Azərbaycanca
Deutsch
Русский
Türkçe
Українська
The Schengen Area (English: , Luxembourgish: ) is an area encompassing 29 European countries that have officially abolished border controls at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and justice policy of the European Union (EU), it mostly functions as a single jurisdiction under a common visa policy for international travel purposes. The area is named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement and the 1990 Schengen Convention, both signed in Schengen, Luxembourg.
Schengen Area | |
|---|---|
 Map of the Schengen Area Schengen Area Schengen Area (air and maritime borders only) Countries with open borders to the Schengen area Member of the EU committed by treaty to join the Schengen Area in the future | |
| Type | Open border area of the European Union |
| Members | |
| Establishment | 26 March 1995 |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,595,131 km2 (1,774,190 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2021 estimate | 453,324,255 |
• Density | 98.7/km2 (255.6/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate |
• Total |  $25.926 trillion |
• Per capita | $56,997 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $19.213 trillion |
• Per capita | $42,237 |
Of the 27 EU member states, 25 are part of the Schengen Area. Bulgaria and Romania, the newest members having joined on 31 March 2024, only have air and maritime borders open, with land border controls remaining in place pending agreement to lift them. The only EU member states that are not part of the Schengen Area are Cyprus and Ireland. Cyprus is legally obliged to join in the future, while Ireland maintains an opt-out and operates its own visa policy.
In addition to the member states of the European Union, all member states of the European Free Trade Association, namely Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, have signed association agreements with the EU to be part of the Schengen Area. Moreover, four microstates – Andorra,Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City – are de facto members of the Schengen Area due to their size and impossibility of maintaining active border controls.
The Schengen Area has a population of more than 450 million people and an area of 4,595,131 square kilometres (1,774,190 sq mi). About 1.7 million people commute to work across an internal European border each day, and in some regions these people constitute up to a third of the workforce. In 2015, there were 1.3 billion crossings of Schengen borders in total. Fifty-seven million crossings were due to transport of goods by road, with a value of €2.8 trillion. The decrease in the cost of trade due to Schengen varies from 0.42% to 1.59% depending on geography, trade partners, and other factors. Countries outside of the Schengen Area also benefit. States in the Schengen Area have strengthened border controls with non-Schengen countries.
History
European borders prior to Schengen
Before the First World War, most countries of the world, including Europe, had lax border policies, facilitating such educational trips as the Grand Tour amongst the upper classes.
Visas became commonplace during the interwar period, as did border controls. After the Second World War, however, customs unions arose between various European countries. The Nordic countries allowed free movement and residence between them in 1954, and the countries of Benelux abolished their mutual borders in 1960. This reflected a greater trend towards European integration; the European Communities (EC), the predecessor of the EU, was established in the 1950s for economic cooperation.
Schengen Agreement
The Schengen Agreement was signed on 14 June 1985 by five of the ten EC member states in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg. The Schengen Area was established separately from the European Communities, when consensus could not be reached among all EC member states on the abolition of border controls.
The Agreement was supplemented in 1990 by the Schengen Convention, which proposed the abolition of internal border controls and a common visa policy. The Agreements and the rules adopted under them were entirely separate from the EC structures, and led to the creation of the Schengen Area on 26 March 1995.
As more EU member states signed the Schengen Agreement, consensus was reached on absorbing it into the procedures of the EU. The Agreement and its related conventions were incorporated into the mainstream of European Union law by the Amsterdam Treaty in 1997, which came into effect in 1999. A consequence of the Agreement being part of European law is that any amendment or regulation is made within its processes, in which the non-EU members are not participants.
The UK, the Crown Dependencies, and the Republic of Ireland have operated a Common Travel Area (CTA) since 1923 (with passport-free travel and freedom of movement with each other), but the UK would not abolish border controls with any other countries and therefore opted out of the Agreement. While not signing the Schengen Treaty, the Republic of Ireland has always looked more favourably on joining, but has not done so in order to maintain the CTA and its open border with Northern Ireland.
Common Schengen Visa Policy
The common visa policy allows nationals of certain countries to enter the Schengen Area via air, land or sea without a visa for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Nationals of certain other countries are required to have a visa either upon arrival or in transit.
Accession of Bulgaria and Romania
It has been suggested that this section be out into another article titled . () (December 2023) |
While Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the EU on 1 January 2007, were legally bound to join the Schengen Area, implementation had been delayed. On 15 October 2010, Bulgaria and Romania joined SIS II for law enforcement cooperation. On 9 June 2011, the Council of Ministers concluded that the evaluation process had been completed successfully and that the two countries fulfilled all technical accession criteria. Bulgaria's and Romania's bids to join the Schengen Area were approved by the European Parliament in June 2011 but rejected by the Council of Ministers in September 2011, with the Dutch and Finnish governments citing concerns about shortcomings in anti-corruption measures and in the fight against organised crime. Although the original plan was for the Schengen Area to open its air and sea borders with Bulgaria and Romania by March 2012, and its land borders by July 2012, continued opposition from Germany, Finland and the Netherlands has delayed the two countries' entry to the Schengen Area. On 4 October 2017, the European Parliament voted for access of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Information System, on which they gained full access on 1 August 2018. Moreover, "the final political decision whether the two countries can become part of the Schengen Area and stop systematic border checks with neighbouring EU countries must be taken unanimously by all sides of the European Council." On 11 December 2018, the European Parliament voted for the resolution in favour of accepting both countries, requiring the Council of the European Union to "act swiftly" on the matter. On 3 March 2022, Romanian MEP Eugen Tomac officially requested an answer through a parliamentary question regarding "what obstacles remain in the path of Romanian accession to the Schengen area 15 years after joining the EU" as fulfilment of the accession criteria was recognised on 9 June 2011.
A second attempt for Romania's accession to Schengen was to be established in the (Justice and Home Affairs Council) from 8–9 December 2022, with the EC announcing the topics on the agenda of the meeting, which failed following opposition by Austria, as officials considered Bulgaria and Romania to be a transit route for most (immigrants to the country). Romania disputes that assessment, and had unsuccessfully attempted to convince the Austrian government to vote for Romania's accession to Schengen. Despite having declared support for Romania, the Netherlands also voted against due to its opposition for the accession of Bulgaria.
In Romania, the Austrian veto caused strong indignation. As a result of the veto, (relations between the two states) were reduced following the withdrawal of Romania's ambassador to Austria from Vienna. A boycott against Austria by Romanian companies, entrepreneurs, museums and universities also began, and anti-Austrian inscriptions also appeared in branches of Austrian banks in Romania.
According to Euractiv, European institutions prepared to admit Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen Area in 2023, with border control-free travel by air planned for October 2023, followed by the abolition of land border controls by 1 January 2024. In a resolution, which members of the European Parliament called on the Council to approve Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen free-travel area by the end of 2023, adopted on 12 July with 526 votes in favour, 57 votes against, and 42 abstaining, Parliament stresses that "both countries have already fulfilled the necessary requirements to be admitted into Schengen". However, in September 2023 Austria reiterated its objection to admitting the countries to the Schengen Area. In response, Romania threatened to challenge Austria's veto at the European Court of Justice to claim financial compensation.
On 30 December 2023, an agreement was reached for Bulgaria and Romania to join the Schengen Area for air and sea travel on 31 March 2024, with land borders to be discussed later that year. Lifting air and sea borders is less controversial from a migrant control perspective, because airlines are already required to check identity documents before boarding. Due to anti-terrorism legislation, this has long been common practice, even for routes within the same country.
Current members
The Schengen Area consists of 29 countries, including four which are not members of the European Union (EU). Two of the non-EU members – Iceland and Norway – are part of the Nordic Passport Union and are officially classified as states associated with the Schengen activities of the EU.Switzerland was allowed to participate in the same manner in 2008, and Liechtenstein in 2011.
De facto, the Schengen Area also includes four European micro-states – Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican City – that maintain open or semi-open borders with other Schengen member countries.
One EU member state – Ireland – negotiated opt-outs from Schengen and continues to operate border controls with other EU member states, while at the same time being part of the open-border Common Travel Area with the United Kingdom (a former EU member that had held a similar opt-out) and the Crown Dependencies. The remaining EU member state – Cyprus – is obliged by its Treaties of Accession to join the Schengen Area eventually. However, before fully implementing the Schengen rules, the state must have its preparedness assessed in four areas: air borders, visas, police cooperation, and personal data protection. This evaluation process involves a questionnaire and visits by EU experts to selected institutions and workplaces in the country under assessment.
Bulgaria and Romania, the newest members having joined on 31 March 2024, only have air and maritime borders open, with land border controls remaining in place pending agreement to lift them.
