- Since 1985/1990, the Schengen area has become the largest free travel area in the world.
- The Schengen Agreement, initially signed by five European countries in 1985, provided for the gradual removal of border controls between the Schengen member states.
- Today, there are 29 Schengen countries. These include all member states of the European Union and several other countries, except Ireland and Cyprus.
- The centerpiece of the Schengen Agreement is the Schengen Borders Code. This code, which is a set of regulations, governs border formalities within the Schengen area and at its external borders. It outlines the procedures for border checks, visa requirements, and the conditions under which temporary border controls can be implemented.
- Citizens of Schengen countries travel visa-free and largely without border controls within the entire Schengen area. They also benefit from extensive freedom of establishment.
- The issuance of visas for the Schengen area is uniformly regulated. Expats who have obtained a visa for a Schengen country can travel freely and without visa or border formalities throughout the entire Schengen zone.
The Schengen Agreement and the Schengen Area
The Schengen area consists of 29 countries whose residents can travel visa-free and without border controls in all Schengen member states. Its significance is fundamental to the idea and practice of the European Union: citizens of Schengen countries can move around in most of Europe as if it were a single country. There are also very liberal regulations regarding their residence in another Schengen country.
International travelers and expats also benefit from the freedom to travel within the Schengen zone. A Schengen visa is valid for the country it was applied to and all Schengen states.
The abolition of internal border controls in the Schengen area is accompanied by the goal of reliably protecting Europe’s external borders. The cornerstone for creating the world’s largest free travel area was laid in 1985 with the Schengen Agreement.
The Schengen Agreement
The Schengen Agreement was initiated by Germany and France in 1984. It was signed on June 14, 1985, initially by the initiators and by Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The Luxembourg village, where representatives of the participating countries met for this purpose, gave the Schengen process its name.
The implementation of the Schengen Convention began in 1990. In the following decades, the group of Schengen member states gradually expanded. The Schengen Agreement and all the regulations based on it are also referred to as the Schengen acquis.
From the outset, the fundamental objectives of the Schengen Agreement were:
- Abolition of internal border controls between member states
- Uniform procedures for issuing visas
- Establishment of the SIS database (SIS — Schengen Information System)
- Close cooperation between officials of various internal departments and the immigration authorities
Today, around 450 million people live within the Schengen area. For the member states, it is not least an important economic factor. Because of international law and national regulations based on it, Schengen enables uncomplicated economic relations, barrier-free cross-border work, and cultural exchange. Tourism also benefits from this within the Schengen area and in the global dimension.
Schengen member states
Today, the Schengen Area includes all European Union countries except Ireland and Cyprus. Schengen member states outside the EU are Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
Bulgaria and Romania are the newest Schengen member states, which only joined the Schengen agreement in 2024. Initially, only internal controls at the air and sea borders of the two countries were discontinued; in early 2020, passport controls at their internal land borders were also included.
Special regulations for individual countries
Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Cyprus are non-Schengen countries and do not issue Schengen visas. The United Kingdom also left the European Union in 2020. International expats must apply for a separate visa for each country, but these do not entitle them to enter the Schengen area and vice versa.
However, citizens of the Schengen member states do not require a visa to enter Ireland, Great Britain, or Cyprus. They are also associated with the Schengen states in other respects. Cyprus is in the process of creating the structural conditions for full Schengen membership.
Great Britain and Ireland have established their visa free zone for their citizens and expats in these countries.
The 4 European microstates (Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, Vatican) are also non-Schengen countries. They have freedom of movement without border controls with their immediate neighbors.
Overseas territories
The Schengen member states Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and Norway have overseas territories that belong to their national territory but are not part of the Schengen zone.
The British overseas territory of Gibraltar belongs neither to the EU nor the Schengen area.
Other European countries
All other countries that geographically belong in whole or in part to Europe – for example, the Balkan countries except the EU member states Croatia and Slovenia or Turkey – do not belong to the Schengen area.
Common Schengen Information Systems
Border controls, visa issuance, and cooperation between authorities are uniformly regulated in and between the Schengen member states.
The basis for freedom of movement within the Schengen area is largely the Schengen Borders Code, which defines the absence of internal border controls as the normal state of affairs. However, the Schengen states are entitled to introduce temporary border controls if they can claim national security interests.
In addition, these countries operate two joint information systems and the corresponding databases with the VIS (Visa Information System) and SIS (Schengen Information System).
