Schengen Countries: List & Info About the Schengen Area

The Schengen Area consists of 26 European countries that have officially abolished all passports and other types of border controls between them. It primarily functions as a single jurisdiction governed by a common visa policy for international travel within the EU or Europe, known as the Schengen Visa.

This article will teach you everything you need to know about Schengen countries and the Schengen Visa, a requirement some nationalities may need to meet to visit the area. Continue reading to learn more.

What is the Schengen Area?

The Schengen Area is a group of European countries between which border controls have been abolished. The area is named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement and the 1990 Schengen Convention, both signed in Schengen, Luxembourg.

The Schengen area consists of 22 out of 27 European Union member states, plus 4 EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries. Below we’ll give you more information about each of the member countries.

What is the purpose of the Schengen Agreement?

The Schengen Agreement was signed in 1985 to progressively eliminate the common internal borders and establish free movement between countries in the Schengen Area.

Cooperation among police and judicial authorities, as well as visa and asylum policies, have also been agreed upon between Schengen Area countries.

One of the border control policies is one unified visa for the entire area, also known as the Schengen Visa. Since this short-term visa for one country is also valid for the whole Schengen area, all member countries agree to:

• Inform each other about applications for visas from the citizens of certain listed countries.

• Consult each other about the granting of Schengen visas to the citizens of certain listed countries.

Criteria to become a member of the Schengen Area

In order for a country to become a member of the Schengen Area, the European Commission evaluates certain criteria, such as border control legislation, infrastructure, personal data protection, visa policies, police cooperation, and more.

List of Schengen countries

The Schengen Zone consists of these European countries:

• Austria

• Belgium

• Czech Republic

• Denmark

• Estonia

• Finland

• France

• Germany

• Greece

• Hungary

• Italy

• Latvia

• Liechtenstein

• Lithuania

• Luxembourg

• Malta

• The Netherlands

• Poland

• Portugal

• Slovakia

• Slovenia

• Sweden

• Spain

The non-EU countries that are part of the Schengen Area are:

• Norway

• Iceland

• Switzerland

• Liechtenstein

What is the Schengen Visa?

The Schengen Visa is a short-stay, multiple-entry visa that allows you to enter any Schengen member country without having to go through the usual border controls to travel between them.

For most travelers from non-Schengen countries, a Schengen Visa is required to enter one or more Schengen countries. A Schengen visa is valid for a stay of maximum 90 days within any 180-day period.

If a traveler from outside the Schengen Area wishes to stay longer than 90 days, they will require a long-stay visa or a residence permit, as per the country’s immigration policy. As national visas do not fall under the Schengen Agreement, and each member country is responsible for their own immigration laws and requirements.

Schengen Visa requirements

• Passport valid for at least 3 months after arriving in the Schengen area

• Return flight or other return travel arrangement

• Travel insurance covering a minimum of EUR 30,000

• Proof of accommodation for your stay

• Proof of financial means to cover your stay

• Proof you have paid the visa application fee

• A completed visa application form

• Two passport-size photographs (if you don’t have one, check out the convenient iVisa photo service)

How to obtain the Schengen Visa

Currently, you must apply for a Schengen visa at the consulate or embassy of the first country you will be visiting on your trip. However, from 2023 it will be possible to apply online for your Schengen Visa.

The application process of most travel documents through iVisa go as follows:

• Step 1: Fill out our simple online application form. Then, choose the preferred processing time. You can usually choose from three different options: Standard, Rush, or Super Rush.

• Step 2: Review all the information to avoid errors and continue with the application. Pay for the visa and processing fees.

• Step 3: Upload all documents as requested and confirm. Our experts will review your documents carefully before submitting.

More questions about the Schengen Visa?

If you have questions about iVisa, the Schengen Visa or other travel documents, please contact our customer service team via online chat or email us at [email protected]. Our experts will be happy to assist you 24 hours a day.