Summary table
| State | Area (km2) | Population (2021) | Date signed | Date of first implementation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Austria | 83,871 | 8,922,082 | 28 April 1995 | 1 December 1997 |
 Belgium | 30,528 | 11,611,419 | 14 June 1985 | 26 March 1995 |
 Bulgaria | 110,994 | 6,885,868 | 25 April 2005 | 31 March 2024 |
 Croatia | 56,594 | 4,060,135 | 9 December 2011 | 1 January 2023 |
 Czech Republic | 78,866 | 10,510,751 | 16 April 2003 | 21 December 2007 |
 Denmark (excluding Greenland and the Faroe Islands) | 43,094 | 5,854,240 | 19 December 1996 | 25 March 2001 |
 Estonia | 45,338 | 1,328,701 | 16 April 2003 | 21 December 2007 |
 Finland (including Åland) | 338,145 | 5,535,992 | 19 December 1996 | 25 March 2001 |
 France (excluding Overseas France) | 551,695 | 64,531,444 | 14 June 1985 | 26 March 1995 |
 Germany(including Büsingen am Hochrhein) | 357,022 | 83,408,554 | 14 June 1985 | 26 March 1995 |
 Greece | 131,990 | 10,445,365 | 6 November 1992 | 1 January 2000 |
 Hungary | 93,030 | 9,709,786 | 16 April 2003 | 21 December 2007 |
 Iceland | 103,000 | 370,335 | 19 December 1996 18 May 1999 | 25 March 2001 |
 Italy | 301,318 | 59,240,329 | 27 November 1990 | 26 October 1997 |
 Latvia | 64,589 | 1,873,919 | 16 April 2003 | 21 December 2007 |
 Liechtenstein | 160 | 39,039 | 28 February 2008 | 19 December 2011 |
 Lithuania | 65,300 | 2,786,651 | 16 April 2003 | 21 December 2007 |
 Luxembourg | 2,586 | 639,321 | 14 June 1985 | 26 March 1995 |
 Malta | 316 | 526,748 | 16 April 2003 | 21 December 2007 |
 Netherlands (excluding Dutch Caribbean) | 41,526 | 17,501,696 | 14 June 1985 | 26 March 1995 |
 Norway(excluding overseas territories and dependencies) | 385,155 | 5,403,021 | 19 December 1996 18 May 1999 | 25 March 2001 |
 Poland | 312,683 | 38,307,726 | 16 April 2003 | 21 December 2007 |
 Portugal (including Azores and Madeira) | 92,391 | 10,290,103 | 25 June 1991 | 26 March 1995 |
 Romania | 238,391 | 19,328,560 | 25 April 2005 | 31 March 2024 |
 Slovakia | 49,037 | 5,447,622 | 16 April 2003 | 21 December 2007 |
 Slovenia | 20,273 | 2,119,410 | 16 April 2003 | 21 December 2007 |
 Spain (including Canary Islands) (special provisions for Ceuta and Melilla) | 505,990 | 47,486,935 | 25 June 1991 | 26 March 1995 |
 Sweden | 449,964 | 10,467,097 | 19 December 1996 | 25 March 2001 |
 Switzerland | 41,285 | 8,691,406 | 26 October 2004 | 12 December 2008 |
 Schengen Area | 4,595,131 | 453,234,255 | 14 June 1985 | 26 March 1995 |
| State | Area (km2) | Population (2021) |
|---|---|---|
 Andorra | 467.63 | 79,034 |
 Monaco | 2.02 | 36,686 |
 San Marino | 61.2 | 33,745 |
 Vatican City | 0.49 | 511 |
Notes
- The original agreement, a subsequent protocol extending the agreement to the state, an agreement on accession to the EU, or agreement on association with the Schengen acquis.
- Of the provisions related to the elimination of border controls. In some cases the provisions related to the Schengen Information System were applied earlier.
- The elimination of border controls took place from 1 December 1997 to 31 March 1998.
- For air and sea borders; the date for ending land border controls is to be determined
- For land and sea borders, 26 March 2023 for air borders
- For sea and land borders ; since 30 March 2008 also for air borders.
- Greenland and the Faroe Islands are not included in the Schengen Area. However, persons travelling between the Faroe Islands, Greenland and the Schengen Area are not subject to border checks. The list of countries whose citizens require a visa for Greenland or the Faroe Islands is the same as for the Schengen Area, but a Schengen visa will not allow the holder access to either territory, only a Danish visa stamped with either "Valid for the Faroe Islands" or "Valid for Greenland", or both.
- The overseas departments and collectivities of France are not part of the Schengen Area. However, when travelling by air from metropolitan France directly to French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion, border checks by the French Border Police only take place at the departure airport, not at the arrival airport (where passengers walk past the passport control booths, which will be unstaffed). This arrangement does not, however, apply to direct flights from other Schengen member states, such as the past Charleroi-Guadeloupe and Charleroi-Martinique flights by Air Belgium. On the other hand, passengers flying from French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion directly to metropolitan France have to undergo border checks by the French Border Police both on departure and on arrival (an arrangement known as 'double contrôle').
- East Germany became part of the Federal Republic of Germany, joining Schengen, on 3 October 1990.
- According to a legally non-binding declaration attached to the Greek accession agreement to the Schengen convention, the special status according to the Greek constitution of Mount Athos, has to be taken into account in the application and subsequent preparation of the Schengen acquis.
- Currently Greece does not have internal land border within Schengen space. All internal border crossings are at the airports or at maritime ports
- The elimination of border controls took place from 1 January to 26 March 2000.
- EFTA state, which is outside the EU, that is associated with the Schengen activities of the EU, and where the Schengen rules apply.
- A second agreement, which replaced the first, was signed with Iceland and Norway following the incorporation of the Schengen Agreement into EU law with the Treaty of Amsterdam of 1997.
- The elimination of border controls took place from 26 October 1997 to 31 March 1998.
- The full Schengen acquis applies to all Spanish territories, but there are border checks on departure from Ceuta and Melilla to Peninsular Spain or other Schengen countries, because of specific arrangements for visa exemptions for Moroccan nationals resident in the provinces of (Tetuan) and Nador.
- For sea and land borders; since 29 March 2009 also for air borders.
Potential member states and EU territories outside the Schengen Area
Prospective members
The procedure to enter the Schengen Area is that European Commission evaluates certain criteria. These criteria include border control legislation, infrastructure and organisation, personal data protection, visas, deportations, police cooperation and more. After a positive evaluation the Schengen members of the Council of the European Union decides unanimously together with the European Parliament to accept the new member.
Cyprus
Although Cyprus, which joined the EU on 1 May 2004, is legally bound to join the Schengen Area, implementation has been delayed because of the Cyprus dispute. According to former Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs (Giorgos Lillikas), "strict and full control based on Schengen will create a huge tribulation on a daily basis for the Turkish Cypriots" of Northern Cyprus, and it is unclear if this control is possible before the resolution of the dispute. The British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, a British Overseas Territory which is outside the EU, also needs "other handling and mechanisms". Akrotiri and Dhekelia has no border control to Cyprus, but has its own border control at its air base. As of 2018[update] no date has been fixed for implementation of the Schengen rules by Cyprus. Cyprus has less potential benefit from an implementation of Schengen, for it has no land border with another EU member; air travel or around 12 hours of sea travel is needed to the nearest EU member.
In November 2019, Cyprus's Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Christodoulides revealed that Cyprus formally began the process of joining the Schengen Area in September. In July 2023, Cyprus joined the Schengen Information System (SIS) (participation in the SIS allows for cooperation on crime, immigration and other security-related matters within the Schengen Area). In October 2023, the Commission was to "verify that the necessary conditions for the application of the Schengen acquis in the field of the Schengen Information System have been met".
Gibraltar
As a result of Brexit, Gibraltar ceased to be part of the European Union on 31 January 2020, although for most purposes it was treated as part of it during the transition phase until 31 December 2020. Like the United Kingdom, it had not been part of the Schengen Area but, unlike the United Kingdom, Gibraltar had also been outside of the EU customs union. Owing to a declaration lodged by the United Kingdom with the EEC in 1982, in view of the entry into force of the British Nationality Act 1981, Gibraltarians had been counted as British nationals for the purposes of Community law, and as such they had enjoyed full free movement within the European Economic Area and Switzerland. During the Brexit transition period until 31 December 2020, Gibraltar was still for most purposes treated as an EU territory.
On 31 December 2020, the governments of Spain and of the United Kingdom (advised by the Government of Gibraltar) came to an agreement in principle on a framework for a UK-EU treaty on aspects of Gibraltar's future relationship with the European Union. Both Spain and the Head of the UK Mission to the European Union subsequently indicated with the European Commission their desire that such an agreement be negotiated and that the EU should seek a mandate for that purpose.
Chief Minister of Gibraltar (Fabian Picardo) stated that he anticipates that the arrangement, which will apply for an initial period of four years, will make Gibraltar's port and airport entry points to the Schengen Area. These entry points will be managed by a Frontex operation. Spain, as the neighbouring Schengen member state, will be responsible as regards the European Union for the implementation of the Schengen acquis. Residents of Gibraltar, regardless of their nationality, are anticipated to enjoy maximised and unrestricted mobility to the Schengen Area. UK citizens who are not residents of Gibraltar will be subjected to third-country national checks when they enter Gibraltar through the Gibraltar port or airport. It is anticipated that the third-country national check will entail two controls, one by Gibraltar's (Borders and Coastguard Agency), giving entry into Gibraltar, and one by Frontex, giving entry into the Schengen Area. Picardo likened this arrangement to the (juxtaposed controls) at Eurostar stations, although he admitted the situation there is slightly different.
