Which states have signed the Schengen agreement
The Schengen Agreement was signed in the mid-eighties of the last century. Since then, the procedure for crossing borders in Europe has completely changed: traveling has become much easier. The list of Schengen countries for 2019 includes 26 European powers and in the coming years, presumably, their number should increase by at least six more.
The united Schengen territory includes a significant part of European states. Of the 65 countries in Europe (including unrecognized republics and dependent territories), the Schengen list includes 40% of them. So, The 26 Schengen countries are a union of not only developed countries, but also countries with relatively modest economic potential.
It is not difficult to find out which countries Schengen covers, since these are almost all countries included in Central, Western and Northern Europe. Among them are Austria, Belgium, Denmark and many other states. Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania are not yet part of the zone, but they are preparing to join and are working to meet EU requirements.
The list of countries where you can go with a Schengen visa is very impressive. In the mid-80s, it included no more than a dozen countries, but now it is difficult to find a European country with a developed tourism infrastructure that is not a member of the Schengen Agreement.
Which countries are included in the Schengen area
Countries included in the Schengen area put forward their own requirements for tourists. Most of their requirements are unified and comply with the EU Visa Code - the differences are insignificant and relate more to the level of financial solvency, the nuances of determining the terms of single and multiple visa permits.
Having become the owner of a visa stamp in your passport with the inscription “Schengen”, you can move freely within the zone, that is, visit Germany, France, Belgium, Spain and other countries. Freedom of movement depends on the type of permit: with a single and double entry you can enter Europe once or twice, respectively, and with a multiple entry - an unlimited number of times. ? We can talk about the following countries:
- Greece;
- Poland;
- Slovakia;
- Malta;
- Finland;
- Estonia;
- Latvia;
- Lithuania.
It is difficult to say how many Schengen countries treat visa applicants the most strictly. But there is a higher percentage of refusals in visa centers of Northern European countries (Denmark, Norway, etc.) and Switzerland. These countries also require an impressive amount of cash when traveling independently to the EU across their border, since the standard of living and prices in them are objectively higher.
There are a lot of options where you can go with a Schengen visa, and choosing the right one is not difficult at all. The main thing is not to violate the regime: cross the border in the required place and not try to get a job or stay in the country illegally.
Schengen visas and the Schengen zone: Video
EU, Schengen and Eurozone: understanding the concepts
Many people confuse the concepts of “EU” and “Schengen”. This is a mistake, since the concepts are not identical. The EU membership includes 28 states. However, with the exit of Great Britain and Ireland, their number will decrease, although this process (withdrawal) will stretch over several years. The EU is, first and foremost, a political and economic union.
The association has its own legislation, which all members try to adhere to. The countries actually have a common market and convenient conditions for mutually beneficial trade and the import and export of goods and services. In this regard, it is not difficult to guess what the Schengen agreement is. It was adopted at the initial stage, before the creation of the EU, to allow for freer movement of people within Europe. This increased the influx of tourists and simplified the process of investing in real estate and other assets in the zone. The agreement is one of many documents signed for the smooth functioning of the joint zone.
The visa-free regime in Europe also attracted other countries to the Union (for example, in 2007 Poland, Hungary, etc. joined the EU). Currently, the free movement zone includes 26 members of the Schengen Agreement. The Schengen zone should not be confused with such a concept as the “eurozone”. The eurozone includes only 19 member states of the Economic Monetary Union. This means that the euro, and not the national currency, circulates freely on their territory. The euro is not yet used in Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and some other countries. However, they are all preparing to join the eurozone and the situation may change over time.
Procedure for moving between states
Border crossings within the free zone are carried out without border controls. It is advisable to carry it through the border checkpoint of the state that issued permission to cross the border. This is not an “iron” rule (there is no mention of it in EU legislation), but rather a tradition. The likelihood of a visa stamp in a passport being canceled exists only for those who have received a one-time permit to enter a specific country and cannot explain the reason for changing the route.
The Schengen area does not exempt you from having to declare goods and cash at the border. You must follow all the rules for the import and export of things and not violate the visa regime (do not stay longer than the visa corridor, do not work while holding a tourist visa, etc.). Violations can result in severe fines and even deportation.
In addition to the Schengen visa, you can also apply for the so-called national visa D, which allows you to stay in the country for a longer period (up to 180 days). This does not restrict movement within the Schengen area. But you cannot stay in each of its countries for more than 90 days.
Which visa to apply for for traveling around Europe is up to everyone to decide for themselves. But national visas are usually issued exclusively for long-term purposes - study, work, starting a business. Most often, staying in the country with a D visa ends with obtaining a residence permit, and then moving to permanent residence.
Which European countries are not included in Schengen
If you are planning a long trip visiting different countries, then it is very important to know all the European countries that are not part of the Schengen area. These are, first of all, Great Britain, Ireland, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania and Croatia. The UK and Ireland have separate and rather complex procedures for obtaining their national visas. And the rest are ready to accept all Schengen or D visa holders, as well as those who have issued their national visa. In addition to these countries, there are also states in Europe with a simplified entry procedure. ? These include (in brackets - the maximum permitted number of days of stay):
● Serbia (up to 30 days);
● Montenegro (up to 90 days in summer);
● Bosnia and Herzegovina (up to 30 days);
● Macedonia (up to 90 days);
● Türkiye (up to 60 days).
It is also quite easy to get into the Republic of Cyprus and Moldova, which offer online visa applications. Romania also accepts those who have a residence permit or permanent residence permit from Bulgaria, Cyprus or Croatia, and Bulgaria, respectively, holders of a residence permit or permanent residence permit from Romania, Cyprus or Croatia. To enter Northern Ireland you need an English visa. A local visa is required to enter the Republic of Ireland (considered to be another country).
Ireland and the UK are not members of the Schengen Agreement, although they participate in Schengen cooperation under the Amsterdam Treaty. This means that countries use a unified information system of European countries, i.e. they will be able to easily find out how often the owner of a visa stamp has been to Europe and which countries have issued visas previously.
In each specific case, it is advisable to find out the entry conditions directly on the websites of embassies and visa centers. Even if the country provides simplified entry, at the border you will be asked to show, in addition to your passport, a hotel reservation or travel voucher, insurance, and a sufficient amount of cash or funds on a payment card.
