Schengen Area – The World’s Largest Visa-Free Zone.
Schengen Area – The World’s Largest Visa-Free Zone.
Schengen Area signifies a zone where 26 European countries, abolished their internal borders, for the free and unrestricted movement of people, in harmony with common rules for controlling external borders and fighting criminality by strengthening the common judicial system and police cooperation.
Schengen Area covers most of the EU countries, except the UK, Ireland and the countries that are soon to be part of Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Cyprus. Although not members of the EU, countries like Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein are also part of the Schengen zone.
Schengen Area Countries
The 26 Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The Essential Features of The Schengen Zone
The abolition of borders between European countries has resulted in:
Nationals of any world country, when in the Schengen Area, to liberally cross the internal borders of the state members, free from border checks
Shared standards for crossing the external borders
Harmonized entry and short-stay visa conditions for all state members
Improved collaboration between the police of member countries
Privileged judicial collaboration between members, including faster extradition of criminals, and easier relocation for the execution of criminal verdicts
An advanced shared database, assisting member countries to quickly exchange information about people and goods between them, known as SIS
Despite the extent of the freedom guaranteed by the Schengen Area, the police enjoy the authority to carry out checks at internal borders and in border areas, in specific circumstances, but this is not considered a border check. The police can require information from people at internal borders about the stay in Schengen Zone and additional associated questions
If lacking to have complete internal security due to a serious threat, a member country can temporarily reintroduce border checks at its internal borders, but for not more than 30 days
The Criteria to Become a Schengen Member Country
Many European countries possess the determination to be part or to join the Schengen Area, but not all essentially can do this instantly. This for the fact that there are some pre-conditions or criteria that countries willing to join must have the capacity, or, need further preparation, to deal with, such as:
To be able, that on behalf of other member countries, to control the external borders of the Area as well as to issue Uniform Schengen Visas
To possess the competence that after the abolishment of border controls between member states, to capably collaborate with other member countries’ law enforcement agencies for a greater level of security
To be equipped in applying “Schengen Acquis” or rules for controlling land, sea and air borders, issuing short-stay visas, police collaboration as well as protection of personal data
To be ready to join and put in use the Schengen Information System (SIS)
*Note: Before joining the visa-free Area, the aspirant country is prone to a Schengen Evaluation. Afterward, a member country undergoes a periodical evaluation to ensure the appropriate application of Schengen Acquis.
Which Are the Non-Schengen Countries in Europe?
The European countries that are not part of the Schengen zone are: Albania, Andora, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Ireland, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, The United Kingdom and Vatican City.