On 31 December 2020, Spain's foreign minister, (Arancha González Laya) said that she anticipated that it would take about six months to negotiate and conclude a treaty but that in the meantime Spain would work to ensure that mobility at the border would be "as fluid as possible".
Apart from the unrestricted mobility of persons, the negotiations will also seek to address maximised and unrestricted mobility of goods between Gibraltar and the European Union, and consider matters related to the environment, the level playing field, social security coordination, citizens’ rights, data, and matters related to continued document recognition.
On 6 October 2021, the EU agreed to open formal negotiations with UK anticipating an agreement on Gibraltar, and negotiations started soon after. They were ongoing as of February 2022; hopes were they would finish during spring 2022. As of December 2022[update], negotiations were continuing, but appeared to be deadlocked over policing of passport control at Gibraltar airport.
Summary table
| State/territory | Area (km2) | Population (2021) | EU accession | Target date | Obstacles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cyprus | 9,251 | 1,244,188 | 1 May 2004 | 2024 | Cease Fire line, caused by (Cyprus conflict). |
 Gibraltar(United Kingdom) | 6.8 | 32,669 | n/a | No date set | or other arrangement for application in Gibraltar, based on the agreement reached between the UK and Spain on 31 December 2020. Gibraltar is not a sovereign state, so in international law the UK acts on behalf of Gibraltar. |
Notes
- Agreement on accession to the EU
- Desired timeline of joining state for Council decision
- Application of Schengen rules in Gibraltar is not to be conditional on joining the EU. The UK (and thus Gibraltar) was a member of the EU (but not Schengen) from 1 January 1973 to 31 January 2020.
Territories of Schengen states outside the Area
There are (territories of Schengen member states) that are exempted from the Schengen Agreement. The only areas of Schengen member states located in Europe but excluded are the Faroe Islands and Svalbard.
French territories
The French overseas departments of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion, and the overseas collectivity of Saint Martin are part of the European Union but do not form part of the Schengen Area; so one cannot travel there with a French Schengen Visa. The freedom of movement provisions of the EU apply, but each territory operates its own visa regime for non-European Economic Area (EEA), non-Swiss nationals. While a visa valid for one of these territories will be valid for all, visa exemption lists differ. A Schengen visa, even one issued by France, is not valid for these territories. A (visa for Sint Maarten) (which is valid for travelling to the Dutch side of the island of Saint Martin) is also valid for the French side. France also has several territories which are neither part of the EU nor the Schengen Area. These are: French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia, Saint Barthélemy, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, and Wallis and Futuna.
Dutch territories
Only the Netherlands' European territory is part of the Schengen Area. Six Dutch territories in the Caribbean are outside the Area. Three of these territories – Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (collectively known as the BES islands) – are special municipalities within the Netherlands proper. The other three – Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten – are autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. All islands retain their status as (Overseas countries and territories) and are thus not part of the European Union. The six territories have a separate (visa system) from the European part of the Netherlands and people travelling between these islands and the Schengen Area are subjected to full border checks, with a passport being required even for EU/Schengen citizens, including Dutch (national ID cards are not accepted).
Norwegian territories
Svalbard is part of Norway and has a special status under international law. It is not part of the Schengen Area. There is no visa regime in existence for Svalbard either for entry, residence or work, but it is difficult to visit Svalbard without travelling through the Schengen Area, although there are charter flights from Russia. Since 2011, the Norwegian government has imposed systematic border checks on individuals wishing to enter and leave Svalbard, requiring a passport or national identity card for non-Norwegian citizens. As a result, the border between Svalbard and the rest of Norway is largely treated like any other external Schengen border.[] A Schengen visa must be multiple entry to allow returning to Norway. There is no welfare or asylum system for immigrants on Svalbard, and people incapable of supporting themselves may be sent away.
Danish territories
The Danish territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland are neither part of the European Union nor part of the Schengen Area, and visas to Denmark are not automatically valid in these territories. However, both of these territories lack border controls on arrivals from the Schengen Area, and the air or sea carriers are responsible for carrying out document checks before boarding, as is common for travel inside the Schengen Area. Citizens of EU/EFTA countries can travel to the Faroes and back using a passport or a national ID card and to Greenland using a passport only, while citizens of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden can use any acceptable identification (such as driving licences or bank ID cards; although this is advised against since aircraft might be diverted to Scotland in bad weather).
EU member states and former EU member states with opt-outs
When EU states were negotiating subsuming the Schengen Agreement into the EU by the Treaty of Amsterdam, Ireland and the United Kingdom were the only member states that had not signed the Agreement. The UK did not want to join and Ireland wished to maintain its Common Travel Area with the United Kingdom and associated islands, an arrangement that would be incompatible with Schengen membership while the UK remained out. As a result, both negotiated an opt-out from the part of the treaty which was to incorporate the (Schengen rules) (or acquis) into EU Law when it came into effect on 1 May 1999. Under the relevant protocol, either may request to participate in aspects of the Schengen acquis but this is subject to the approval of the Schengen states.
On 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union and the protocol ceased to apply to it. Ireland will continue to operate the Common Travel Area and not join the Schengen Area for the foreseeable future, because it wants to keep open its land border with the UK.
In 1999, the UK formally requested participation in certain provisions of the Schengen acquis – Title III relating to Police Security and Judicial Cooperation, and this request was approved by the Council of the European Union on 29 May 2000. The United Kingdom's formal participation in the previously approved areas of cooperation was put into effect by a 2004 Council decision that came into effect on 1 January 2005. Although the United Kingdom was not part of the Schengen passport-free area, it still used the Schengen Information System, a governmental database used by European countries to store and disseminate information on individuals and property. This allowed the UK to exchange information with countries that are a part of the Schengen agreement, often for the sake of liaising over law enforcement. In 2020, the UK declared its intent to withdraw from these arrangements at the end of its transition period, and did so on 31 December 2020.
In contrast, while Ireland initially submitted a request to participate in the Schengen acquis in 2002, which was approved by the Council of the European Union, that decision took nearly eighteen years to be put into effect. In February 2010 the Irish Minister for Justice, in response to a parliamentary question, said that: "The measures which will enable Ireland to meet its Schengen requirements are currently being progressed". Ireland joined the law enforcement aspect of SIS II on 1 January 2021 with plans to have "full operational capacity" two months later.
Status of the European microstates
Four European microstates — Andorra,Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City — are officially not part of Schengen, but are considered de facto within the Schengen Area, as they have open or semi-open borders and do not have systematic border controls with the Schengen countries that surround them. Some national laws have the text "countries against which border control is not performed based on the Schengen Agreement and the 562/2006 EU regulation", which then includes the microstates and other non-EU areas with open borders.[] The three microstates cannot issue Schengen visas and with the exception of Monaco, are not formally part of the Schengen Area.[]
As of 2015[update], Andorra, Monaco and San Marino were negotiating an Association Agreement with the EU. Monaco left the negotiations in 2023, while an agreement for Andorra and San Marino is expected to be concluded in 2024. The agreement only concerns free movement of people and not border control issues. However, on 30 May 2024, the Council of the European Union authorised the opening of negotiations for agreements between the European Union and Andorra and San Marino, respectively, in order to create a legal basis for the absence of border controls between these countries and the Schengen area.
Andorra is landlocked and does not have an airport or seaport, but there are several heliports. Visitors to the country can gain access only by road or helicopter through Schengen members France or Spain. Andorra has no border controls with either France or Spain. Border control points exist and border controls may be carried out in the other direction, but these are more focused on customs control (Andorra has considerably lower taxes than its neighbours, ). Andorra does not have any visa requirements. Citizens of EU countries need either a (national identity card) or passport to enter Andorra, while anyone else requires a passport or equivalent. Schengen visas are accepted, but those travellers who need a visa to enter the Schengen Area need a multiple-entry visa to visit Andorra, because entering Andorra means leaving the Schengen Area, and re-entering France or Spain is considered a new entry into the Schengen Area. Andorran citizens do not receive a passport stamp when they enter and leave the Schengen Area. Andorra's ambassador to Spain, Jaume Gaytán, has said that he hopes that the agreement will include provisions to make the states associate members of the Schengen Agreement. As of June 2024, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that Andorra has a de facto open border with Spain and France.
Liechtenstein is landlocked and does not have an international airport. It has been a member of the Schengen Area since 2011. It does not have a border check at Balzers heliport, as flights to and from Balzers must be to or from the Schengen Area. Liechtenstein does not issue visas and as such recommends visitors apply for a visa in another Schengen country, e.g. Switzerland.
Monaco has an open border with France. Schengen laws are administered as if it were part of the EU as a result of bilateral agreements with France, and Schengen visas are accepted. Both French and Monégasque authorities carry out checks at Monaco's seaport and heliport.
San Marino has an open border with Italy, although some random checks are made by Italy's Guardia di Finanza and San Marino's (Guardia di Rocca).
The Vatican City has an open border with Italy. However, there is no customs union between Italy and Vatican City, hence vehicles may be subject to checks at the border. Typical border controls would not be suitable in Vatican City, due to its small size, high number of pedestrian visitors, and unique position as an enclave within Rome. In 2006, the Vatican City showed interest in joining the Schengen agreement for closer cooperation in information sharing and similar activities covered by the Schengen Information System.
