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Europe without borders
The Schengen area
Migration and
Home Affairs
© iStockphoto/romrodinka
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IE
UK
FR
NO
SE
FI
EE
LV
LT
PL
CZ
AT
HU
SK
RO
BG
EL
CY
MT
DE
IT
LI
CH
LU
BE
NL
PT
ES
IS
DK
SI
HR
CANARIAS (ES)
AÇORES (PT)
MADEIRA (PT)
The Schengen area
■ EU Schengen states
■ Non-Schengen EU states
■ Non-EU Schengen states
AT Austria
BE Belgium
BG Bulgaria
CH Switzerland
CY Cyprus
CZ Czech Republic
DE Germany
DK Denmark
EE Estonia
EL Greece
ES Spain
FI Finland
FR France
HR Croatia
HU Hungary
IE Ireland
IS Iceland
IT Italy
LI Liechtenstein
LT Lithuania
LU Luxembourg
LV Latvia
MT Malta
NL Netherlands
NO Norway
PL Poland
PT Portugal
RO Romania
SE Sweden
SI Slovenia
SK Slovakia
UK United Kingdom
Note: The latest enlargement of the Schengen area took place on 19 December 2011, when Liechtenstein joined.
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Europe without borders
The Schengen area
e story began in 1985, when ve EU states decided to abolish internal border
controls — the Schengen area was born. On a continent where nations once shed
blood to defend their territories, today borders only exist on maps. Europeans make
over 1.25 billion journeys within the Schengen area every year. A Europe without
internal borders brings huge benets to the economy as well, which shows how
tangible, popular and successful the Schengen achievement is and the importance it
has for our daily lives and for our societies. We need to preserve and reinforce this
common achievement.
Removing borders, ensuring safety and building trust took many years after two
devastating world wars. e creation of the Schengen area is one of the greatest
achievements of the EU and it is irreversible. Now, free movement makes Europe
smaller and unites us. Enjoy and cherish this right. Jump on a train or hop in the car
and visit your neighbours. All this is possible without giving borders a second thought.
Happy travelling!
Dimitris Avramopoulos,
Commissioner for Migration, Home Aairs and Citizenship
© European Union, iStockphoto/VLIET, iStockphoto/Izabela Habur
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The Schengen area
The Schengen area guarantees unrestricted travel within a territory of 26 countries, home to more than 400
million citizens
An area without internal border controls
Currently, the Schengen area consists of 26 European
countries (of which 22 are EU states): Belgium, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain,
France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary,
Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia,
Slovakia, Finland and Sweden, along with Iceland,
Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Being part of the area without internal border controls
means that these countries:
• do not carry out border checks at their internal borders
(i.e. borders between two Schengen states);
• carry out harmonised controls, based on clearly dened
criteria, at their external borders (i.e. borders between a
Schengen state and a non-Schengen state).
As a result, both EU citizens and non-EU nationals may
freely travel within the Schengen area and are checked only
when crossing the external border.
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United
Kingdom are EU states that are not, or not yet, part of the
Schengen area. is means that a ight from one of these
states to a Schengen state is regarded as an external ight
and is subject to border checks. However, EU citizens have
the right to free movement when travelling within the EU,
regardless of whether the country is part of Schengen or
not. In principle, when entering a non-Schengen EU state,
EU citizens only undergo minimum checks to verify their
identities on the basis of travel documents (passport or
identity card).
If you think that you have been subjected
to an unlawful check at an internal border,
you may file a complaint to the European
Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/atwork/
applying-eu-law/make_a_complaint_
en.htm.
At internal borders …
… you do not undergo border checks.
… Schengen states must remove all obstacles to the fluid flow of
road traffic, such as unnecessary speed limits.
… police checks may be carried out, but only on the basis of
police information about possible threats to public security or
suspected cross-border crime.
… security checks may be carried out at ports and airports, but
only to verify a person’s identity..
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Joining the Schengen area
To join the Schengen area, the Schengen states have had
to demonstrate that they are able to:
• take responsibility for controlling the area’s external
border on behalf of the other Schengen states and for
issuing uniform short-stay visas (Schengen visas);
• efficiently cooperate with the other Schengen states
in order to maintain a high level of security once
internal border controls are abolished;
• apply the set of Schengen rules, such as rules on
land, sea and air border controls, visa issuing, police
cooperation and personal data protection;
• connect to and use the Schengen Information
System (SIS) and the Visa Information System
(VIS).
