The World largest visa free zone comprises of 26 Nations to build a Europe without borders known as “Schengen Area Countries” and to provide unrestricted movement of people.
The 26 Schengen Area Countries includes Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
According to research, 22 of these countries are European Union member states and four other countries are part of the European Free Trade Association, which are Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein.
In this article, you can find more about the Schengen Zone, the criteria to become a Schengen area country, the participating countries, the management of internal and external borders among others.
In this article
- Schengen Area Countries
- #1. Austria
- #2. Belgium
- #3. Czech Republic
- #4. Denmark
- #5. Estonia
- #6. Finland
- #7. France
- #8. Germany
- #9. Greece
- #10. Hungary
- #11. Iceland
- #12. Italy
- #13. Latvia
- #14. Liechtenstein
- #15. Lithuania
- #16. Luxembourg
- #17. Malta
- #18. Netherlands
- #19. Norway
- #20. Poland
- #21. Portugal
- #22. Slovakia
- #23. Slovenia
- #24. Spain
- # 25. Sweden
- # 26. Switzerland
- Characteristics of the Schengen Zone
- Criteria to become a Schengen Area Country
- Frequently Asked Questions
Schengen Area Countries
Presently, the Schengen Zone consists of 26 European countries of which citizens can move freely within the territory.
Despite that Liechtenstein was the last country to become a member state, the Schengen Area is open for the other countries to join.
However, each potential member state has to fulfill some criteria in order to become a part of the Schengen Area Countries.
The current Schengen Area member states are as follows:
#1. Austria
Austria is a German-speaking country of approximately 8.95 million inhabitants in Central Europe. It is one of the richest and most powerful countries in the world by per capita GDP.
The country shares its border with five countries namely the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Italy to the south, and Switzerland to the west.
Furthermore, the German-speaking country of Austria has an area of 83,871km2 in the old continent of Europe.
#2. Belgium
Belgium is located in the west of Europe; it borders Netherlands to the north, to the east by Germany and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and to the south and the west by France.
Although, its surface area of 30,688 km2 makes it a small country, its location has made it the economic and urban nerve center of Europe.
In addition, the country shares border with Netherlands, Germany, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and France.
Belgium is one of the five first countries that signed the Schengen agreement on 14 June 1985 and started its implementation on 26 March 1995.
#3. Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, also is a country located in Central Europe. The Czech Republic covers an area of 78,867 km², making it somewhat smaller than Austria.
The country has a population of 10.56 million people. It shares border with Poland to the north, Germany to the west, Austria to the south and Slovakia to the east.
The Czech Republic includes the historical territories of Bohemia and Moravia and a small part of Silesia.
#4. Denmark
Denmark is located in northern Europe. It a small country with a population of approximately 6 million. It is one of the three Scandinavian countries and also shares border with Germany.
Copenhagen, its capital, is home to royal palaces and colorful Nyhavn harbor, plus the Tivoli amusement park and the iconic “Little Mermaid” statue.
In addition, the welfare system in the country aims to ensure economic equality in society and virtually no corruption and low crime rates.
#5. Estonia
Estonia, a country in Northern Europe, borders the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland. Including more than 1,500 islands, its diverse terrain spans rocky beaches, old-growth forest and many lakes.
Its capital Tallinn is known for its old town, museums and the 314m-high Tallinn TV Tower, which has an observation deck.
With an area of 45,338 km and over 1 million residents, it is one of Europe’s least crowded countries.
In addition, this flatland country also consists of over two thousand islands and islets in the Baltic Sea.
#6. Finland
The Republic of Finland, shares border with Norway, Sweden, and Russia. It is famous for its educational system, and for being one of the safest and most eco-friendly countries on earth.
With an area of 338,145 km2 and over 5 million residents, it populate the happiest country in the world.
#7. France
France, the largest country in Western Europe has long been a gateway between the continent’s northern and southern regions.
The 551,695km2 country borders eight European countries, which includes Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, and Spain.
It is home to 64,720,690 residents, who move freely within the country without restriction, since the country is one of the founding countries of the Schengen Area in 1985.