Economics
Total trade between any two countries in the Schengen Area increases by approximately 0.1% per year. The same amount of increase in trade is gained again for every 1% annual increase in immigration between the countries. On average, at each border the removal of controls is equivalent to the removal of a 0.7% tariff, and the cost savings on a trade route increase with the number of internal borders crossed. Countries outside of the Schengen Area also benefit.
Movement of people
About 1.7 million people commute to work across a European border each day, and in some regions these people constitute up to a third of the workforce. For example, 2.1% of the workers in Hungary work in another country, primarily Austria and Slovakia. Each year, there are 1.3 billion crossings of Schengen borders in total. 57 million crossings are due to transport of goods by road, with a value of €2.8 trillion each year. The trade in goods is affected more strongly than trade in services, and the decrease in the cost of trade varies from 0.42% to 1.59% depending on geography, trade partners, and other factors.
Transit of goods
The (Single Administrative Document) (SAD) is a customs declaration form used for goods entering or exiting the European Union. Traders and agents can use the SAD to assist with declaring import, export, transit and community status declarations in manual processing situations.
The (TIR Convention) procedure is used for transit operations that begin, end, or travel in a third, non-EU country that is a signatory to the convention.
A Transit Accompanying Document (TAD) can be produced at the point of departure or by an authorised consignor. It includes a barcode and the movement reference number that matches the transit declaration. This is useful if goods are diverted or delayed.
(EORI numbers) are an official link to a specific registered address of a business concerned with arranging the export, import or movement of goods across the EU. It may also link to official records (Union Customs Code) describing the nature of the goods and the identity of vehicles or haulers to be used.
Regulation of internal borders
Before the implementation of the Schengen Agreement, most borders in Europe were patrolled and a vast network of border posts existed around the continent, to check the identity and entitlement of people wishing to travel from one country to another.
Since the implementation of the Schengen rules, border posts have been closed (and often entirely removed) between participating countries.
The Schengen Borders Code requires participating states to remove all obstacles to free traffic flow at internal borders. Thus, road, rail and air passengers no longer have their identity checked by border guards when travelling between Schengen countries, although security controls by carriers are still permissible. Per EU guidelines all EU citizens are advised to bring a passport and/or (national identity card), as one may be required.
Passport stamps are never issued when travelling between Schengen member states, even when border controls between Schengen member states are temporarily re-introduced.
Internal checks
Although EU and EFTA nationals travelling within the Schengen Area are not required to show passports, national identity cards or other identity documents at an internal border, the laws of most countries still require them to carry national identity documents and to produce them to an authorised person on request. Different rules apply to other nationals. It is the obligation of everyone travelling within the area to be able to show a fully valid form of personal identification accepted by other Schengen states, typically one issued by the state.
According to the Schengen rules, hotels and other types of commercial accommodation must register all foreign citizens, including citizens of other Schengen states, by requiring the completion of a registration form by their own hand. This does not apply to accompanying spouses and minor children or members of travel groups. In addition, a valid identification document has to be produced to the hotel manager or staff. The Schengen rules do not require any other procedures; thus, the Schengen states are free to regulate further details on the content of the registration forms, and identity documents which are to be produced, and may also require the persons exempted from registration by Schengen laws to be registered. Enforcement of these rules varies by country.
The Schengen regulation on crossing internal borders describes the checks for foreigners done by the police at suitable places inside each country.[]
Internal controls
The European Union constitutes a customs union and a Value Added Tax area. However, not all Schengen states or all of the territory of Schengen states are part of the customs union or VAT area. Some countries therefore legally conduct customs controls targeted at illegal goods, such as drugs.
Security checks can legally be carried out at ports and airports. Also police checks can be conducted if they:
- do not have border control as an objective;
- are based on general police information and experience regarding possible threats to public security and aim, in particular, to combat cross-border crime;
- are devised and executed in a manner clearly distinct from systematic checks on persons at the external borders;
- are carried out on the basis of spot-checks.
Air travel
For flights within the Schengen Area (either between Schengen member states or within the same Schengen member state), law enforcement agencies, airport authorities and air carriers are permitted only to carry out security checks on passengers and may not carry out border checks. Such security checks can be conducted through the verification of the passenger's passport or national identity card: such a practice must be used only to verify the passenger's identity (for commercial or transport security reasons) and not his or her immigration status. For this reason, law enforcement agencies, airport authorities and air carriers cannot require air passengers flying within the Schengen Area who are third-country nationals to prove the legality of their stay by showing a valid visa or residence permit. In addition, according to European Commission guidelines, identity checks on air passengers flying within the Schengen Area should take place only either at check-in, or upon entry to the secured zone of the airport, or at the boarding gate: passengers should not be required to undergo a verification of their identity on more than one occasion before their flight within the Schengen Area. Notwithstanding those principles, the identity checks function as practical border controls and they affect illegal immigrants who arrive in Greece (which currently has no land border to another Schengen country) and want to go to some other Schengen country. The requirements as to which identity document to possess varies by country and airline. Normally a passport or EU national identity card is needed.
Travellers boarding flights between Schengen countries, but originating from a third country outside the area, are required to go through Schengen entry border checks upon arrival in the Schengen Area. This is because the route originates outside the Schengen Area and the authorities at the final destination would have no way of differentiating between arriving passengers who boarded at the origin and those who joined in the middle. Additionally, travellers are required to process through Schengen exit border checks upon departure.
Temporary border controls
A Schengen member state is permitted to reinstate border controls with another Schengen member state for a short period where there is a serious threat to that state's "public policy or internal security" or when the "control of an external border is no longer ensured due to exceptional circumstances". When such risks arise out of foreseeable events, the state in question must notify the European Commission in advance and consult with other Schengen states.
The introduction of temporary controls at internal borders is a prerogative of the member states. Although the European Commission may issue an opinion about the necessity and proportionality of introducing temporary controls at internal borders, it cannot veto or override such a decision if it is taken by a member state.
In April 2022 the European Court of Justice clarified that temporary internal border controls cannot exceed a duration of six months for one and the same threat. Only in case of a new serious threat "the member state may apply such a measure afresh, even immediately after the six-month period has ended." The ruling reinforced existing criticism of the quasi permanent controls in several member states since 2015 as being an unlawful violation of the Schengen Code.
In April 2010, Malta introduced temporary checks due to Pope Benedict XVI's visit. It reimposed checks in 2015 in the weeks surrounding the (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting).
Estonia introduced temporary checks in September 2014 due to the visit of US President Barack Obama.
In response to the European migrant crisis in 2015, several Schengen countries set up border controls.
In November 2017, Germany introduced temporary checks on flights arriving from Greece. Between November 2017 and February 2018, of the 280,000 passengers on flights from Greece who were checked on arrival in Germany, 270 were denied entry into Germany. On 12 May 2018, Germany ended the temporary checks on incoming flights from Greece.
In 2019, Denmark set up border controls with Sweden due to serious attacks by Swedish citizens. The controls were scheduled to be in force for six months.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, almost all Schengen countries set up border controls. Several of these controls blocked citizens of EU/Schengen countries from entering, allowed only citizens or residents of the country to enter, plus prioritised traffic like food transport. On 27 March 2020, the European Commission published 'Guidelines concerning the exercise of the free movement of workers during COVID-19 outbreak', stating that member states should allow cross-border workers 'unhindered access' and 'ensure a smooth passage' across the internal Schengen borders if they exercise a 'critical occupation' (such as health professionals, care workers, scientists in health-related fields, workers in the pharmaceutical and medical services/food/transportation/essential infrastructure industries, engineers, Information and Communications Technology professionals, firefighters/police officers/prison officers/security guards, fishermen and public servants). Further, any health screening for cross-border workers must be carried out under the same conditions as the member state's own nationals exercising the same occupations.
Currently imposed internal border controls
The table below lists ongoing internal border controls, according to the information that the member states have provided to the European Commission. Health checks at the borders are not legally considered to be border controls.
| Member state | Internal borders currently concerned | Official reasons (may have varied over time) | First day | Last day (currently planned) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Land borders with Slovenia and Hungary | European migrant crisis, pressure on the asylum reception system, high migratory pressure at the EU’s external border to Türkiye and the Western Balkans, threat of arms trafficking and criminal networks due to the war in Ukraine, human smuggling | 16 September 2015 | 11 November 2024 |
| Land border with Slovakia | Extensive secondary migration | 4 October 2023 | 15 October 2024 | |
| Denmark | Land border and ferry connections with Germany | European migrant crisis, Islamist terrorist threat, organised crime, smuggling, 2022 invasion of Ukraine, irregular migration along the Central Mediterranean route | 4 January 2016 | 11 November 2024 |
| France | Internal borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain | (Terrorism), (European migrant crisis), 2022 invasion of Ukraine, increase in irregular entry flows at the external borders | 27 July 2016 | 31 October 2024 |
| Germany | Land border with Austria | European migrant crisis, increase in irregular migration from Turkey through the Western Balkans, strain on the asylum reception system, human smuggling | 13 September 2015 | 11 November 2024 |
| Italy | Land border with Slovenia | (Israel-Hamas war), European migrant crisis, Islamist terrorist threat | 21 October 2023 | 18 December 2024 |
| Norway | Ports with ferry connections to the Schengen area | 2022 invasion of Ukraine, threat to critical on-shore and off-shore infrastructures | 26 November 2015 | 11 November 2024 |
| Slovenia | Land borders with Croatia and Hungary | (Israel-Hamas war), 2022 invasion of Ukraine, European migrant crisis, Islamist terrorist threat, organized crime | 21 October 2023 | 21 December 2024 |
| Sweden | All internal borders | European migrant crisis, Islamist terrorist threat | 12 November 2015 | 11 November 2024 |
French controls against migrants from northern Africa
Following the Tunisian Revolution of 2010–11, the government of Italy gave six-month residence permits to some 25,000 Tunisian migrants. This allowed the migrants to travel freely in the Schengen Area. In response, both France and Germany threatened to impose border checks, not wanting the Tunisian refugees to enter their territory. In April 2011, for several hours, France blocked trains carrying the migrants at the France–Italy border at Ventimiglia.