Schengen states undergo periodic evaluations to
control that they correctly apply the Schengen rules.
© iStockphoto/FedericoC, iStockphoto/Robert Ginsberg, iStockphoto/Marcus Lindstrom, iStockphoto/Clodio
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A secure area
To ensure security within the border-free area, Schengen
states exchange information to tackle organised cross-border
crime and terrorism. ey have increased police cooperation,
in particular through hot pursuit, cross-border surveillance,
the establishment of joint police centres and teams, as well
as the use of the SIS.
Hot pursuit allows police ocers from one Schengen state
who catch criminals in the act of committing serious oences
to pursue the perpetrators across the border and detain them
on the territory of another Schengen state.
Cross-border surveillance allows police ocers to continue
their surveillance of suspected criminals even across the
Schengen area’s internal borders.
As very visible structures of the enhanced cooperation,
Schengen states have so far created around 50 bi- or
multilateral police cooperation centres in Europe, as well
as a considerable number of joint teams. is allows for
swift exchanges of information at regional level and for fast
reactions to imminent threats in border regions.
e Schengen rules still allow national authorities to
exceptionally and temporarily reintroduce internal border
controls in case of a serious threat to security or of serious
deciencies at the external border that can put the overall
functioning of the Schengen area at risk.
To make legitimate travel easier without undermining
security, the EU provides its Member States with funding
through the ‘Borders’ part of the Internal Security Fund.
During the period 2014–20, a total of EUR 2.76 billion is
available to enhance the management of and controls at the
external border in order to better tackle irregular migration
and to improve the processing of Schengen visa applications.
Moreover, to increase police cooperation and information
exchange in the Schengen area itself, the EU provides EUR
1 billion through the ‘Police’ part of the Internal Security
Fund.
© European Union
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Schengen Information System
The Schengen information system (SIS) was
established to help maintain internal security within
the Schengen states in the absence of internal
border controls. It is a large-scale information
system that enables police, migration, judicial and
other authorities to enter and consult alerts on
missing persons, on persons or objects related to
criminal offences and on non-EU nationals who are
not allowed to enter or stay in the Schengen area. In
this way the SIS is a cornerstone of law enforcement
cooperation. At the same time, it contributes to
a great extent to the protection of the external
Schengen border.
Right of access to the SIS
Every person has the right to access his or her
personal data in the SIS and ask for its correction or
deletion.
If you are a non-EU national, you may address your
request to the consulate of any Schengen state.
If you are a citizen of a Schengen state, you may
either address your request directly to the competent
national authority responsible for the issuance of
the alert or indirectly via the national data protection
authority.
For more information about how to request access to
your data, see the guidelines on the European data
protection supervisor’s website: https://secure.edps.
europa.eu/EDPSWEB/edps/Supervision
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The Schengen area is encircled by 42 673 km of sea borders and 7 721 km of land borders
An area with a common external border
e Schengen states share a common external border for
which, in the absence of internal border controls, they are
responsible together in order to ensure security within the
Schengen area. However, eciently controlling the external
border does not imply that Europe is turned into a ‘fortress’.
On the contrary, it is essential that business travel and
tourism are encouraged for the sake of European economies.
e external border also needs to remain open for people
coming for work or seeking refuge from war and persecution.
Nationals from certain non-EU countries need a visa to enter
into the Schengen area. e Schengen states have common
rules for issuing short-stay Schengen visas, which are valid
within the entire Schengen area. ese visas allow a person
to stay and travel in the territories of Schengen states for a
maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period.
e Schengen rules also include a local border trac regime,
which makes it easier for nationals of neighbouring non-EU
countries residing near the border to enter into the Schengen
area. Schengen states may draw up agreements with their
neighbouring non-EU countries that allow those border
residents who frequently need to cross into the Schengen
area to do so without having to undergo regular border
checks or without needing a Schengen visa.
Le: Rio Tambre patrol boat of the Spanish Civil Guard patrolling close to Gran Canaria of the Canary Islands. This boat was
financed by the EU External Borders Fund.
Right: Norwegian military border guards, under supervision of police from the Ostfinnmark police district, patrol the border
with Russia near the town of Kirkenes in northern Norway. The police snowmobiles and part of the clothing and equipment are
supported by the EU External Borders Fund.
© European Union, iStockphoto/Maciej Noskowski
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At the external border …
… EU nationals generally undergo minimum checks to
verify their identities on the basis of travel documents.
