How to Track Countries You’ve Visited Without Sharing Your Data

Tracking the countries you've visited is essential, especially for digital nomads managing visa and tax obligations. However, many apps require you to share sensitive location data. Luckily, there are privacy-first methods that let you track your travel history without compromising your data.

The Power of Photo Metadata

Using photo metadata is one of the most effective ways to track your travel history without sharing information. Most smartphones automatically geotag photos, meaning they include GPS coordinates and timestamps. This feature transforms your camera roll into an accurate travel log. Every vacation, every layover, and every road trip is documented.

Why Photo Metadata Works

• Instant Accuracy: Geotagged photos give you precise locations and travel dates.
• No Extra Input Needed: There's no need to enter your travels manually. Your photos do the work.
• Historical Records: Most people have years of geotagged data stored, allowing you to reconstruct your history effortlessly.

Days Around: Your Privacy-First Solution

Days Around is an innovative iOS app designed specifically for tracking your travel history using photo metadata, all while prioritizing your privacy. Here's how it stands out:

Key Features of Days Around

• Year in Review: Visualize your travel patterns across countries.
• Photo Scanning: Extract travel history from your geotagged photo library in minutes.
• Schengen Calculator: Track your 90/180 days rolling window compliant with Schengen regulations.
• Tax Residency Tracking: Get a detailed breakdown of your days spent in each country.
• AI Questions: Instantly answer queries like “How long was I in Spain?” with just one tap.

The Risks of Cloud-Based Tracking

While many travel history apps rely on cloud synchronization, this poses significant privacy risks:

• Data Vulnerability: Your travel patterns can be accessed by third-party servers.
• Unwanted Analytics: Cloud apps often analyze your data for marketing purposes.
• Accidental Data Breaches: Sharing your data increases the likelihood of accidental leaks.

Days Around addresses these issues with its on-device processing, ensuring that your sensitive travel data never leaves your phone. There are no cloud uploads, no analytics, and no risk of third-party access.

Simple Steps to Get Started

1. Download Days Around: Install the app from the App Store.
2. Scan Your Photos: Allow the app to read geotagged photos on your device.
3. Visualize Your Travels: Use the app's features to see your travel history and manage compliance.
4. Enjoy Peace of Mind: Feel secure knowing your data is private and stored locally.

FAQ: Your Travel Tracking Questions

How accurate is photo-based country tracking?
If you take geotagged photos during your travels, Days Around captures accurate trip details. The app utilizes your existing photo library.

What if I didn’t take photos in some countries?
While the app solely relies on your photos for tracking, you can manually add entries for countries where you didn’t take images.

Can this app help with Schengen calculations?
Yes, Days Around features a Schengen calculator, providing real-time updates on your 90/180-day limit.

Is my data really safe?
Absolutely. Everything processes on your device with no uploads to the cloud.

How far back can I track my travels?
As far back as your photo metadata goes, which often includes several years of travel history.

Does the app work with iCloud Photos?
Yes, it processes photos synced to your device while maintaining local processing.

Conclusion

Tracking your travel history doesn’t have to come at the expense of your privacy. With Days Around, you can swiftly reconstruct your past journeys using just the geotagged photos on your phone. The app provides accurate details for your travel patterns, ensuring peace of mind for visa and tax compliance, all while keeping your data private. Ready to reveal your travel history without compromising your privacy? Start today with Days Around!

Sources

• Schengen Visa Rules - European Commission
• Tax Residency Guidelines - OECD