What are penalties for overstaying 90-day allowance in France?

Reader question: What are the consequences for overstaying in France at our second home, for example by around one month?

People who overstay their authorised time in the Schengen area risk penalties. 

Specifically, French law stipulates that nationals who benefit from the 90/180 day rule (Britons, Americans, Australians, Canadians, etc) but overstay in France risk a fine of €198. 

This is set at twice the cost for a visa application. It may be issued when the person is leaving France and is found by border officials to have spent too long in France.

If you are found to be overstaying before you leave (for example through a police check) you risk a fine as well as an order to leave France.

In theory, those who overstay may also risk penalties including a ban on re-entering the Schengen area for a number of years. 

You may also be added to a Schengen ‘overstayers’ database, unless you can give border authorities a strong justification for the extended stay.

It is important to note that the European Commission stated that, as of April 20, around 7,000 people in total were denied entry to the EU after being flagged by the European Entry/Exit System for having overstayed their 90/180 days allowance since the EES started operation in October 2025. 

Cases where a person is overstaying in the country after being issued a visa or who are working despite being in the country illegally are generally taken more seriously than people on with visa-free access overstaying by mistake.

That said, there can be leniency for people who overstay by a small amount of time. One month, however, would be a significant miscalculation and may see authorities treat this more seriously.

Combine visa with 90-day allowance

Remember, your 90/180 day allowance can be used in conjunction with a six-month VLS-T visa, making it possible to stay for up to nine months per year in France.

You do not need to leave and re-enter France (or the Schengen area in general) to benefit from this, and a new 90-day period begins as soon as your visa ends. 

However, you should retain any proof that you were in the country on a visa prior to the 90 day-period beginning, in case of questions from border officials.