Schengen Countries List 2026: All 29 Member Countries and Map

Schengen Area now has 29 member countries. Bulgaria and Romania became full members on 1 January 2025, so the older count of 26 is out of date. Croatia had joined earlier, in 2023.

These countries have removed passport checks at their internal borders. People can move between them freely, while the outer border stays tightly controlled. Below is the complete list of Schengen countries for 2026, along with visa rules, the map and the new digital border systems.

Complete Schengen Countries List 2026

Out of the 27 European Union member states, 25 are part of the Schengen Area. Ireland and Cyprus are the two EU members that stay outside it. The remaining four members come from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

To join the Schengen Area, a country has to meet certain conditions. It must control its external borders properly and issue Uniform Schengen Visas. It also has to work with law enforcement agencies in other Schengen nations and clear the Schengen Evaluation. After joining, member countries go through regular reviews.

Detail	Information
List Name	Schengen Countries List
Total Members	29 countries
Newest Members	Bulgaria and Romania (full members from 1 January 2025)
EU States Inside Schengen	25 of 27 (Ireland and Cyprus stay out)
Non-EU Members	Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland
Short Stay Rule	90 days in any 180-day period
Official Info Portal	travel-europe.europa.eu

Here is the full list of all 29 Schengen countries:

Austria	Belgium	Bulgaria	Croatia	Czech Republic
Denmark	Estonia	Finland	France	Germany
Greece	Hungary	Iceland	Italy	Latvia
Liechtenstein	Lithuania	Luxembourg	Malta	Netherlands
Norway	Poland	Portugal	Romania	Slovakia
Slovenia	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland

Details on Each Schengen Country

Below is a short overview of the Schengen countries along with their key details:

Austria

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by eight other nations, and has a population of around 8.95 million. It signed the Schengen agreement on 28 April 1995.

Portugal

Portugal shares its border with Spain and has approximately 10,371,627 residents. It became a Schengen member on 25 June 1991.

Germany

Located in Central Europe, Germany borders nine countries and has a population of around 83 million. It signed the Schengen agreement on 14 June 1985.

Czech Republic

This landlocked country borders Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Austria, with a population of about 10.56 million. It joined Schengen on 16 April 2003.

Poland

Poland, situated in Central Europe, has a population of nearly 38 million. It signed the Schengen agreement on 16 April 2003.

Italy

Located in the Mediterranean, Italy is bordered by several nations and houses approximately 59 million residents. It joined Schengen on 27 November 1990.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg has a small population of about 575,747 and signed the Schengen agreement on 14 June 1985.

Estonia

Estonia, with around 1.31 million residents, signed the Schengen agreement on 16 April 2003.

Latvia

Latvia shares borders with Lithuania, Estonia, Russia and Belarus, with a population nearing 1.97 million. It signed the Schengen agreement on 16 April 2003.

Spain

Spain is home to 46 million people and shares a border with France. It joined Schengen on 25 June 1991.

Lithuania

Lithuania's population is approximately 2.91 million, and it signed the Schengen agreement on 16 April 2003.

Finland

Finland has about 5.5 million residents and signed the Schengen agreement on 19 December 1996.

Iceland

Iceland is a North Atlantic island nation with a population of around 348,580. It first signed the Schengen agreement on 19 December 1996.

Slovenia

Slovenia has a population of about 2.08 million and signed the Schengen agreement on 16 April 2003.

Slovakia

Slovakia has around 5.44 million residents and became a Schengen country on 16 April 2003.

Denmark

Denmark is home to 5.85 million residents and joined Schengen on 19 December 1996.

Hungary

Hungary, located in Central Europe, has a population of approximately 9.75 million and joined the Schengen Area on 16 April 2003.

Malta

Malta, a Mediterranean archipelago, has a population of about 429,362 and signed the Schengen agreement on 16 April 2003.

Switzerland

Switzerland, bordered by several nations, signed the Schengen agreement on 26 October 2004.

Belgium

Belgium is a low-lying Western European country with a population of about 11.5 million, joining Schengen on 14 June 1985.

France

France, with a population of around 67.4 million, signed the Schengen agreement on 14 June 1985.

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a small Central European microstate with a population of 37,666, joining Schengen on 28 February 2008.

Greece

Greece, located at a crossroads of three continents, is home to about 11.18 million people and signed the agreement on 6 November 1992.

Norway

Norway has around 5.25 million residents, signing the Schengen agreement on 19 December 1996.

Sweden

Sweden is located in Northern Europe and houses around 9.8 million residents. It joined Schengen on 9 December 1996.

Netherlands

Netherlands shares borders with Belgium and Germany, has nearly 17 million residents and joined Schengen on 14 June 1985.

Bulgaria and Romania

Bulgaria and Romania are the newest full members. Air and sea border checks were lifted on 31 March 2024, and land border checks ended on 1 January 2025. Both countries are now fully inside the Schengen Area.

Croatia

Croatia joined the Schengen Area in 2023. It is now a full member and follows the same border and visa rules as the other countries on this list.

Non-Schengen Countries List

Some countries are not part of the Schengen Area but still allow entry for people holding a valid Schengen visa. The rules differ from country to country, so it is better to confirm with the local embassy before travel. Here are the main ones:

• Albania, which allows short stays for holders of a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa.
• Antigua and Barbuda, a Caribbean nation that offers visa-free entry under certain conditions.
• Belarus, which has its own entry rules and does not follow the Schengen system.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina, which permits short visits for valid Schengen visa holders.
• Colombia, which allows entry for some visa holders under its own rules.
• Georgia, which offers short stays for travellers with a valid Schengen visa.
• Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory with separate border rules.
• Kosovo, which allows entry for holders of a valid Schengen visa.
• Mexico, which has its own visa policy for Schengen visa holders.
• Montenegro, which permits short stays for valid Schengen visa holders.
• North Macedonia, which allows short visits for valid Schengen visa holders.
• Sao Tome and Principe, which offers visa-free entry under certain conditions.
• Serbia, which permits short stays for holders of a valid Schengen visa.
• Turkey, which has its own visa rules and is not part of the Schengen Area.
• Northern Cyprus, which follows separate entry rules.

EES and ETIAS Rules for 2026

The European Union started the Entry/Exit System (EES) on 12 October 2025, and it reached full operation on 10 April 2026. This digital border system replaces the old practice of stamping passports. On a first visit to the Schengen Area, travellers may be asked to give fingerprints and a photo at the border. There is no cost for EES registration and no action is needed before travel.

The digital EES record stays valid for three years. Short stays are still capped at 90 days in any 180-day period. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is expected to start from Autumn 2026. Once it begins, travellers who do not need a visa will have to apply for authorisation and pay a 20 Euro fee. The exact launch date is not confirmed yet, and any website selling ETIAS right now is not genuine. More details are on the official EU travel portal at EU Entry/Exit System and ETIAS information.

Schengen Countries Map

The map shows the 29 member countries spread across Europe, from Portugal in the west to Finland in the east. It also marks the countries that stay outside the area, such as Ireland and Cyprus.

For more country lists, see List of European Countries PDF, NATO Countries List PDF, G7 Countries List and List of Countries in World 2026.