Europe is a continent located in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres of Earth. This continent owns several countries famous for their culture, food, landscapes, tourist destinations, etc.
Several zones also exist in this region, making traveling easy for travelers from all over the world. One of them is the Schengen Area, which is comprised of multiple member states.
So, if you are planning a trip to the European or Schengen Zone, read this blog to learn the vital information that will help you through your journey. The article will also show the Schengen countries map for your ease.
A Brief History
Historically, the existence of the Schengen Area began in 1985, when five European Union states decided to eliminate the internal border checks. Besides, it did not stop there. The list of the joining countries goes on until it reaches almost 29 countries that are part of the Schengen Area.
Furthermore, this region works as a single jurisdiction under the same visa policy for international travelers and purposes.
Today, the borders only exist on maps, as you can travel through this region by train or car. Moreover, the elimination of the borders has several benefits. For example, the region’s economy has been increasing, travelers can visit any of the neighboring countries without thinking about borders or visas, secure and safe zones for international tourists, etc.
What is the Schengen Agreement?
The Schengen Agreement is a contract that resulted in the existence of the Schengen Area in Europe. This zone has no internal border controls that allow the free movement of goods and people across the region.
Initially, five of the ten member states of the EEC (European Economic Community) signed the agreement on July 14th,1985. Decades later, all the countries other than Ireland and the U.K. joined the Area by signing the contract.
Non-EU countries such as Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland are also part of the Schengen Area. Britain is no longer part of the EU, so it has likely zero chance of joining this zone shortly.
Why is it referred to as the ‘Schengen’ area specifically?
Schengen is a small town in southeastern Luxembourg. In 1985, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed the Schengen Agreement, which is why the contract is known as the Schengen Agreement.
European Schengen Area
The European Schengen Area allows unrestricted journeys between the 29 Schengen countries. This zone has more than 400 million citizens.
Furthermore, the region is categorized into the internal and external borders.
Internal border
Currently, almost 29 countries are part of the Schengen Area. Besides, the region has zero internal border checks that allow the citizens of EU and non-EU nationals to move freely between the countries. However, citizens of third-world countries need to apply for a Schengen visa before leaving their home country.
In addition, travelers are only checked for a visa or passport when they cross the external border of the Schengen Area.
For example, if Cyprus or Ireland’s nationals want to travel to the Schengen Region, this will be considered an external flight and they must apply for a specific visa before departure.
At internal borders, you may go through the following:
- Police checks may be performed in case of threats to public security or cross-border crimes.
- Security checks may also be carried out at the ports and airports to verify a traveler’s identity.
- The countries in the Schengen region should remove all the barriers for a smooth flow of road traffic such as the speed limit.
External border
The Schengen Area has only one common external border that joins it with the rest of the world, the non-Schengen Area. So, all the Schengen countries are responsible for the security of the entire region in the absence of internal border controls.
Therefore, this permits the Schengen Zone to open its gates to people from all over the world who come either for work or to seek refuge from persecution and war.
Outsiders of the Schengen Area need a Schengen visa to stay and travel between these countries for almost three months in one hundred and eighty days.
At the external border,
- The nationals of the EU countries have to go through minimum checks to identify their nationalities considering the travel documents.
- On the other hand, non-EU citizens must show certain documents to cross the external border. For example, these may include a visa, travel document, residence permit, document explaining the purpose of the trip, documents showing their financial health, etc.
Important: The Schengen Area is surrounded by almost 42,675 km of sea borders, whereas the land borders span up to 7,725 km.
Schengen Area Member Countries
Presently, almost 29 states are Schengen area member countries. Bulgaria and Romania are the latest to join this region, with only air and maritime borders open. They still have land border controls in place, as per the agreement to remove them in the future.
The list of these countries is shown below:
- Austria– AT
- Belgium- BE
- Bulgaria- BG
- Switzerland- CH
- Czech Republic– CZ
- Germany- DE
- Denmark- DK
- Estonia– EE
- Greece- EL
- Spain– ES
- Finland- FI
- France- FR
- Croatia– HR
- Hungary- HU
- Iceland– IS
- Italy- IT
- Liechtenstein- LI
- Lithuania- LT
- Luxembourg– LU
- Latvia- LV
- Malta- ML
- The Netherlands– NL
- Norway- NO
- Poland- PL
- Portugal– PT
- Romania- RO
- Sweden- SE
- Slovenia– SI
- Slovakia- SK
EU and Schengen countries
29 minus 4 is equal to 25. These are the countries that are part of the EU and Schengen Area.
For instance, it may include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Slovakia, Sweden.
Non-EU Schengen countries
Among these 29 countries, the following four are the non-European Union states but Schengen countries. These countries are members of EFTA (European Free Trade Association).
- Switzerland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Iceland
Non-Schengen EU countries
As we know, almost all European countries are part of the Schengen zone. However, the following two EU states are not considered to be part of it.
- Ireland- IE
- Cyprus- CY
Schengen Countries Map
The latest enlargement of the Schengen Area occurred when Bulgaria and Romania became a part of the Schengen Region in 2024.