Visa Information System
The VIS is designed to optimize the exchange of information between Schengen member states regarding granting visas and the decision on asylum applications. The system has the following functions:
- facilitating border controls at the external Schengen borders (if necessary, also internally in the case of justified national interests)
- facilitating the granting of visas for the Schengen area
- Combating illegal entry
- Support in deciding which Schengen state is responsible for examining asylum applications
Schengen Information System
The SIS explicitly fulfills security functions. Among other things, it supports:
- Cross-border police cooperation between the Schengen states
- Cooperation between their law enforcement agencies, judicial cooperation
- Cooperation in vehicle registration
Schengen visa – visa types and visa requirements
The Schengen member states have established a uniform procedure for issuing visas. When you apply for a visa at the embassy of a Schengen country, your visa application will always be treated according to the same criteria.
A Schengen visa is a sticker that is affixed to your passport. It allows you to visit all 29 Schengen countries. If you have a German Schengen visa, you can travel visa-free throughout the entire Schengen area, usually without border controls. You only have to present the visa when entering the Schengen zone.
If you have a Schengen visa for a stay of more than 90 days, you will need a residence permit after the three months have expired. While the Schengen visa guarantees freedom of movement in the entire Schengen area, you can typically only apply for a residence permit in the country whose embassy issued the visa.
Schengen visa types
A Schengen visa is issued for various reasons, which you must state in your visa application and interview. Types of a Schengen visa are:
- Tourist visa
- Visa for visiting family members or friends
- Business visa
- Work visa
- Job-seeking visa
- Student visa (including full-time study, study preparation, internships, and language courses)
- Visa for vocational training
- Visa for medical treatment
- Visa for family reasons (e.g., marriage, family reunification)
Schengen visas are issued for a single entry, as a double-entry or multiple entry visa.
Short- and long-term Schengen visas
Schengen visas also differ in terms of their period of validity – freedom of movement within the Schengen area is not affected by this:
- C visas are issued for a maximum of 90 days within 180 days. You can get this visa for tourist trips, visits to family and friends, business trips, medical treatment, or short study visits.
- D visas (national visas) are issued for a planned stay of more than 90 days for various visa reasons. With such a visa, you also need a residence permit for the country where you applied. The local immigration authorities issue this. The validity of D visas and national residence permits depends on the purpose of your stay. For example, student or work visas allow a stay of several years.
European embassies usually issue a Schengen visa for the period you have applied for. However, a shorter or longer period of validity is also possible. After your visa has expired, you must leave the Schengen area or – if possible with a long-term visa – extend your visa and residence permit.
However, not all Schengen visas are extendable. According to international law/the Schengen visa Code, a C visa cannot typically be extended. For D visas, depending on the visa type, a maximum duration of stay may be specified, after which the visa cannot be extended.
Schengen visa process and visa requirements
You apply for a Schengen visa at the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country in which you are primarily residing. You’ll need to schedule an appointment to submit your visa documents and have a personal visa interview with an embassy official.
The basic requirements for a Schengen visa are:
- Valid passport
- Proof of Schengen visa insurance (travel health insurance)
- Proof that you can finance your stay from your funds
- For many Schengen visa types: Proof of willingness to return to your home country
- Proof of payment of the visa fee (the so-called Schengen provision)
Depending on the type of visa you are applying for, you will need further documents for the visa application, some of which may require official certification. You can find information on the European embassy website where you are applying for the visa.
Conclusion
The Schengen Area represents a groundbreaking achievement in European and global mobility, enabling seamless travel across 29 European countries. By eliminating internal border controls and harmonizing visa regulations, it offers unparalleled freedom of movement for residents, expats, and international travelers alike. The standardized Schengen visa system simplifies travel, work, and study within the region, while robust external border protections ensure security and compliance. This framework not only facilitates cultural exchange and economic cooperation but also reinforces the unity and accessibility that define the European project.
Frequently asked questions
All expats who need to enter the Schengen area must have a Schengen visa, regardless of the purpose of their stay.
All residents of Schengen states and citizens of various other states are exempt from the visa requirement. For short stays (C visas), these exceptions are uniformly regulated in the Schengen member states and currently affect about 60 countries. For stays of more than 90 days, however, national regulations apply in the Schengen countries that are not transferable to the other Schengen countries. Germany, for example, only allows visa-free entry for a planned long-term stay for ex-pats from 14 countries, including the USA, Canada, and Great Britain.
Yes. Regardless of your travel purpose, a visa for Germany is always a Schengen visa. You can use it to travel in all Schengen countries. The period of validity of your visa determines how long you are allowed to stay in Germany and the Schengen zone.
If you are staying in France for up to 90 days with your German Schengen visa, you do not need a visa or a residence permit for this — the German D visa fully covers your stay. There are some special rules for international students. For example, a Schengen visa allows you to study in any other Schengen state for up to 360 days, provided you are enrolled at a university in that country. For all other international expats, a national visa allows you to stay in another Schengen state for up to 90 days within 180 days.