#8. Germany
Germany is located in Western and Central Europe, with Denmark bordering to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east.
In addition, Germany has a land area of 357,022 km², which makes Germany the seventh-largest country in Europe.
Germany has a population of over 83 million people. The capital and largest city is Berlin with about 3.3 million inhabitants.
The official language is German. However, more than 50% of Germans speak English as a second language.
#9. Greece
Greece is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The country shares land borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey.
Furthermore, the country has a land area of 131,990 km² and over 11 million residents.
The country has a unique cultural heritage, beautiful islands and beaches, which makes it a favourite destination for many travelers.
Despite that Greece signed the Schengen agreement on November 6, 1992 implementation on 1 January 1, 2000. However, none of its neighbours has joined the Schengen Area Countries yet.
#10. Hungary
Located in Central Europe, Hungary has an area of 93,030 km² and is home to over 9 million residents. It shares border with Slovakia, Austria, Romania, Croatia and Slovenia.
When it comes to tourism, Hungary is one of the main medical tourism destinations in Europe. In dental tourism alone, it has a share of 42% in Europe and 21% worldwide.
#11. Iceland
Iceland is an isolated island in the North Atlantic Ocean, which is also known as the land of Ice and Fire. The country has an area of 103,000 km².
Furthermore, the country has a population of over 4,000 residents where two-thirds of its indigenes reside in the capital of Reykjavik and the surrounding area.
Ecotourism and whale watching are amongst the top tourist attractions in Iceland. The country signed the Schengen agreement on December 19, 1996 and later replaced the first agreement on May 19, 1999.
#12. Italy
The sovereign state of the Italian Republic is located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea.
It has an area of 301,318km² and shares border with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, San Marino and Vatican City.
With over 60 million people, it is the fourth most populous European Union member.
In addition, Italy has a rich history and many cultural attractions making it one of the top destinations in Europe.
#13. Latvia
The Republic of Latvia shares borders with Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, and Belarus. The 64,589km² country has a population of over 2 million inhabitants.
Its capital, Riga is known for its architecture, multicultural heritage, and Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
#14. Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a German-speaking microstate in Central Europe. It has a land area of 160km² with over 38 thousand residents, which makes it the fourth smallest European country.
In addition, Liechtenstein shares borders with Switzerland to the west and south, and Austria to the east. The country is mainly mountainous, thus an alluring winter sports destination.
Liechtenstein is the last country that joined the border-free Schengen area after it signed the agreement.
#15. Lithuania
The 65,300km² country shares border with Latvia, Belarus, Poland, and Kaliningrad. It has a population of over 3 million residents and uses EUR as its currency.
According to research, Lithuanian is one of the oldest languages in the world today.
#16. Luxembourg
Luxembourg is a country of 2,586km² and has a population of over 500 thousand residents.
It is one of the founding states of the Schengen agreement, which was signed on 14 June 1985 in the village of Schengen in Luxembourg.
Its capital, Luxembourg City, is one of the three official capitals of the European Union.
In addition, Luxembourg is the second richest country in the world. It has the highest minimum wage in the EU and also one of the safest countries in the world.
#17. Malta
The Southern European island country consists of an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, with a land area of 316 km² and a population of over 5000 residents.
In tourism terms, the country gains its popularity from its sun, sea and beaches.
However, some of its most alluring destinations for travelers are also ancient wonders as the 5,000 years old Hagar Qim or the 4,000 years old Hal Saflieni Hypogeum.
#18. Netherlands
The Netherlands consists of twelve provinces. The country borders Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, and the North Sea to the northwest.
It has an area of 41,526 km² and over 17 million residents. The country gains its popularity from the colourful tulips, numerous windmills and delicious cheese.
#19. Norway
The land of the midnight sun, Norway, has an area of 385,155 km². It has a population of over 6 million people. It shares border with Finland, Skagerrak Strait and Denmark.
However, the country attracts visitors mainly because of its stunning fjords and its Viking heritage.