The following Schengen countries map will help you easily locate your favorite Schengen state.
Abolishment of Internal Borders
The following list represents when each country eliminated the internal border checks for free movement within the region.
| Internal border control abolishment | Countries |
| 26 March 1995 | Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands |
| 26 March 1997 | Italy |
| 1 December 1997 | Austria |
| 26 March 2000 | Greece |
| 25 March 2001 | Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland |
| 21 December 2007 | Czechia, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia |
| 12 December 2008 (land borders)29 March 2009 (air borders) | Switzerland |
| 19 December 2011 | Liechtenstein |
| 1 January 2023 (land borders)26 March 2023 (air borders) | Croatia |
| 31 March 2024 (air and sea borders) | Bulgaria, Romania |
What is a Schengen Visa?
A Schengen visa is an official document allowing you to legally travel, enter, and live in a specific Schengen country legally. An alternate name for a Schengen visa is a short-stay or Type C visa.
You can use it for tourism, business, or short-term study courses.
On the other hand, you can also travel to the Schengen region for a long-term stay by applying for a national or Type D visa.
Two systems operate within the Schengen Region.
SIS (Schengen Information System)
This system maintains security within the region in the absence of internal border checks. The SIS is directly linked with the judiciary, police, and immigration departments to alert them about travelers entering or leaving the area, missing persons, or individuals involved in any criminal activity.
Therefore, the Schengen Information System is the enforcement cooperation of law and greatly contributes to the external Schengen border’s protection.
VIS (Visa Information System)
On the other hand, a VIS is an Information Technology system that joins the embassies and consulates of the Schengen countries with the non-EU and all international countries.
This system allows the visa authorities of the Schengen states to share the information of the visa applicant with the border guards to verify his/her biometric details and to identify any person having a fraudulent document. Moreover, the Visa Information System is also used by the competent asylum authorities.
Schengen Area’s Visa Policy
The visa policy of the Schengen Area is a pack of justice, freedom, and security within the European Union. Per this policy, you can enter the Schengen Area by air, land, or sea for almost 90 days within six months. For this purpose, you must apply for a visa.
However, citizens of EU/EEA/Swiss countries can travel to their favorite Schengen country without applying for a visa. All they need to do is to show their passport or other travel document at the external Schengen border.
Visa Requirements for a Citizen of a Non-Schengen Country
If you are a national of a non-Schengen country, you are required to apply for a visa. Moreover, the visa application process has several steps that you should fulfill to get your permit easily and show that you are an eligible applicant to travel to the target Schengen country.
One of the important elements of this process is meeting the visa requirements. This requires you to submit certain documents to the embassy or consulate of the host country.
Other than a set of standard documents, you must submit supporting documents depending on the purpose of your stay and visa type. However, the following section will only discuss the essential standard documents needed for a Schengen visa.
- Firstly, ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your stay in the destination country.
- You need to fill out a Schengen visa application form to provide details such as your information, passport number, flight details, accommodation plans, etc.
- Another essential step is to book a visa appointment with the embassy or consulate through which you are applying for a visa. They will ask you for your biometric details such as fingerprints and photos.
- Furthermore, submit documents explaining the reason for your trip to the Schengen zone. For this purpose, you can write a cover letter to disclose your purpose and convince the visa officer that you are the right candidate for this visa.
- In addition, a Schengen visa application also requires you to reserve a flight to show your genuine travel intentions. However, purchasing actual tickets before your visa is approved is not advisable.
Where can I find these documents?
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- Moreover, providing proof of accommodation will show the authorities that you have a place to stay in the target country. You can submit documents such as hotel bookings or rental contracts.
- Besides, you also need to have valid travel medical insurance to cover unexpected medical expenses. Normally, it should have a coverage amount of at least 30,000 to 45,000 euros.
- Lastly, proof of financial resources is mandatory to show that you can support yourself during your stay in the country. This includes submitting documents such as bank statements from the last six months or salary slips.
FAQs
- How many countries are not in the Schengen Zone?
Although 29 countries are part of the Schengen Zone, among them, the majority are located in the mainland of Europe. Besides, they are also part of the EU. However, two EU countries are not included in the Schengen Area even though they are physically a part of Europe.
These non-Schengen countries are Ireland and Cyprus.
- Is the United Kingdom a part of the Schengen Area?
Unfortunately, no. The United Kingdom has never been a part of the Schengen Area. Moreover, since January 2020, the U.K. has also been no longer part of the EU.
Besides, it has visa regulations and requirements, just like the Schengen Region, that you must fulfill to legally enter countries such as Scotland, England, Whales, or North Ireland.
- Is it possible to travel to multiple countries with a single Schengen visa?
Yes. With a single Schengen visa, you can travel to multiple countries. Once you enter the region, you do not need to go through the internal border checks to visit your favorite country. However, ensure that you stay in the area within the visa’s validity period, i.e., 90/180 rule.
- What is the 90-day rule in the Schengen member countries?
According to the Schengen rules, a third-country or international traveler is not allowed to reside within the Schengen Area for more than the 90-day limit. A Schengen visa is valid for almost 180 days.
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