What is the Schengen Area?
The Schengen Area consists of 29 European countries that permit unrestricted movement of people. The area mainly functions as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy. The area includes most EU countries (but not all!) and non-member countries such as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein.
Schengen Area Countries
The 29 countries included in the Schengen Area are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
There are two EU members that have not joined the Schengen zone: Ireland and Cyprus.
What does the Schengen Zone mean in the airport?
Just as some airports will have Domestic and International areas within their terminals, European airports will have Schengen and non-Schengen areas.
- If you are in a Schengen airport and will be flying to another Schengen airport, you will use the Schengen Area.
- If you are in a Schengen airport and fly to a non-Schengen airport, you will use the non-Schengen Area.