"Schengen" is not the same as the "European Union". Some EU countries are not full Schengen members and some non-EU countries are in it. The information in this article comes from the European Commission's "Schengen area" page (updated on 27 May 2025), checked on 24 October 2026.
29 countries
According to the European Commission, the Schengen area has 25 EU member states and 4 non-EU countries.
The EU member states in Schengen:
- Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia;
- Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany;
- Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania;
- Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal;
- Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
The non-EU countries in Schengen:
- Iceland;
- Liechtenstein;
- Norway;
- Switzerland.
The latest members
According to the European Commission, Bulgaria and Romania were the last countries to join Schengen, on 1 January 2025.
EU members, but not full Schengen members
- Cyprus: takes part in Schengen cooperation, but its internal border controls have not yet been lifted and its full integration is under way.
- Ireland: has an opt-out under the Schengen Protocol and keeps its own visa and border policy.
What it means for travel
- A short-stay Schengen visa is valid for all 29 countries.
- The 90 days in any 180-day rule is counted for these 29 countries together.
- Since 10 April 2026 the EES records the entries and exits of non-European travellers at this area's external borders.
- For Ireland and Cyprus, check that country's entry rule separately.
This article is general information. Before travelling, ask the official source for the current rule.
Sources
- European Commission, the Schengen area (updated on 27 May 2025) — https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/schengen-area_en (checked on 24 October 2026)
- European Commission, main differences between the EES and ETIAS (28 April 2026) — https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/main-differences-between-ees-and-etias-what-travellers-need-know-2026-04-28_en (checked on 24 October 2026)