rules.
How many days can I stay in Albania without a visa?
Albania sets its own visa-free allowance, separate from the Schengen 90/180 rule. Check the destination's own entry requirements for your passport before you travel.
Do days in Albania count toward my Schengen 90/180 limit?
No, days in Albania are not counted in the Schengen 90/180 total, since Albania is outside the Schengen Area.
Does visiting Albania reset my Schengen 90/180 count?
No — leaving Schengen for Albania does not reset your count to zero. It only stops you adding new days while your oldest days age out of the 180-day window. See the full explanation in our 90/180 rule guide.
Do I need a visa or ETIAS for Albania?
Albania runs its own visa policy, so a Schengen visa does not automatically admit you and ETIAS does not apply there. Check the entry requirements Albania sets for your passport before you travel.
Do the day of arrival and the day of departure both count?
Not for the Schengen count, because Albania is outside the zone. What matters is the day you left Schengen and the day you come back: both of those are counted in full.
Check your Albania days with the 90/180 calculator
Albania sits outside the Schengen Area, so time spent there does not add to your 90/180 count. Use the calculator below to track the Schengen days you still have available before or after your trip.
Related guides
Or check by citizenship
How long you can stay in Europe often depends on which passport you are travelling on, not just where you are going.
Sources
This calculator is a planning aid, not legal advice. Border decisions rest with the authorities. For anything that matters, check against the official EU short-stay calculator and the Schengen Borders Code, and keep your own records.