Schengen Visa For How Many Countries
When it comes to the Schengen countries, there is a lot to be said about traveling to these countries. It is also confusing for some people to understand how many countries are on this list as well as what you need to go through as a traveler. There are a few criteria which you will have to meet before you can get your visa and visit these countries.
We often hear the term Schengen Visa. The name is derived from the agreement signed in 1985 in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg which eventually led to the creation of Europe’s borderless region – “Schengen area”. There are some who puzzle how many countries are there that fall under Schengen Treaty? According to this agreement, a visa issued by one of the Schengen member countries allows its holder to travel within 26 European states without applying for any other permit or a visa. This includes 22 member states of the EU, and 4 non-EU members: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Countries that share this bilateral agreement with EU are: Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.
Schengen Visa For How Many Countries
The Schengen Visa is a visa issued by one of the Schengen member states. The holder of the visa is allowed to enter into and travel throughout any of the Schengen zone countries without crossing any immigration boundaries, as in most cases one visa is all that is needed for the traveller to enter and pass through the Schengen area (the Schengen member states).
A Schengen visa allows you to travel and stay throughout the Schengen area, which covers all of Europe plus a few other countries. If you’re going to Germany and only want to visit that country, it’s fine to apply for a German single-entry visa.
Which countries are in the Schengen Area ?
The Schengen Area consists of 26 countries and covers nearly all of mainland Europe, with those countries that fall within the Schengen Area listed below:
Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
List of countries members of the Schengen zone
To find more information on how to get a Schengen visa, click on the name of the country you wish to visit first, or where you will be spending the biggest part of your trip :
Schengen EU member states
| AustriaSchengen Austria visa | BelgiumSchengen Belgium visa | Czech RepublicSchengen Czech Republic visa | DenmarkSchengen Denmark visa |
| EstoniaSchengen Estonia visa | FinlandSchengen Finland visa | FranceSchengen France visa | GermanySchengen Germany visa |
| GreeceSchengen Greece visa | HungarySchengen Hungary visa | IcelandSchengen Iceland visa | ItalySchengen Italy Visa |
| LatviaSchengen Latvia visa | LiechtensteinSchengen Liechtenstein visa | LithuaniaSchengen Lithuania visa | LuxembourgSchengen Luxembourg visa |
| MaltaSchengen Malta visa | NetherlandsSchengen Netherlands visa | NorwaySchengen Norway visa | PolandSchengen Poland visa |
| PortugalSchengen Portugal visa | SlovakiaSchengen Slovakia visa | SloveniaSchengen Slovenia visa | SpainSchengen Spain Visa |
| SwedenSchengen Sweden visa | SwitzerlandSchengen Switzerland visa |
What is the Schengen Agreement ?
The Schengen Agreement is a treaty which led to the creation of Europe’s Schengen Area, in which internal border checks have largely been abolished. It was signed on 14 June 1985 by five of the ten member states of the then European Economic Community and enacted a decade later, with all countries in the European Union (EU), except the U.K. and Ireland, joining over the coming years. Countries in Europe but outside the EU have also joined, including Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland. Britain has subsequently left the EU – meaning it is extremely unlikely to join Schengen in the foreseeable future.
Why is it called the ‘Schengen’ Area?
The name Schengen comes from the town in southeastern Luxembourg where France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands signed the original Schengen Agreement in 1985.
What does it mean if I want to travel to Europe?
The agreement has abolished border checks at the signatories’ common borders within the area, allowing individuals to travel freely within it. It gives residents in border areas the freedom to cross borders away from fixed checkpoints and has harmonized visa policies, meaning that for short stays of under 90 days, you can get a Schengen Visa. Under the Schengen Agreement, traveling from one country to another within the Schengen Area is done without border controls. In fact, the Schengen Visa makes it possible to visit all the countries in the Schengen Area and to cross internal borders without further formalities.
Please be aware that the European Union and the Schengen Area are two different zones. The list below will enable you to see the difference and check that the countries where you are planning to stay are all in the Schengen Area.
What European countries are not part of the Schengen Zone?
Although 26 countries are inside the Schengen Zone, including most nations in mainland Europe – not every European state is inside the area where border checks have been abolished. Find out the list of non-Schengen countries.
Do I always need a visa to travel to the Schengen Area?
Some countries have reciprocal visa-free travel arrangements with the Schengen states – including the U.K. and America. From the end of 2022, those traveling from these countries will need to apply for ETIAS authorization – an electronic document that allows for streamlined background checks and the collection of biometric information.
Was the U.K. ever in the Schengen Area?
The United Kingdom was never a member of the Schengen Agreement, as it secured an opt-out that other countries did not. Similarly, while Ireland is in the EU it is not in Schengen.
Before Brexit, the U.K. was subject to European Union law and Europeans had a right to live and work in the U.K. – and vice versa. Little has changed for those outside the EU as they were subject to these laws before Brexit – and so they have to apply for a short or long stay visa accordingly to the relevant authorities.
Are the Canary Islands and other Europe’s overseas territories part of the Schengen Area?
The Schengen Area includes the Atlantic islands belonging to Spain and Portugal, such as the Canaries (Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa) and Madeira. However, most overseas regions and territories are not part of the Schengen Area. For example, French Guiana, Martinique (France), Reunion (France), Guadeloupe (France), Curaçao (Netherlands), and Greenland (Denmark) are not a part of the common travel area, and may not be within the EU.
How can AXA help?
AXA offers several insurance policies for travel in Europe, from a low-cost option, priced at as little as €20 ($22) per week of your trip, that will meet the Schengen Visa requirements, to multi-trip insurance that will cover you for ongoing visits. None of these policies will require you to pay an excess fee on medical costs.
Those seeking a multiple-entry visa can purchase the Multi Trip insurance from €298 per year, which again covers you for expenses up to €100,000.
Additionally, AXA Schengen insurance covers, depending on the policy subscribed, the U.K. and the non-Schengen countries of the European Union, like Ireland, Romania, or Bulgaria.
Related topics on the Schengen visa
How to apply for a Schengen visa?