IMMIGRATION TO EUROPE

About Schengen and Non Schengen Countries in Europe : -

Under the Schengen agreement, transiting 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.

European countries outside the Schengen Zone (Non Schengen EU Countries)

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.

Non Schengen EU countries list:

What are other non Schengen countries?

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.

Countries we associate with Europe that aren’t in the Schengen Zone include Eastern European states like

The microstates of Andorra, Monaco, and Vatican City are also not members - but are considered as de facto inside the area, as they do not impose border controls.

Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Cyprus are also outside the Schengen Zone but are legally obliged to join as members of the European Union at some point in the future. Russia is not a member of the free travel area.

Four non-EU countries - Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Iceland - are members of the area. Countries outside the area impose border checks on travelers coming from the Schengen Zone, but many have visa-free travel arrangements as EU members or countries which have signed visa-free travel agreements with the Schengen states.

Is the U.K. part of Schengen?

The U.K. and the Republic of Ireland are also not signed up to the Schengen Agreement, having obtained opt-outs from the treaty. If you are planning to travel in these countries in addition to the Schengen Area, you should check the local visa requirements of the nation you are planning to travel to, and make an application.