Everything You Need to Know About the Schengen Zone

The Schengen zone is a cornerstone of modern European travel, allowing for easy movement across many countries – all without having to pass through border control. 

Whether you’re planning a European adventure or just curious about how the area works, this article will break down everything you need to know about the Schengen zone, including its member countries, travel regulations (such as Schengen visa insurance), and recent developments.

What is the Schengen zone?

The Schengen zone, also known as the Schengen area, is a group of European countries that have abolished internal border checks to allow the free movement of people from one country to another. Sometimes these countries are referred to as “member states.” 

Once you enter any country in the Schengen area, you can travel to the others without additional visas, going through border checks, or getting your passport stamped. More than 425 million people, including EU citizens, non-EU nationals living in the EU, and visitors, benefit from this agreement for free movement.

The Schengen zone is a direct result of the Schengen Agreement, which was first signed in 1985 in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg (sounds familiar, huh?).

The Schengen Agreement was originally established to ensure greater economic cooperation and mobility across Europe, and it underpins the freedom of movement that is a fundamental principle of the European Union. Today, there are 29 countries in the Schengen area, with the possibility of more in the future. 

One important distinction is that the Schengen zone is not the same thing as the European Union. While there is a lot of overlap, they are two entirely different things. 

What countries are in the Schengen Zone?

The Schengen area consists of 29 countries. Most are EU members, but a few non-EU countries are also part of the zone (such as Norway and Iceland). As of March 31, 2024, Bulgaria and Romania officially joined the Schengen area too. 

Here is the full list of Schengen area countries:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• The Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
  

While most EU countries are members of the Schengen area, not all of them are. For instance, Ireland and Cyprus are in the EU, but are not members of the Schengen zone. 

Ireland has opted out of joining so it can maintain its own border controls. Cyprus is in the process of undergoing evaluations to potentially join the Schengen area in the future.

Which countries in Europe are not in the Schengen area? 

The majority of countries in Western Europe are a part of the Schengen area, but not all of them. Additionally, Eastern Europe has been slower to join the Schengen zone. As far as geographical Europe, the following countries are not in the Schengen area: 

• Albania
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Cyprus (though they are currently working towards joining)
• The Faroe Islands (an autonomous territory of Denmark)
• Greenland (an autonomous territory of Denmark)
• Kosovo
• Macedonia
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• Serbia
• The Russian Federation
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom (This includes Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales)

Schengen area “exceptions” 

There are a few countries that are de facto members of the Schengen area, due to their unique geographical locations and/or relationships with surrounding governments.

Included in the Schengen area are:

• Andorra
• Monaco
• San Marino
• Vatican City

Why isn’t the UK in the Schengen area?

The United Kingdom isn’t part of the Schengen zone, and it wasn’t before Brexit either. The UK opted out of the Schengen agreement due to its preference for maintaining independent border controls. 

Security and immigration policies played a major role in this decision, and after Brexit, the UK became even more distinct from the Schengen area. Visitors traveling between the UK and all Schengen countries must go through border checks, as there isn’t free movement. 

Since Brexit, the UK has also left the European Union, which was a decision made by British citizens through voting. The majority voted in favor, but it was close at 52%.

Freedom and security for travelers

Being a part of the Schengen area goes beyond the free movement of people; there’s also a common set of rules for managing external borders.

Travelers entering the Schengen area from non-Schengen countries (such as the US or Canada) must go through stringent external border checks, ensuring a unified approach to security.

In addition to border control policies, Schengen countries cooperate on police and judicial matters. This includes cross-border crime prevention and the use of the Schengen Information System (SIS), a high-tech database that helps manage information on individuals, vehicles, and objects across every single country in the zone.

That isn’t to say that there will never be border controls within the Schengen area. In fact, the temporary reintroduction of border controls can occur if there’s a serious threat to public order or national security. For example, during significant events or crises (such as the COVID-19 pandemic), member states can reintroduce border checks, though these are temporary measures. 

You can rest assured that even though there is free movement from one member country to another, the Schengen area operates under strict security and operational procedures at its external borders, creating a large safety net internally.

Why is it called Schengen?

The zone is named after Schengen, Luxembourg, where the Schengen Agreement was signed in 1985! This small village, located near the borders of France and Germany, symbolizes the cooperation and unity that the agreement was meant to foster. 

Over time, the Schengen Agreement has expanded to include more countries and has become the foundation for the Schengen area as we know it today - 29 countries and going strong.

Recent developments: Bulgaria and Romania have joined the Schengen area

As of March 31, 2024, Bulgaria and Romania have officially become the newest members of the Schengen area. After a thorough evaluation process, both countries met the criteria for joining, which included adhering to the Schengen rules on border control, visa issuance, police cooperation, and the use of the Schengen Information System (SIS).

This recent expansion is part of the broader strategy to strengthen and expand the Schengen zone, ensuring continued freedom of movement while addressing modern challenges.

The future of the Schengen zone

While the Schengen zone has seen significant success in promoting freedom of movement, it has also faced challenges, such as the migrant crisis and security threats from terrorism. 

As a result, there have been temporary reintroductions of border controls in some member states. 

Efforts are continually being made to reform and strengthen the Schengen zone, ensuring it remains resilient in the face of new challenges.

The Schengen zone: key takeaways

• The Schengen zone enables free travel across 29 European countries, making it easy to move between member states by abolishing the need to pass through border control.
• Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen Area in 2024.
• US citizens can stay in the Schengen zone for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa.
• The UK is not part of the Schengen zone, having opted out to maintain its own border controls.
• The Schengen zone and the European Union are two different entities. While there is overlap, they are not the same thing.
• The Schengen zone operates under a unified set of rules, including external border controls and police cooperation, making it both secure and traveler-friendly.
• Temporary border controls can be reintroduced in the Schengen zone in cases of serious threats to security or public policy.
• The Schengen zone continues to adopt new policies and technologies to ensure the safety of all of its members and the travelers who pass through it.