At the request of France, in May 2011 the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, (Cecilia Malmström) proposed that more latitude would be available for the temporary re-establishment of border control in the case of strong and unexpected migratory pressure, or the failure of a state to protect the external borders of the EU.
On 25 July 2011, in delivering the European Commission's final assessment on the measures taken by Italy and France, the Home Affairs Commissioner said, "from a formal point of view steps taken by Italian and French authorities have been in compliance with EU law. However, I regret that the spirit of the Schengen rules has not been fully respected". Ms. Malmström also called for a more coherent interpretation of the Schengen rules and a stronger evaluation and monitoring system for the Schengen Area.
2015 migrant crisis
During the migrant crisis of September 2015, Germany announced it was temporarily bringing border controls back in accordance with the provisions on temporary border controls laid down by the Schengen acquis. Such border controls appear to be an attempt to prevent disorder from making the crisis worse. Open borders appeared to have impeded Germany's ability to provide for very large numbers of persons seeking refuge all at once. Germany signals the border controls are only temporary, and only to support an orderly flow of migration into the area.[]
Other countries, including Austria, Denmark, Slovenia, Hungary, Sweden and Norway have set up border controls in response to the crisis.
In December 2015, Sweden passed a temporary law that allows the government to oblige all transport companies to check that their passengers carry valid photographic identification. The new law came into effect on 21 December 2015 and was valid until 21 December 2018. The government decided that the new rules would apply from 4 January 2016 until 4 July 2016. The law led to the mandatory train change and passage through border control at Copenhagen Airport for travellers between Copenhagen and Sweden, and with a reduction in service frequency. Sweden had introduced border control from Denmark earlier (15 November 2015), but that could not stop the migrant flow, since they have the right to apply for asylum once on Swedish ground. First when the transport companies had to stop foreigners on the Danish side, asylum seekers were efficiently stopped. This caused considerable disruption to the train traffic since the (railway station) did not have capacity for such checks. These checks lasted until 4 May 2017, after the EU commission declared such checks not acceptable.
On 30 May 2018, when the migrant crisis border controls were still active in some countries, the European Parliament decided to (condemn prolonged border checks) between Schengen Area member countries. But this was only a statement as the Parliament does not decide this.
2015 Paris attacks
After the November 2015 Paris attacks, France introduced full identity and nationality checks at its borders.
Coronavirus response in 2020
Although some European politicians did call for Europe's internal borders to be temporarily closed, the European Union decided in late February 2020 to turn down the idea of suspending the Schengen free travel area and introducing border controls with Italy. The deputy leader of the Swiss Ticino League, Lorenzo Quadri, criticised the decision: "It is alarming that the dogma of wide-open borders is considered a priority." United States President Donald Trump said the European Union had "failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hot spots" as the U.S. had implemented.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš stated in early March that "European countries cannot ban the entry of Italian citizens within the Schengen Area. The only possible way is to have the Italian prime minister call on his fellow citizens to refrain from travelling to other countries of the European Union."
After Slovakia, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Poland in mid-March announced complete closure of their national borders, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that "Certain controls may be justified, but general travel bans are not seen as being the most effective by the World Health Organization. Moreover, they have a strong social and economic impact, they disrupt people's lives and business across the borders." Von der Leyen also apologised to Italy, amidst widespread discontent among Italians for the lack of solidarity shown by Europe. By the end of March 2020, almost all internal Schengen borders had been closed to non-essential travel. By July 2020, most borders that were closed due to the coronavirus had been reopened.
Regulation of external borders
Participating countries are required to apply strict checks on travellers entering and exiting the Schengen Area. These checks are co-ordinated by the European Union's Frontex agency, and subject to common rules. The details of border controls, surveillance and the conditions under which permission to enter into the Schengen Area may be granted are exhaustively detailed in the Schengen Borders Code.
Temporary restriction on the entry of persons without the right of free movement for non-essential travel
In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, on 16 March 2020 the European Commission issued a recommendation to all EU and Schengen member states to introduce a temporary restriction on the entry of third-country nationals (i.e. travellers who are not EEA/Swiss citizens and family members with the ) to the Schengen Area for non-essential travel for an initial period of 30 days (with the possible prolongation of this period to be assessed based on further developments). However, third-country nationals who are holders of long-term visas or residence permits or are family members of EEA/Swiss citizens are exempt from this restriction. Further, third-country nationals 'with an essential function or need' (such as healthcare workers, transport personnel, aid workers, military personnel, seasonal agricultural workers), passengers in transit, those travelling 'for imperative family reasons' and those 'in need of international protection or for other humanitarian reasons' are exempt from this restriction. Nevertheless, the European Commission re-iterated that 'coordinated and reinforced health checks' should be carried out on all travellers who are permitted to enter the EU and Schengen Area.
Further, on 30 March 2020, the European Commission published 'Guidance on the implementation of the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU, on the facilitation of transit arrangements for the repatriation of EU citizens, and on the effects on visa policy' in order to provide 'advice and practical instructions'. The Guidance states that member states are permitted to take measures (such as requiring non-nationals to undergo a period of self-isolation if arriving from a territory affected by COVID-19), provided that the same requirements is imposed on its own nationals. The Guidance also clarifies that citizens of the European micro-states (Andorra, the Holy See, Monaco and San Marino) are exempt from the temporary restriction on the entry of third-country nationals to the European Union and the Schengen Area for non-essential travel. In addition, citizens of Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Turkey should be permitted entry to the European Union and the Schengen Area if they are stranded abroad in order to facilitate repatriation to their country of origin. Third-country nationals (not covered by one of the exemptions from the temporary restriction of entry for non-essential reasons) who seek to enter the Schengen Area will be refused entry at the external border crossing point and will receive a refusal of entry form (with the reason of refusal marked as "I" (i.e. a threat to public health)), as well a passport stamp cancelled by an indelible cross in black ink and the letter "I" on the right hand side.
Some EU and Schengen member states have gone further than the European Commission recommendation and have restricted the entry of EEA/Swiss citizens to their respective territories for non-essential travel. For example, on 4 April 2020, French Border Police refused entry to a group of EU and British citizens who arrived in Marseille Provence Airport on a (private jet) from the UK, with the intention of staying in a holiday villa in Cannes.
On 8 April 2020, the European Commission invited EU and Schengen member states to extend the restriction on the entry of third-country nationals for non-essential travel for a further period of 30 days until 15 May 2020. On 8 May 2020, the European Commission again invited member states to extend the restriction for another 30 days until 15 June 2020. On 11 June 2020, the European Commission recommended member states to prolong the restriction on the entry of third-country nationals for non-essential travel until 30 June 2020.
Border checks
All persons crossing external borders—inbound or outbound—are subject to a check by a border guard. The only exception is for regular cross-border commuters (both those with the and third-country nationals) who are well known to the border guards: once an initial check has shown that there is no alert on record relating to them in the Schengen Information System or national databases, they can only be subject to occasional 'random' checks, rather than systematic checks every time they cross the border.
Previously, EEA and Swiss citizens, as well as their family members enjoying the right of free movement, were subject only to a 'minimum check' when crossing external borders. This meant that their travel document was subject only to a 'rapid' and 'straightforward' visual inspection and an optional check against databases for lost/stolen travel documents. Consultation of the Schengen Information System and other national databases to ensure that the traveller did not represent a security, public policy or health threat was only permitted on a strictly 'non-systematic' basis where such a threat was 'genuine', 'present' and 'sufficiently serious'. In contrast, other travellers were subject to a 'thorough check'.
However, after the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, at a meeting of the Council of the European Union on 20 November 2015, interior ministers from the Member States decided to 'implement immediately the necessary systematic and coordinated checks at external borders, including on individuals enjoying the right of free movement'. Amendments were made to the Schengen Border Code to introduce systematic checks of the travel documents of EEA and Swiss citizens, as well as their family members enjoying the right of free movement, against relevant databases when crossing external borders. The new regime came into force on 7 April 2017.