#20. Poland
Poland is an EU country in Central Europe. The country has 16 administrative subdivisions and has a land area of 312,684km².
With a population of 38 million residents, the country shares borderlands with Germany, Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Belarus.
Poland most famous cities are Warsaw, the medieval town of Malbork, Lublin, Torun, Krakow and Poznan.
#21. Portugal
The westernmost European country, Portugal, shares borderland only with Spain, to the north and east. It has an area of 92,391km² and over 10 million residents.
Portugal is the oldest state on the Iberian Peninsula and one of the oldest in Europe. The most famous cities are the capital of Lisbon, the subtropical island of Madeira.
#22. Slovakia
Slovakia is a country located in Central Europe. It has a land area of 49,037km². Its 5 million residents speak the Slovak language.
The country shares borders in the north with Poland, Ukraine to the east, the Czech Republic to the west, Hungary to the south, and Austria to the southwest.
#23. Slovenia
Slovenia has an area of 20,273 km² and a population of 2 million. It shares border with Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia.
After Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Malta, Slovenia is the smallest Schengen state.
#24. Spain
Spain has a land area of 510,000 km² and shares land borders with France, Andorra and the Bay of Biscay Portugal.
It is the second-largest country in the EU bloc with a population of over 46 million residents.
The Spanish cities, Madrid and Barcelona, are some of the cities that allure most foreign visitors in Europe.
More so, Bullfights, La Tomatina festival and Ibiza’s Parties are among the best outdoor programs in Spain.
# 25. Sweden
Sweden is a Scandinavian country located in Northern Europe. It has an area of 449,964km² and shares land borders with Norway and Finland.
The country connects with Denmark by a bridge tunnel across the Öresund, a strait at the Swedish-Danish border.
# 26. Switzerland
Switzerland is a mountainous Central European country, home to numerous lakes, villages and the high peaks of the Alps.
The country has one of the most powerful European economies and its 9 million citizens have one of the highest living standards in the world.
Characteristics of the Schengen Zone
The Schengen Area countries would not be able to function properly, if it did not have rules and laws, which regulate all aspects including travelling and security.
The fundamental characteristics of the Schengen area are as follows:
- Schengen citizens can move from one country to another without having to obtain a permit. However, once they move, they have to register their address at the local authorities.
- Travelers will go through checks only on the port from where they enter the Schengen.
- Schengen members are responsible for the removal of all obstacles in order to enable a free flow of road traffic.
- All Schengen countries respect the common rules for non-Schengen countries’ citizens applying to cross the EU’s external border, including common asylum policies.
Criteria to become a Schengen Area Country
Many European countries possess the determination to join the Schengen Area Countries, but not all can do this immediately.
In lieu of this, there are some pre-conditions or criteria that countries willing to join must have to deal with, such as:
- The prospective country must apply the common set of Schengen rules e.g. regarding controls of land, sea and air borders, issuing of visas, police cooperation and protection of personal data.
- Take responsibility for controlling the external borders on behalf of other Schengen countries and for issuing uniform Schengen visas.
- The prospective country must efficiently cooperate with law enforcement agencies in other Schengen countries, to maintain a high level of security.
- The country must be ready to join and put in use the Schengen Information System (SIS).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between EU and Schengen?
The EU is a political and economic union, whereas the Schengen Area allows for the free movement of people between the participating countries.
Which are the Non-Schengen Countries in Europe?
The European countries that are not part of the Schengen area countries includes Albania, Andora, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia among others.
Is the UK part of the Schengen Area?
No. The United Kingdom is not part of the Schengen zone and therefore you cannot enter the UK with a Schengen visa.
What does Schengen means?
Schengen an agreement between many countries of the European Union that allows people and goods to pass freely across the borders of each country without passport or other controls.
Can I travel within the Schengen Area Countries with the residence permit?
The residence permit allows you to travel throughout the whole Schengen Area without any additional documents.
Conclusion
Before joining the visa-free Area, the prospective country is prone to a Schengen Evaluation. Afterwards, a member country undergoes a periodical evaluation to ensure the appropriate application of Schengen rules.