… non-EU nationals must present a valid travel
document and a visa, if required, or a residence
permit, as well as documents that justify the purpose
of their stay and prove that they possess sufficient
financial resources to support themselves during their
stay.
Did you know that …
… a regularly updated list of countries whose nationals
must hold a visa to enter the Schengen area can be
found on the Directorate-General for Migration and
Home Affairs’ website:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/e-library/
documents/policies/borders-and-visas/visa-policy/
index_en.htm.
… a Schengen visa application must be lodged at the
consulate of the Schengen state of main destination,
which can also provide detailed information about the
application procedure.
How long can you stay in the
Schengen area with or without a
Schengen visa?
If you are not sure how many days you still can stay
within the Schengen area, calculate the number of
days remaining with the short-stay visa calculator:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/index_en.htm.
Visa Information System
The Visa Information System (VIS) is an IT system that
connects Schengen consulates in non-EU countries,
competent national authorities and all external
border crossing points of Schengen states. It allows
Schengen states’ visa authorities to share information
on visa applications, border guards to verify with the
use of biometric data (e.g. fingerprints) that a person
presenting a visa is its rightful holder and competent
authorities to identify persons found on the Schengen
territory with no or fraudulent documents. The VIS is
also used by the competent asylum authorities.
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What does Schengen
mean for travellers?
Europeans make over 1.25 billion journeys within the Schengen area every year
What if I’m from an EU state?
Francesca is an Italian student who dreams of visiting
Sweden with her friends. She has already bought her inter-
rail ticket, but she does not know which travel documents
she needs or whether she has to comply with any special
legal formalities. As an EU citizen, Francesca has the right to
enter all EU states upon presentation of a valid passport or
identity card, but she will not need to show it when travelling
within the Schengen area. However, she has to carry a valid
passport or identity card because the authorities may require
her to prove her identity.
Peter is Austrian. He wants to go to Norway, but wonders
whether the same rules on visas and passports apply to
Norway as to EU states. Although Norway is not part of the
EU, it is a member of Schengen and applies free movement
rules. erefore Peter will only need to carry a valid passport
or identity card in order to be able to prove his identity, if
asked.
Danuta is Polish and works in Brussels. Next month she
has to participate in a business meeting that will take place
in Warsaw, her hometown where her parents live. She wants
to take her baby Ewa with her to spend some time with
her parents. As citizens of the EU, Danuta and Ewa have
the right to travel anywhere in the EU and the Schengen
area. eir right does not depend on their circumstances,
i.e. whether they are travelling for professional or private
reasons. Danuta only has to make sure that both she and
Ewa have their own individual passport or identity card.
Angel is Spanish. He ies to Bulgaria every month to visit
his girlfriend. Although Bulgaria is a member of the EU, it
is not yet part of the Schengen area — this is also the case
for ve other EU states (Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania
and the United Kingdom). is means that when going to
and coming from Bulgaria, he will have to show his passport
or identity card and undergo the normal, minimum border
controls for EU citizens.
Did you know that …
… practical information about travelling in Europe can
be found on the Your Europe portal: ec.europa.eu/
youreurope.
… the Europe Direct Contact Centre answers questions
via telephone (00800 67891011) and e-mail: europa.
eu/europedirect.
© iStockphoto/Daniel Krol, iStockphoto/sturti, iStockphoto/Izabela Habur, iStockphoto/danako
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In 2013, over 16 million Schengen visas were issued for non-EU travellers to the Schengen area
What if I’m from a non-EU country?
Martine is a Canadian student who won a scholarship
that will allow her to spend two months at the Sorbonne
University in Paris to carry out research for her thesis. Before
going back to Canada, she would like to travel for three
weeks throughout Greece, Spain and Italy. As a citizen of a
non-EU country, Martine may enter and travel within the
Schengen territory for up to 90 days, as long as she fulls
certain entry conditions. In the rst place, she needs a valid
passport. She must also be able to demonstrate the purpose
of her journey, that she has the means to live in Europe for
the intended duration of her stay and that she has already
bought her return ticket (or that she has enough money to
buy one). As a Canadian citizen, Martine is exempt from the
short-stay (Schengen) visa requirement.