Where carrying out systematic checks against databases would have a disproportionate impact on the flow of traffic at an external border, such checks may be relaxed if, on the basis of a risk assessment, it is determined that it would not lead to a security risk.[]
In 'exceptional' and 'unforeseen' circumstances where waiting times become excessive, external border checks can be relaxed on a temporary basis.[]
Border guards carry out the following procedures when checking travellers who cross external borders:
| Procedure | EEA/Swiss citizens and family members with right of free movement | Third-country nationals (on entry) | Third-country nationals (on exit) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checking the traveller's identity based on their travel document | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Checking that the travel document is valid and has not expired | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Checking the travel document for signs of falsification or counterfeiting | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Checking the travel document for signs of falsification or counterfeiting using technical devices (e.g. UV light, magnifiers) | Optional | Optional | Optional | |
| Checking the authenticity of the data stored on the RFID chip (if the travel document is biometric) | Optional | Optional | Optional | |
| Checking the travel document against the list of stolen, misappropriated, lost and invalidated documents in the Schengen Information System, Interpol's SLTD database and other national databases | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Consulting the Schengen Information System and other national databases to ensure that the traveller does not represent a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or international relations of any Schengen Member State | Yes | Optional (consultation of databases only 'where necessary') | Yes | |
| Recording the traveller's entry/exit in a database As of April 2016, only 10 Schengen Member States—Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain—record third-country nationals' entries and exits in their national databases, but data is not exchanged between the national databases of these countries, nor is there a Schengen-wide centralised database tracking entries and exits in all 27 Schengen Member States. Only Poland systematically records the entries and exits of EEA and Swiss citizens who are stopped at the border. | Optional | Optional | Optional | |
| Stamping the travel document | No | Yes (with specific groups) | Yes (with specific groups) | |
| Checking that the traveller has the appropriate visa/residence permit (if required) | No | Yes | Optional | |
| Checking the authenticity of the short-stay visa (if required) and the identity of its holder by consulting the Visa Information System | No | Yes | Optional | |
| Examining entry and exit stamps in the travel document to ensure that the traveller has not exceeded the maximum duration of authorised stay | No | Yes (with some exceptions) | Optional | |
| Verifying the traveller's point of departure and destination | No | Yes | No | |
| Verifying the traveller's purpose of stay | No | Yes (with some exceptions) | No | |
| Verifying any documents/evidence to support the traveller's purported purpose of stay | No | Optional (with some exceptions) | No | |
| Verifying that the traveller has sufficient funds for their stay and onward/return journey (or that they are in a position to acquire such means lawfully) | No | Yes (with some exceptions) | No | |
As shown by the table above, because many procedures are optional, border guards have discretion in deciding how rigorously they check travellers at external border crossing points. As a result, the length of time taken to perform checks differs between Schengen countries. Under the previous regime (whereby those with the right to freedom of movement were subject only to a 'minimum check'), an entry check for an EEA or Swiss citizen took around five seconds on average in Italy, whilst in Norway, on average it took around 1 minute. The disparities in checks on third-country nationals (who are subject to a more thorough check) are even greater. For example, an entry check for an national takes around 15 seconds on average in Greece, whilst it takes three to five minutes on average in Slovakia. Similarly, an entry check for an national on average lasts around 30–60 seconds in the Netherlands, whilst in Latvia, it lasts around two to five minutes on average.
After the new regime came into force on 7 April 2017, significantly longer waiting times were reported at numerous external border crossing points, especially as it was just before the Easter holiday. Travellers entering Slovenia from Croatia (which was not yet part of the Schengen Area) had to wait several hours as Slovenian border guards systematically checked the travel documents of all travellers (including those with the right of free movement) against relevant databases. The Prime Minister of Slovenia, Miro Cerar, acknowledged that the situation was 'unacceptable'. In order to alleviate the long queues, the systematic checking of travel documents of those with the right of free movement against relevant databases was temporarily suspended from the evening of Friday 7 April 2017 until the end of the weekend. However, the following weekend, long queues re-appeared. The Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, criticised the situation, calling it 'unsustainable', and expressed concern about the impact on tourism (which accounts for 18% of Croatia's GDP). The President of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, sent a formal letter to the European Commission to voice her concern about the effect of the new regime on border checks. At a meeting held on 29 April 2017, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, Cerar and Plenković agreed that, moving forward, the systematic checking of the travel documents of those with the right of free movement against relevant databases would be suspended at land border crossing points between Croatia and Slovenia if the waiting time exceeds 15 minutes (with 'targeted checks' being carried out instead). Long queues were also reported at external border crossing points in Greece, where the leadership of the Hellenic Police (which is responsible for border checks) decided to suspend, for a period of six months, the systematic checking of travel documents of those with the right of free movement against relevant databases (with the exception of the Kipoi land border crossing point with Turkey, due to security concerns). Greece was particularly affected by the implementation of the new regime as (Greek identity cards) were not machine-readable at that time, which meant that border guards had to enter the holder's information manually into the computer system to check the relevant databases if a (Greek citizen) presented an (identity card) instead of a (passport). Similarly, long waiting times were reported at external border crossing points in France and Spain.Finland, Hungary and Italy also issued notifications suspending systematic checks at some external border crossing points. In July 2017, Greece submitted a request to suspend the systematic checking of travel documents of those with the right of free movement against relevant databases for a further period of 18 months, due to 'infrastructure shortcomings and increased traffic at 12 airports across the country'.
When carrying out checks at external borders, border guards are, by law, required to respect the dignity of travellers (particularly in cases involving vulnerable persons) and are forbidden from discriminating against persons based on their sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
External border controls are located at roads crossing a border, at airports, at seaports and on board trains. Usually, there is no fence along the land border, but there are exceptions like the (Ceuta border fence), and some places at the eastern border. However, surveillance camera systems, some equipped with infrared technology, are located at some more critical spots, for example at the border between Slovakia and Ukraine, where at some points there is a camera every 186 metres (203 yards).
All travellers entering and leaving the Schengen Area by general aviation or on a pleasure boat have to make their first point of entry/final point of departure in an airport/aerodrome or a seaport that is designated as an external border crossing point. By way of derogation, travellers on board a pleasure boat are permitted to make their first port of call at a port that is not designated as an external border crossing point if they notify the port authorities and obtain authorisation from the border guards. In practice, however, this is a loophole hard to check, and large-scale drug smuggling using private boats has been uncovered. Along the southern coast of the Schengen countries in the Mediterranean, coast guards make a substantial effort to prevent private boats from entering without permission.
At many external border crossing points, there are special lanes for EEA and Swiss citizens (as well as their family members) and other lanes for all travellers regardless of nationality. At some external border crossing points, there is a third type of lane for travellers who are (i.e. non-EEA/Swiss citizens who are exempt from the visa requirement). Although (Andorran) and Sammarinese citizens are not EEA citizens, they are nonetheless able to use the special lanes designated for EEA and Swiss citizens. Since 1 January 2021, British citizens are no longer permitted to use the EEA/Swiss lanes.
Some external border crossing points can only be used by certain travellers. For example, the border checkpoint in (Veľké Slemence), Slovakia (on the (border with Ukraine)) can only be crossed by pedestrians or cyclists who are EEA, Swiss or Ukrainian citizens. The border checkpoint in Ramoniškiai, Lithuania (on the (border with Russia)) can only be crossed by residents of Lithuania and Russia; all other travellers (including EEA and Swiss citizens not resident in Lithuania/Russia) cannot use this border checkpoint. Similarly, the border checkpoint of Pededze-Brunishevo, Latvia (on the (border with Russia)) is only open to Latvian and Russian citizens. The Narva 2 and (Saatse) border crossing points in Estonia (on the (border with Russia)) can only be used by residents of Estonia and Russia. The border checkpoint in (Połowce)-Pieszczatka, Poland (on the border with Belarus) can only be crossed by Polish and Belarusian nationals. In 2016, as a temporary measure for 180 days, the two northernmost border checkpoints of Raja-Jooseppi and Salla on the Finland–Russia border could only be crossed by Finnish, Russian and Belarusian citizens (as well as their family members); all other nationals, including non-Finnish EEA and Swiss citizens, were not permitted to use these border checkpoints. Further, the border crossing points of Haapovaara, Inari, Karttimo, Kurvinen, Leminaho and Parikkala (as well as the railway crossing point of Imatra) are only open to Finnish and Russian citizens.
