Schengen Area vs EU: What’s the Difference, and Why Does It Matter?

Whether you’re planning a trip to Europe or are simply curious, some terms you may see come up a lot are: Schengen area (or zone) and EU. 

Many people use both of these terms interchangeably, but they represent different groups of countries that serve distinct purposes. They’re not really the same thing at all. For instance, the Schengen area has visa requirements (like insurance).

Understanding the difference between the Schengen area and the EU is very helpful for travelers, as well as anyone interested in European politics or regulations.

In this article, we’ll break down the differences between the Schengen area and the EU, clarify how these entities function, and answer some of the most common questions surrounding their relationships and differences. Let’s go!

What is the Schengen area?

The Schengen area refers to a zone in Europe where 29 countries have agreed to eliminate border controls, allowing free movement of people between them. 

The idea for an area of free movement within Europe was established in 1985, but free movement wasn’t the only goal. The Schengen area, due to its greater ease of travel from country to country, also makes trade easier and security even stronger, benefiting everybody.

We will get into the details of the EU (European Union) in a moment, but it’s important to know that the Schengen area includes both EU and non-EU countries, creating a unique mix of participants.

Within the Schengen area (which isn’t one geographical block, but a sprinkling of countries that may or may not share physical borders), travelers can cross those borders without being subject to passport checks or visa requirements for short stays, as long as they have met entry conditions. 

Once you enter one Schengen country, you can typically travel freely across others without having to go in and out of security and pass through border checks every time. It’s akin to traveling from state to state within the US or province to province in Canada.

What is the European Union (EU)?

The European Union (EU) on the other hand, is a political and economic union of 27 member countries. These countries share common institutions and a set of laws on several matters, including trade, migration, agriculture, and regional development. 

The EU was created to foster economic cooperation. Over time it has grown to cover political and security cooperation as well, which is a great benefit. 

Unlike the Schengen area, which focuses primarily on free movement and border control, the EU extends into broader governance. The EU has its own parliament, currency (the euro, though not all members use it), and court system to settle disputes between member states. 

In essence, the EU functions more like a federation or confederation, while the Schengen area is more of a treaty agreement about open borders.

Schengen area vs. EU: what’s the difference?

As mentioned above, the EU acts as a governing federation and the Schengen zone is an area with open borders.

• Focus and purpose:

• The Schengen area is about abolishing internal border checks to facilitate free movement between member states
• The EU, on the other hand, is a comprehensive political and economic union that governs a broad range of policies for its member states

• Membership:

• The Schengen area includes 29 countries. Some of them are also members of the EU, but some are not. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are not members of the EU, but are in the Schengen area.
• The EU has 27 member states (i.e. countries), but not all of them are part of the Schengen area. Ireland and Cyprus are in the EU, but not the Schengen zone. 

• Governance:

• The Schengen area is governed by agreements that focus on internal border security, as well as cooperation on visas and policing – all within countries of the Schengen area.
• The EU operates a much broader system of governance, including trade policies, law enforcement cooperation, human rights, and even environmental policies.

Are Europe and Schengen the same thing?

Europe is a continent that contains many countries, some of which belong to both the Schengen area and/or the EU, while others do not. 

For example, the United Kingdom is in Europe, but it isn’t in the Schengen area, nor the EU (they left the EU in 2020 through Brexit). Similarly, countries like Norway and Switzerland are also in Europe. They’re part of the Schengen area but are not members of the EU. 

So, Europe and Schengen are not the same. Europe refers to a geographical region, while Schengen refers to a border-free “zone” within that region, and the EU is a political and economic union.

They’re three separate things with three separate focuses, all coexisting. 

Which countries are in Schengen but not EU?

The Schengen area has 29 countries in total, four of which are not in the EU also.

• Norway
• Iceland
• Switzerland
• Liechtenstein

These European countries have agreed to participate in Schengen’s border-free travel zone, though they maintain independence from the political and economic systems of the EU.

Which countries are in the EU, but not the Schengen zone? 

The EU has 27 countries in total, two of which are not also in the Schengen area.

• Ireland
• Cyprus

What makes a country Schengen?

Countries in Europe can choose the path to becoming a part of the Schengen area. It isn’t automatic and there are specific criteria that must be met. 

A country becomes part of the Schengen area by signing and implementing the Schengen agreement – this means meeting specific criteria related to border security, visa policies, and police cooperation. 

Before joining, a country must prove it can control its external borders effectively to protect the overall security of the Schengen zone, as well as get unanimous approval to join from each existing Schengen country. 

Cyprus, for example, is in the EU, but is not yet part of the Schengen area, as it’s still working to meet certain requirements for full participation. Ireland, on the other hand, is in the EU, but has opted out of the Schengen zone to have more control over their borders and procedures. 

Common misconceptions about the Schengen area and the EU

• Not all European countries are part of the Schengen area. For example, Ireland is part of the EU but isn't in the Schengen zone, so different rules apply to travelers.
• Brexit affected the UK’s relationship with the EU, but the UK was never part of the Schengen area to begin with.

Key differences between the Schengen zone and the EU

• The Schengen area and the EU are not the same thing.
• The Schengen area and the EU are two distinct entities with different purposes and memberships.
• The Schengen area is a zone of 29 countries that have abolished internal borders for free travel, while the EU is a political and economic union of 27 countries.
• Schengen countries aren’t a geographical region and they may not share physical borders.
• Some countries, like Norway and Switzerland, are part of the Schengen area but not the EU.
• Ireland and Cyprus are in the EU but not the Schengen area.
• Europe is a continent that includes countries both inside and outside the EU and Schengen area.
• The Schengen area facilitates easy travel, while the EU covers broader issues, including trade, law, and governance.