Euro Weekly News revealed on 22 May that the EU Entry/Exit System has already refused entry to almost 7,000 non-EU nationals for previous overstays since going live in October 2025. French border officials are among those reporting a steep rise in “90/180-day” violations by British second-home owners and remote workers who mis-count their Schengen days. For travellers unsure about their visa options or day-count calculations, VisaHQ offers an online service that demystifies Schengen rules, assists with French long-stay visa applications, and provides real-time support to avoid costly entry refusals; its dedicated France page (https://www.visahq.com/france/) lets users check requirements, gather documents and submit forms quickly and accurately. Because France hosts the largest community of UK property owners on the continent, Paris is preparing a summer information campaign at ports, airports and property fairs to explain the rolling-counter rule. Officials told the paper that some travellers wrongly believe a quick trip to Switzerland or Jersey “resets” the clock—under EES the software uses biometric hits to calculate stay length across the entire bloc. The Commission data show refusals accelerating: roughly 4,000 cases were logged in the first four months and another 3,000 in the following two. French prefectures say that overstayers who are refused re-entry may also face a multi-year Schengen ban, complicating future business visits or property maintenance trips. Employers with UK-based staff on frequent short missions to French sites should track individual day counts and consider long-stay visas (Passeport Talent or VLS-Visiteur) where cumulative stays exceed 90 days. Companies are also advised to educate travellers on the difference between the EES record and planned ETIAS pre-travel authorisation coming later in 2026.