The additional obligations imposed by European law on national border authorities when it comes to processing travellers who are third-country nationals (e.g. the obligation to stamp their travel documents) should not prevent the development of (automated border control systems) which are made available to such travellers. As shown by the examples listed above of automated border control systems which have been developed at external border crossing points of the Schengen Area, national border authorities have been able to adapt the design of their automated border control systems to allow third-country nationals to make use of them. One solution is to have a border guard physically positioned next to the automated border gates who can stamp travel documents where required: this approach has been adopted by the Finnish Border Guard at the automated border gates in Helsinki Airport, where eligible users (who are required to receive a passport stamp) include holders of (Australian), (Canadian), Japanese, (New Zealand), (South Korean) and United States biometric passports, and in the Port of Helsinki, where eligible users (who are required to receive a passport stamp) include Russian citizens, who are required to scan both the biodata page and the visa inside their passport, then to step into the gate for a facial image and fingerprint recognition, and after the gate opens to approach a border officer to have their passport stamped. The Portuguese Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras has also adopted the practice of positioning a border guard for stamping next to the automated border gates in Lisbon Airport where eligible users (who are required to receive a passport stamp) include holders of (Angolan) and (Brazilian) passports and holders of diplomatic/service passports. This approach has also been adopted in Italy, where eligible users of (eGates) include holders of (Australian), (Canadian), Israeli, Japanese, (New Zealand), (Singaporean), (South Korean), United States and (Vatican) biometric passports. A similar but slightly different solution has been adopted by the Dutch Royal Marechaussee at the Privium iris recognition automated border gates at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (where eligible users include registered EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, US citizens who are (Global Entry) members, and all nationals who are holders of diplomatic passports), as well as by the German Federal Police at the ABG Plus iris recognition automated border gates at Frankfurt Airport (where eligible users include registered EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and US citizens who are (Global Entry) members: when eligible third-country nationals use Privium/ABG Plus, after their iris is scanned and verified, a different gate/door/turnstile opens to that for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and the third-country national user is directed to a lane which leads them to the front of the queue for manual passport checks at immigration desks, where the border guard stamps the user's passport. Another possible solution would be to design the automated border gates to print a paper slip with an entry or exit stamp on it, as well as the user's name and travel document number, whenever the user is a traveller who is subject to the requirement to have their travel document stamped.
Sometimes, external border controls are located on non-Schengen territory. For example, the French Border Police operates border checks at (juxtaposed controls) on travellers departing the United Kingdom for the Schengen Area before they board their train or ferry at St Pancras International, (Ebbsfleet International) and (Ashford International) railway stations, as well as at the Port of Dover and the (Eurotunnel Folkestone Terminal).
ETIAS
In November 2016 the European Commission proposed a system for an electronic authorisation of visa-exempt third country nationals called ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System). Foreign visitors will be required to submit personal data in advance and pay a processing fee (fee is waived for children). The application is to be done over the internet and need to be made a few days before travel. The authorisation will be valid for three years. It is imagined as a system similar to the ESTA system of the United States and the system of Canada. ETIAS is scheduled to enter into operation by May 2025.
ETIAS requirements will, in general, apply to those third country nationals who are not required to have a visa and have no residence permit or similar.
Carrier's responsibility
Schengen rules require that all carriers conveying passengers across the Schengen external border must check, before boarding, that passengers have the correct travel documents and visas required for entry. Carriers that transport third-country nationals without the correct travel documents are imposed with financial penalties and are required to transport those refused entry back to the point of departure. The aim of this measure is to prevent illegal immigration. Further, since immigrants have the right to apply for asylum at border control at ports of entry in the EU, though such applications must be made in person in the country where asylum status is sought, this measure has the effect of preventing prospective asylum seekers from boarding public transportation to the Schengen Area (unless they have already obtained a Schengen visa or are visa-exempt).
Short-stay and transit visas
The rules applicable to short-term entry visas into the Schengen Area are set out in EU regulations which contain two lists: a list of the nationalities (or classes of travel document holder) which require a visa for a short-term stay (the Annex I list) and a list which do not (the Annex II list).
Being listed in the visa-free list will sometimes but not always exempt the listed nationality or class from the requirement to obtain a work permit if they wish to take up employment or self-employed activity during their stay; business trips are not normally considered employment in this sense.
An application for a Schengen visa should be submitted to the embassy or consulate of the country which the traveller intends to visit. If a traveller plans to visit multiple countries in the Schengen Area, the application should be submitted to the embassy or consulate of the main destination. If the main destination cannot be determined, the traveller should apply for the visa at the embassy or consulate of the Schengen member state of first entry. Often, external service providers are contracted by certain diplomatic missions to process, collect and return visa applications.
The standard application fee for a Schengen visa is EUR 80. There is a reduced visa application fee of EUR 40 for children aged 6 to 12. The visa application fee is waived for children under the age of 6. Where an application is submitted to an external service provider, an additional service fee may have to be paid. The visa application fee (and the additional service fee, if applicable) are not refundable regardless of the outcome of the application.
Entry conditions for third-country nationals
A Schengen visa or a visa exemption does not entitle the traveller to enter the Schengen Area, but rather allows the traveller to seek entry at the border crossing point. The Schengen Borders Code lists requirements which third-country nationals must meet to be allowed into the Schengen Area. For this purpose, a third-country national is a person who does not enjoy the (i.e. a person who is not an EEA citizen or Swiss, nor a family member of such a person).
The entry requirements for third country nationals who intend to stay in the Schengen Area for not more than 90 days in any 180-day period are as follows:
- The traveller is in possession of a valid travel document or documents authorising them to cross the border (a visa is not considered a travel document in this sense); the acceptance of travel documents for this purpose remains within the domain of the member states;
- The travel document must be valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area (although in a justified case of emergency, this obligation may be waived) and must have been issued within the previous 10 years;
- The traveller either possesses a valid visa (if required) or a valid residence permit;
- The traveller can justify the purpose and conditions of the intended stay and has sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to his or her country of origin or transit to a third country into which the traveller is certain to be admitted, or is in a position to acquire such means lawfully;
- The Schengen Information System does not contain a refusal of entry alert concerning the traveller, and
- The traveller is not considered to be a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any of the Schengen states.
However, even if the third-country national does not fulfil the criteria for entry, admission may still be granted:
- On humanitarian grounds
- On grounds of national interests
- On grounds of international obligations
- If the person is not in possession of a visa, but fulfils the criteria for being issued a visa at the border
- If the person holds a residence permit or a re-entry visa issued by a Schengen state
Passport stamp
Certain travellers receive a passport stamp when entering and exiting the Schengen Area. All 27 European countries within the Schengen Area have entry and exit stamps of a uniform design. As of April 2016, at a national level, 11 Schengen countries (Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain) have developed computer databases recording entries and exits of third-country nationals (i.e. travellers who are not EU, EEA or Swiss citizens) at external border crossing points. However, on a Schengen-wide level, there is no centralised computer database that tracks entries and exits at all of the external border crossing points of the 27 Schengen countries, nor are entry and exit records from national databases shared between countries. As a result, law enforcement officials continue to rely on checking passport stamps as the primary way to check that travellers who do not have the have not exceeded their length of permitted stay in the Schengen Area.
Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 envisages the establishment of an Entry-Exit System (EES) which will record third-country nationals' entries and exits when they cross the external borders of the Schengen Area in a central database, replacing passport stamps. As of August 2022, EES was expected to enter into operation at the end of May 2023, but was delayed until late 2024.
There are no systematic immigration checks when travelling between Schengen countries (i.e. crossing the internal borders of the Schengen Area). Passport stamps are never issued when travelling between Schengen countries, even when immigration checks between Schengen countries are temporarily re-introduced.
When travelling to/from a non-Schengen country (i.e. crossing the external borders of the Schengen Area), the rules on stamping travel documents are as follows:
| Persons whose travel documents are to be stamped | Persons whose travel documents are not to be stamped |
|---|---|
|
|
Border officials are required, by law, to stamp the travel documents of third country nationals who do not qualify for one of the exemptions listed in the right hand column when they cross external borders, even when border controls have been relaxed. However, nationals of (Andorra), (Monaco), (San Marino) and Vatican City are exempt from this requirement, as are heads of state, whose visits were announced through diplomatic channels, and holders of local border traffic permits and residence permits issued by a Schengen member state. Certain exemptions also apply to the crews of ships and aircraft.
Exceptionally, if stamping a person's travel document would cause serious difficulties (such as political persecution), border officials can instead issue a sheet of paper detailing the person's name, travel document number and entry date and location. However, in practice, border officials do not always stamp the travel documents of travellers as legally required. If a person who should have received an entry stamp cannot show one either upon request by a law enforcement officer or upon leaving the Schengen Area to a border official, the officer can presume that the person has been staying illegally in the Schengen Area and can expel them, unless the person can demonstrate using credible evidence (such as transport tickets and accommodation receipts) that they have not exceeded their permitted length of stay in the Schengen Area.
Although, according to EU rules, third country nationals who hold residence permits should not have their travel documents stamped, France nevertheless requires third country nationals holding a visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour (a long-stay visa serving additionally as a residence permit for up to one year) to receive a passport stamp upon their first entry to the Schengen Area as a part of the process to validate the visa as a residence permit; without an entry stamp, the process cannot be completed.
Third-country nationals who otherwise fulfil all the criteria for admission into the Schengen area must not be denied entry for the sole reason that there is no remaining empty space in their travel document to affix a stamp; instead, the stamp should be affixed on a separate sheet of paper.
Entry and exit stamps are applied in black ink, except for the red date stamp and a two-digit security code in the middle. The two-digit security code must be changed at least once a month, although some Schengen countries (such as Greece) change security codes every day. The stamps bear the country abbreviation within a circle of stars in the top left hand corner, the name of the entry/exit border crossing point in Latin alphabet at the bottom, and an icon in the top right hand corner to denote the mode of entry/exit. Below the name of the border crossing point is an identifying number – a record is kept of the identity of the border officer to whom a given stamp is assigned at any given time. Entry stamps are rectangular and have an arrow into a square, while exit stamps are rectangular with rounded corners and have an arrow out of a square. The stamps do not indicate any maximum permitted duration of stay.
