A Schengen or European Travel Information and Authorization System ("ETIAS") visa is a permit that allows non-EU citizens to visit the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The Schengen area is a group of European countries that have abolished border controls between them. As of 2025, the Schengen Area includes 29 countries, including four that are not in the European Union (EU). These countries are: (a) EU countries: 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, and Sweden; and (b) Non-EU countries: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
What types of Schengen visas are there?
- Single-entry visa: Allows entry to the Schengen area once
- Multiple-entry visa: Allows multiple visits to the Schengen area for the duration of the visa
- Airport transit visa: Allows travel through the international transit area of a Schengen airport during a stopover or flight change
Who needs a Schengen visa?
- Non-EU citizens need a visa to visit the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- US citizens with a valid passport can visit the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa
How does the Schengen area work?
- All 29 Schengen area countries apply the same visa rules
- The Schengen area countries have agreements on visa policy, asylum policy, and police and judicial cooperation
- The signatory nations maintain one external border and allow citizens to travel freely between the countries in the region
The 29 Schengen visa countries are the 29 countries that are part of the Schengen Area:
- European Union member states: 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, and Sweden.
- Non-European Union member states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
The Schengen Area is a common space for free movement within Europe. It has common visa rules and no internal border checks.
How the Schengen Area was formed
- The Schengen Agreement was signed in 1985 by Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and West Germany
- The Schengen Area was incorporated into EU law in the 1990s
- More countries joined the Schengen Area over time by meeting membership requirements
A non-EU national who stays in the Schengen area longer than 90 days (without a residence permit or long-stay visa) during the trailing 180 period is illegally present, which can result in a re-entry ban to the Schengen area.
Download the Domicile365 App to track your days in the Schengen area to ensure visa compliance and that you not overstay your permitted time in the region. The App has a dedicated page that automatically computes your days in the Schengen area so you can see how many days you have left.