Punjit is from India. He is planning to spend his holidays
visiting several Schengen states: Greece, Spain, France and
Italy. He will stay in Europe for a month. Punjit needs a
short-stay visa to go to Europe because India belongs to those
non-EU countries whose nationals must have a visa when
crossing the Schengen area’s external border. Since Punjit
does not have a main destination, he should apply for a visa
at the embassy or consulate of the EU state where he will
stay the longest. If his stays in the dierent Schengen states
are of the same length, he should apply at the consulate of
the state of entry into the Schengen area. e visa obtained
will allow him to move throughout the Schengen area.
Hisham is Tunisian. He lives in Germany and spends his
holidays with his parents in Tunisia. On his way back, he
would like to go and visit his brother in Portugal. He has
a valid residence permit issued by Germany, which belongs
to the Schengen area. is residence permit, together with a
valid travel document, ensures that he does not need to apply
for a Schengen visa. As a non-EU national, Hisham can enter
Portugal, another Schengen state, for a short stay without a
visa simply by showing his passport and the German-issued
residence permit. If Hisham had a residence permit issued
by one of the non-Schengen EU states, he would not be able
to enter the Schengen area without a short-stay visa.
Solinas is Bolivian. She would like to move to Spain
because she has found a job in Madrid. As Solinas is
planning to stay in Madrid for more than 90 days, she needs
a long-stay visa or a residence permit. For some categories of
workers, such as highly skilled workers or researchers, EU
law sets the requirements that non-EU nationals must full
to reside and work in the EU. For the categories of workers
not regulated under EU law, it is up to the Schengen states
to set their own requirements for issuing long-stay visas and
resident permits.
© iStockphoto/AMR, iStockphoto/Matej Kastelic, iStockphoto/yurok, iStockphoto/ImageSource
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Key dates
The Schengen Agreement was named aer a small
village in Luxembourg that is located on the point where
its borders meet those of Germany and France. Having
started as an initiative between governments, Schengen
cooperation is now incorporated into EU laws and rules
June 1985
Schengen Agreement signed by Belgium, Germany,
France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands
June 1990
Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement
signed by Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and
the Netherlands
March 1995
Convention entered into force and border controls
abolished between Belgium, Germany, Spain, France,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal (Spain and
Portugal signed the agreement in June 1991)
October 1997
Border controls abolished with Italy (agreement signed
in November 1990)
December 1997
Border controls abolished with Austria (agreement
signed in April 1995)
May 1999
Treaty of Amsterdam integrated Schengen cooperation
into the legal framework of the EU
January 2000
Border controls abolished with Greece (agreement
signed in November 1992)
March 2001
Border controls abolished with Denmark, Finland,
Sweden, Iceland and Norway (agreements signed in
December 1996)
The construction of the Schengen area began in 1985 when five countries signed the Schengen Agreement that set out the
gradual abolition of checks at common borders. The agreement was supplemented by the 1990 Schengen Implementing
Convention that set out the final abolition of internal border controls, as well as a series of necessary accompanying measures.
The convention strengthened external border checks, defined procedures for issuing uniform visas, established the SIS,
increased police cooperation at internal borders and improved action against drug trafficking.
Jean Weyrich, Archives Luxemburger Wort
14 June 1985 — Schengen Agreement signed by Wim van Eekelen
(NL), Robert Goebbels (LU), Catherine Lalumière (FR), Waldemar
Schreckenberger (DE) and Paul De Keersmaeker (BE).
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December 2007
Abolition of land and sea border controls with the Czech
Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta,
Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia
March 2008
Abolition of border controls at airports with the Czech
Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta,
Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia
December 2008
Abolition of land border controls with Switzerland
(agreement signed in October 2004)
March 2009
Abolition of border controls at airports with Switzerland
December 2011
Abolition of border controls with Liechtenstein
(agreement signed in February 2008)
More information …
… on Schengen laws and rules can be found on the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs’ website:
ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/doc_centre/borders/borders_schengen_en.htm.
… on EU states’ migration laws and rules can be found on the EU immigration portal: ec.europa.eu/immigration.
What next?
e EU is currently working on a ‘Smart border’ programme
for the external border. It consists of an entry/exit system,
which will improve border controls and combat irregular
migration while making border crossing easier for frequent
and pre-vetted travellers.
e EU is also working on modifying the visa procedure to
make better links with other policy areas, such as tourism,
and to further facilitate procedures for frequent travellers.
A new type of visa — the ‘touring visa’ — is also under
consideration, which would allow a person to stay in the
territory of two or more Schengen states for a duration
of more than 90 days, but no more than 1 year (with the
possibility of extension for an additional year).
© iStockphoto/Radu Razvan, European Union
