How to Travel to the Schengen Area in 2025

Whether you're a US citizen, UK citizen, or traveler from another country, it's really important to know what the rules of entry are for countries in the Schengen zone (such as visa insurance - pssst...it's mandatory).

Understanding what's required before you head off will save you from a headache waiting to happen. If you don't meet the entry requirements, you may not be allowed to depart at the gate or may be denied entry at the border.

The Schengen area (which includes 29 different countries in Europe) has specific rules about how travelers can enter and pass through.

While the rules are specific, they're relatively easy to understand. In this guide, we're going to give you the must-know information so you can start planning your trip to Europe, worry-free!

The Schengen area in a nutshell

The Schengen area (also called the Schengen zone or Schengen space) is a group of European countries that have decided to have free movement between them. This means that people in the area, whether they're citizens, residents, or just passing through, can move from country to country without needing to pass through border control again.

Most of the countries in the European Union are also in the Schengen area, but not all of them. Additionally, the United Kingdom isn't part of this collective either.

One thing that's helpful to know about the Schengen area is that it isn't a geographical area. It's a geopolitical one, meaning countries in the Schengen zone don't need to share physical borders.

Schengen zone visa requirements

Many people need a visa to go to any of the countries in the Schengen zone. Whether or not you need one mainly depends on two things: your nationality and the length of your stay.

Here's how the rules break down for different nationalities:

US citizens

If you're a US citizen, you can travel to the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism or business without needing a visa.

However, starting in 2026, US travelers will have to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) before their trips. ETIAS isn't a visa; it's a pre-travel authorization.

ETIAS, for all intents and purposes, is permission to enter the zone.

Most applicants will be approved within just a couple of minutes, and getting your ETIAS is a fully online process.

If you're a US citizen and are planning to spend more than 90 days in the Schengen zone, on the other hand, you need to apply for the appropriate visa - not ETIAS. 

UK citizens

Since Brexit, UK citizens, unfortunately, no longer enjoy free movement across Europe. If you're a UK passport holder, you can travel to the Schengen zone for up to 90 days in a 180-day period without a visa. For longer stays or work, you’ll need to apply for a visa.

If you’re traveling to the Schengen area without a visa (such as for a short stay), you will need to apply for travel authorization with ETIAS from 2026 on.

Other nationalities

If you’re from a country that requires a visa to enter the Schengen area, like India or China, you need to apply for a Schengen visa before your trip. The application process involves providing your travel itinerary, proof of accommodation, Schengen travel insurance, travel plans, and other documents that are required by the Schengen area.

You can apply for a Schengen visa through a visa application center for the country you’ll arrive in first. If there isn’t a visa center in your area, you may need to apply through a consulate or embassy’s consular section.

The entire process takes a few weeks (sometimes more if you are applying during peak season or applications are heavy at the moment).

When applying for your visa, you'll need to present all of the following documents. In some cases, you will be asked for supplementary documents too.

Your application needs to include:

• A valid passport (valid for at least 3 months after your intended departure from the zone and issued in the past 10 years).
• Proof of return or onward travel (such as a round-trip ticket).
• Proof of accommodation (hotel bookings, invitation letter, etc.).
• Sufficient financial means to cover your stay (bank statements, etc.).
• Travel insurance that covers medical expenses up to 30,000 EUR (this is mandatory for Schengen visa applicants).

Traveling throughout the Schengen area

One of the largest benefits of traveling in the Schengen area is that you don’t have to go through passport control every time you move from one country to another! Once you’ve entered the zone, you’re typically free to travel within the 29 member states without additional checks

You can think of traveling through the Schengen area kind of like traveling from state to state in the US. There are no security checks or additional permissions needed in order to go to different states in the US. Once you enter, you're free to move around. That's how Schengen countries are, with a couple of caveats.

One, the Schengen area can reintroduce border controls in specific countries from time to time. While temporary, there are some cases where you may need to pass through border control. Make sure you have your passport and visa (if applicable) on you when you're traveling, just in case.

Secondly, it is important to keep in mind that in some specific cases, travel authorization can vary. Always look at your specific visa’s permissions when planning your travels. 

Entry points: Can you enter the Schengen area from any country?

It depends.

If you don't need a visa to visit the Schengen zone, then yes, as long as you have the necessary documents (your passport and ETIAS authorization, once it's launched in 2026).

You can enter the Schengen zone from any of its member countries, but you must present the necessary documents (passport, travel insurance, etc.) at your first point of entry.

If you’re flying into the area, your first destination is where immigration control will take place.

If you're traveling to the Schengen area on a Schengen visa, you must enter the Schengen zone through the country of your approved visa.

Multi-entry Schengen visas

If you’re planning multiple trips to the Schengen area and you need a visa, you might need to apply for a multi-entry visa. Multi-entry visas allow you to enter and exit the area multiple times within a specific period (the validity of your visa). This is super useful for travelers who might need more flexibility, or want to go home or to other countries during their trip.

Now, if you’re from a country with a visa-waiver agreement (the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc.), you can exit and enter the Schengen area as much as you’d like. Remember, though, you cannot stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days in any given 180-day period. 

Schengen fees and costs

There isn’t a fee to enter the Schengen zone, per se, but there are travel requirements that all travelers need to meet and these have associated fees attached, such as visas and ETIAS (once operational).

If you don’t need a visa to enter the Schengen area

You need to have a valid passport that is:

• Less than 10 years old.
• Will still be valid for at least 3 months after your trip to the Schengen area (meaning, it won't expire).

From 2026 on, you will also be required to apply for travel authorization to visit the Schengen area. This authorization (called ETIAS) costs 7 euros per person, and the entire process is online and quite straightforward.

This new requirement applies to US and UK citizens, as well as many others.

If you need a visa to enter the Schengen area: 

You will need to apply for the appropriate visa before traveling to the Schengen zone. At the time of application, you’ll need to pay a visa application fee and any applicable service fees (if you're applying at a visa application center, for example, which is often required).

There are also several requirements you need to meet (which will be proven during the application process), like:

• A passport/travel document that is under 10 years old and has 3 months of remaining validity after your trip.
• Schengen travel insurance that meets specific terms.
• Proof of financial means (that you can provide for yourself).
• Proof of hotel/accommodations.
• More.

Travelers from countries with visa requirements should check the visa processor or embassy website for specific details.

How to travel to Schengen countries: FAQS