Press RElease: Judgment in Case C-254/11. Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg Megyei Rendőrkapitányság Záhony Határrendészeti Kirendeltsége v Oskar Shomodi

The limitation of stays in the Schengen area to a maximum of three months over a six-month period for foreign nationals who are not subject to visa requirements does not apply to those who benefit from the local border traffic regime.

For foreign nationals in possession of a local border traffic permit, the maximum duration of stay, laid down in the bilateral agreements between the Member States and neighboring third countries, must be calculated independently of earlier stays, provided that such persons have interrupted those stays by returning to their country of residence.