Schengen Visa Countries: Complete List, Map & Rules (2026)
The Schengen Area is a European free-movement zone bringing together several countries that have abolished internal border controls. It allows travelers to move from one country to another with a single Schengen visa, subject to certain duration and nationality conditions.
On this page, discover the complete list of Schengen countries, the European exceptions, travel rules, as well as answers to frequently asked questions about Switzerland, Romania, and rights linked to the Schengen visa.
- 🇪🇺 The Schengen Area is a free-movement zone with no systematic border checks between member countries.
- 🌍 It includes 29 European countries, some of which are outside the European Union (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland).
- 🛂 A Schengen visa allows travel to all Schengen countries with a single visa.
- ⏳ Length of stay is limited to 90 days within a 180-day period.
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area even though it is not an EU member.
- 🇷🇴 Romania is integrated into the Schengen Area and applies common rules.
- ❌ The United Kingdom, Ireland, and Cyprus are not part of the Schengen Area.
- 🩺 Schengen travel insurance (minimum €30,000 coverage) is mandatory for visa-required travelers.
What is the Schengen Area?
The Schengen Area is a free-movement zone bringing together several European countries that have removed internal border controls. In practical terms, this means it is possible to travel from one Schengen country to another without systematic passport checks, similar to domestic travel.
Created to facilitate travel, tourism, and economic exchanges, the Schengen Area is today one of the largest free-movement zones in the world. It applies both to European citizens and to foreign travelers holding a valid Schengen visa.
👉 Traveling within the Schengen Area with a visa? A compliant travel insurance policy is mandatory in most cases.
Get your instant, compliant Schengen visa certificateWhich countries are part of the Schengen Area in 2026?
In 2026, the Schengen Area includes 29 countries. A Schengen visa allows free movement across all these states for short stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period).
Map of the Schengen Area from the European Parliament
✅ List of Schengen countries:
- 🇦🇹 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
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
👉 All these countries apply the same Schengen visa rules for short-term tourist or business stays.
Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, but it is fully part of the Schengen Area.
A valid Schengen visa therefore allows entry and free movement within Switzerland.
As in other Schengen countries:
- Stay is limited to 90 days within 180 days
- Border controls with neighboring Schengen countries are abolished
- Compliant Schengen travel insurance is mandatory for visa-required travelers (minimum €30,000 coverage)
Which European countries are NOT part of the Schengen Area in 2026?
Not all European countries are members of the Schengen Area. Some apply their own visa and border control rules.
❌ European countries outside the Schengen Area:
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇨🇾 Cyprus
👉 A Schengen visa does not allow entry into these countries. A national visa or specific authorization is generally required.
Schengen Area vs. European Union: what’s the difference?
The Schengen Area and the European Union are two distinct frameworks that are often confused but do not cover the same realities.
- The Schengen Area concerns the free movement of people. Member countries have abolished internal border checks and apply common short-stay visa rules.
- The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union. It brings together member states that share institutions, economic policies, and in some cases a common currency (the euro).
👉 As a result:
- Some countries are in Schengen but not in the EU (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland)
- Others are in the EU but outside Schengen (Ireland, Cyprus)
The table below clearly illustrates these differences, country by country.
Country | In the Schengen Area | EU Member | Schengen visa valid | Key remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
🇫🇷 France | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Founding Schengen country |
🇩🇪 Germany | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Free movement without internal controls |
🇪🇸 Spain | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Major tourist destination |
🇮🇹 Italy | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Same Schengen stay rules |
🇧🇪 Belgium | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Institutional heart of the EU |
🇳🇱 Netherlands | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Full Schengen implementation |
🇩🇰 Denmark | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | EU opt-outs but active Schengen |
🇨🇭 Switzerland | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | Non-EU but Schengen member |
🇬🇧 United Kingdom | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | Own visa rules since Brexit |
🇮🇪 Ireland | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Independent visa policy |
🇨🇾 Cyprus | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | EU member outside Schengen |
When was the Schengen Area created?
The Schengen Area takes its name from the agreement signed in 1985 in the village of Schengen, Luxembourg. Initially, five European countries decided to gradually remove border controls at their shared borders.
The agreement came into force in 1995 and was progressively extended to other countries. Since then, the Schengen Area has continued to expand and adapt.
Who can travel freely within the Schengen Area?
Freedom of movement within the Schengen Area depends on the traveler’s status.
✔️ May travel freely:
- Citizens of Schengen countries
- Citizens of the European Union
- Foreign nationals holding a valid Schengen visa
- Visa-exempt travelers for short stays (depending on nationality)
In all cases, the maximum stay without a residence permit is 90 days within a 180-day period.
To obtain a Schengen visa, you must present travel insurance covering at least €30,000, valid in all Schengen countries.
👉 Compare compliant Schengen travel insurance policies in just a few clicks.
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How long can you travel within the Schengen Area?
Length of stay in the Schengen Area is governed by a key rule: the 90 days within a 180-day period rule.
📌 What does the 90/180-day rule mean?
You may stay up to 90 days in the Schengen Area within any rolling 180-day period.
👉 This is not 90 days per country, but 90 days total across all Schengen countries.
You enter the Schengen Area on March 1.
You stay 30 days in France, then 30 days in Spain, then 30 days in Italy.
➡️ Total: 90 days used
➡️ You must then leave the Schengen Area.
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
- Thinking the 90 days reset with each new country ❌
- Confusing consecutive days with cumulative days ❌
- Forgetting to count short stays or transit days ❌
⚠️ Exceeding the authorized stay can result in entry bans and penalties.
Schengen visa: what freedoms does it grant?
The Schengen visa is a single visa granting access to all Schengen countries.
- Travel across all Schengen countries
- Cross internal borders without checks
- Stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period
- Combine tourism, family visits, or short business trips
⚠️ A Schengen visa does not allow you to work or settle permanently.
FAQ
Yes. Romania is part of the Schengen Area and applies common rules.
Yes. Switzerland is a Schengen member even though it is not part of the European Union.
No. The United Kingdom is not part of the Schengen Area.
Yes, for visa-required travelers. Schengen travel insurance with minimum €30,000 coverage is mandatory.
Yes. A Schengen visa allows free travel across all Schengen countries, as long as stay limits are respected.
A Schengen visa allows visits to all 29 Schengen countries, provided the 90/180-day rule is respected.
No. A Schengen visa authorizes tourism, family visits, or short business trips only. Working requires a specific national visa or permit.
Overstaying may lead to fines, temporary entry bans, or difficulties with future visa applications.
Yes. Every day spent in the Schengen Area counts, including transit days and very short stays. Even partial days are counted as full days.
The Schengen Area takes its name from the Schengen Agreement, signed in 1985 in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg. Under this agreement, five European countries decided to gradually remove border controls between them in order to facilitate the free movement of people. This agreement laid the foundations for today’s Schengen Area, which was later expanded to include other European countries.
No. Although Cyprus is a member of the European Union, it is not part of the Schengen Area. Therefore, a Schengen visa does not automatically allow entry into Cyprus, and specific visa rules may apply.
No. Although Ireland is a member of the European Union, it is not part of the Schengen Area and applies its own visa policy and border controls.
Yes. Croatia has been part of the Schengen Area since 2023 and fully applies Schengen rules. A valid Schengen visa allows entry and free movement within Croatia, within the limit of 90 days in any 180-day period.
