The term "Schengen" refers to the European Union's passport-free zone that encompasses most European countries. This area is recognized as the largest free travel zone globally.

​

The Schengen Area consists of 29 European nations that have eliminated internal borders, thereby facilitating the free and unrestricted movement of individuals. This expansive region covers approximately 4,718,084 km² and is home to over 448 million citizens.

​

​A Schengen visa is a travel permit granted by member countries of the Schengen Area to nationals of third countries for short-term purposes, including tourism and business-related trips. Individuals holding a Schengen visa are permitted to visit all 29 countries within the Schengen Zone.

​

​

Which Countries Are Part of the Schengen Area?

 

The majority of EU countries are included in the Schengen Area, with the notable exceptions of Ireland and Cyprus, which is anticipated to join in the near future. Furthermore, several non-EU members, such as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, actively participate in the Schengen framework despite their non-EU status.

​

The 29 Schengen countries are as follows: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.