EUSchengenområdet

The Schengen Area is a zone comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passports and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. The area takes its name from the Schengen Agreement, signed in Schengen, Luxembourg, on June 14, 1985. The agreement aimed to gradually abolish border checks and create a free movement zone.

Travel within the Schengen Area is generally like domestic travel. A person legally present in one Schengen country can travel to any other Schengen country without undergoing immigration controls. This applies to both air and land borders. However, internal border checks can be temporarily reintroduced in exceptional circumstances, such as during major events or security threats.

The Schengen Area operates as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy for short stays. Travelers who are not visa-exempt must obtain a Schengen visa to enter the area. Once inside, they can travel freely between member states. The area is not identical to the European Union; several EU member states are not part of the Schengen Area, and some non-EU countries are. Non-EU countries that are part of the Schengen Area include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.