Definition
The group of 29 European countries that have removed passport checks at their shared borders and issue a common short-stay visa. It includes most EU members plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, but not the UK, Ireland or Cyprus.
Which countries are in the Schengen Area?
At the time of review, 29 countries: 25 EU members (all except Ireland and Cyprus) plus four non-EU countries, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Bulgaria and Romania became full members in January 2025.
Indian travellers often mix up the EU and Schengen. The difference decides which visa you need:
| Country | In EU? | In Schengen? | Schengen visa enough? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | No | Yes | Yes |
| Croatia | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| United Kingdom | No | No | No, separate UK visa |
| Ireland | Yes | No | No, Irish visa (or a UK visa under the British-Irish Visa Scheme) |
The 90/180 rule
Your time across the whole area counts together: up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. A week in Paris and a week in Prague use 14 days of the same allowance. Since the Entry/Exit System went live, border systems count these days electronically, so mistakes show up instantly.
How a typical Europe tour fits
A classic 10-night Paris–Switzerland–Italy tour stays entirely inside Schengen, so one Schengen visa covers it. Add London and you need a UK visa too, with a separate fee and biometrics appointment, which many families remember too late.
There are no routine passport checks at internal borders, but carry your passport anyway. Police spot checks on trains between Italy and Switzerland or France and Germany are common, and hotels must record it at check-in.
Planning a multi-country route? Start with our Schengen visa guide.