Border guards are required to ensure the secure storage of passport stamps in locked safes between shifts. Border posts are advised to set out clear responsibilities and instructions for the distribution and use of passport stamps.
According to European Commission recommendations and guidelines, stamps should be affixed in travel documents by border officials in the following manner:
- in chronological order
- in a horizontal position
- in a clear and straight manner (i.e. with enough ink and not over the edge of a page)
- the exit stamp should be affixed in the proximity of the entry stamp
- no stamp should be affixed over another stamp or over the machine readable zone of a visa
- if the travel document contains a single-entry Schengen visa, the stamp should be affixed over the edge of the visa, but without affecting the legibility of the conditions and security features of the visa
- if the travel document contains a multiple-entry Schengen visa, the stamp should be affixed on the page facing the one on which the visa is affixed
If a third-country national is refused entry to the Schengen Area, the border official is required to affix an entry stamp in the travel document, cancel the stamp by an indelible cross in blank ink and write the letter corresponding to the reason for the refusal of entry to the right-hand side of the cancelled stamp.
By contrast, if a border official has affixed a stamp in a travel document by mistake (as opposed to a refusal of entry), the stamp can be annulled by drawing two parallel lines through the top left-hand corner.
- Uniform design of Schengen member states' passport stamps
-
![image]()
Entry stamp for air travel, issued at (Sandefjord Airport) in Norway -
![image]()
Entry stamp for rail travel, issued at Nickelsdorf at Austro-Hungarian border before Hungary joined the Schengen Area -
![image]()
Entry stamp for road travel, issued at (Doirani) at Greek-North Macedonian border -
![image]()
Entry stamp for ferry travel, issued at the port of Amsterdam IJmond in Netherlands -
![image]()
Exit stamp for air travel, issued at Prague Ruzyně Airport in Czech Republic -
![image]()
Exit stamp for rail travel, issued at Bad Schandau at Czech-German border before the Czech Republic joined the Schengen Area -
![image]()
Exit stamp for road travel, issued at Korczowa at Polish-Ukrainian border -
![image]()
Stays in excess of 90 days
For stays in the Schengen Area as a whole which exceed 90 days, a third-country national will need to hold either a long-stay visa for a period no longer than a year, or a residence permit for longer periods. A long-stay visa is a national visa but is issued in accordance with a uniform format. It entitles the holder to enter the Schengen Area and remain in the issuing state for a period longer than 90 days but no more than one year. If a Schengen state wishes to allow the holder of a long-stay visa to remain there for longer than a year, the state must issue him or her with a residence permit.
The holder of a long-stay visa or a residence permit is entitled to move freely within other states which compose the Schengen Area for a period of up to three months in any half-year. Third-country nationals who are long-term residents in a Schengen state may also acquire the right to move to and settle in another Schengen state without losing their legal status and social benefits.
Asylum seekers who request international protection under the Geneva Convention from a Schengen member state are not issued a residence permit, but are instead issued, within three days of the application being lodged, an authorisation to remain on the territory of the member state while the application is pending or being examined. This means that, whilst their application for refugee status is being processed, asylum seekers are only permitted to remain in the Schengen member state where they have claimed asylum and are not entitled to move freely within other states which compose the Schengen Area. Successful applicants who have been granted international protection by a Schengen member state are issued residence permits which are valid for at least three years and renewable, whilst applicants granted subsidiary protection by a Schengen member state are issued residence permits valid for at least 1-year and renewable, unless there are compelling reasons relating to national security or public order. Family members of beneficiaries of international or subsidiary protection from a Schengen member state are issued residence permits as well, but their validity can be shorter. Applicants who have been granted temporary protection by a Schengen member state (as well as their reunited family members) are issued residence permits valid for the entire period of temporary protection.
However, some third-country nationals are permitted to stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days without the need to apply for a long-stay visa. For example, France does not require citizens of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City to apply for a long-stay visa. In addition, Article 20(2) of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement allows for this 'in exceptional circumstances' and for bilateral agreements concluded by individual signatory states with other countries before the Convention entered into force to remain applicable. As a result, for example, New Zealand citizens are permitted to stay for up to 90 days in each of the Schengen countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) which had already concluded bilateral visa exemption agreements with the New Zealand Government prior to the Convention entering into force without the need to apply for long-stay visas, but if travelling to other Schengen countries the 90 days in a 180-day period time limit applies.[]
Entry conditions for family members of EEA and Swiss citizens
Third-country nationals who are family members of EEA and Swiss citizens exercising their right of free movement and who hold a residence card of a family member of a Union citizen issued by their EEA host country can visit another EEA member state or Switzerland without a visa for a short stay of up to three months in each member state. A 'family member' is defined as the spouse/partner, any of their children below age 21 or dependents (including those of the spouse/partner) and dependent parents (including those of the spouse/partner).
Holders of a residence card of a family member of a Union citizen issued by a Schengen member state can travel to another Schengen member state without a visa, regardless of whether they are travelling independently, or accompanying or joining their EEA/Swiss citizen family member. However, holders of a residence card of a family member of a Union citizen issued by Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, and the UK can travel to the Schengen Area without a visa only if they are accompanying or joining their EEA/Swiss citizen family member. British citizens had until 30 June 2021 to apply for the card.
If the non-EEA family member is an Annex I national who presents themself at the border without a residence card of a family member of a Union citizen nor an entry visa, but can show their family ties with the EEA/Swiss citizens by other means, then a visa must be issued at the border free of charge and entry permitted.
However, as of December 2008, the right of entry of family members of EEA/Swiss citizens laid down in Articles 5(2) and 5(4) of has been incorrectly transposed into Belgian, Latvian and Swedish law, and not transposed at all by Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Lithuania, Germany and Slovenia. Five member states do not follow the Directive to the effect that non-EEA family members may still face difficulties (denial of boarding the vessel by the transport company, denial to enter by border police) when travelling to those states using their residence card issued by another EU member state. A visa or other document(s) may still be required.
Local border traffic at external borders
Schengen states which share an external land border with a non-EU member state are authorised by virtue of the EU Regulation 1931/2006 to conclude or maintain bilateral agreements with neighbouring third countries for the purpose of implementing a local border traffic regime. Such agreements define a (border area) which may extend to a maximum of 50 kilometres (31 mi) on either side of the border, and provide for the issuance of local border traffic permits to residents of the border area. Permits may be used to cross the EU external border within the border area, are not stamped on crossing the border and must display the holder's name and photograph, as well as a statement that its holder is not authorised to move outside the border area and that any abuse shall be subject to penalties.
Permits are issued with a validity period of between one and five years and allow for a stay in the border area of up to three months. Permits may only be issued to lawful residents of the border area who have been resident in the border area for a minimum of one year (or longer if specified by the bilateral agreement). Applicants for a permit have to show that they have legitimate reasons to cross frequently an external land border under the local border traffic regime. Schengen states must keep a central register of the permits issued and have to provide immediate access to the relevant data to other Schengen states.
Holders of local border traffic permits are able to spend up to 3 months every time they enter the border area of the country which has issued the permit (this time limit is far more generous than the "90 days in a 180-day period" normally granted to third-country nationals visiting the Schengen Area).
Before the conclusion of an agreement with a neighbouring country, the Schengen state must receive approval from the European Commission, which has to confirm that the draft agreement is in conformity with the Regulation. The agreement may only be concluded if the neighbouring state grants at least reciprocal rights to EEA and Swiss nationals resident on the Schengen side of the border area, and agrees to the repatriation of individuals found to be abusing the border agreement.
As of June 2017[update] ten local-traffic agreements have come into force.
- Hungary–Ukraine from January 2008.
- Slovakia–Ukraine from September 2008.
- Poland–Ukraine in July 2009.
- Romania–Moldova from October 2010.
- Latvia–Belarus from February 2012.
- Norway–Russia from May 2012.
- Poland–Russia (Kaliningrad Area) from July 2012 (suspended since July 2016)
- Latvia–Russia from June 2013.
- Romania–Ukraine from May 2015.
- An agreement between Croatia–Bosnia and Herzegovina is applied on provisional basis, pending ratification.
On 28 April 2014, Moldova was classified as an 'Annex II' nationality. On 11 June 2017, Ukraine was classified as an 'Annex II' nationality. Therefore, Moldovan and Ukrainian citizens who hold biometric passports no longer require a visa to enter the Schengen Area and Romania, thus obviating the need to apply for a local border traffic permit (unless they wish to spend more than 90 days in a 180-day period permitted by the visa exemption, given that local border traffic permit holders are allowed to stay for 3 months in the border area on each entry).
There are or have been plans for Lithuania–Russia, Poland–Belarus, Bulgaria–Serbia and Bulgaria–North Macedonia local border traffic agreements. The agreement between Poland and Belarus had been due to enter into force by 2012, but was delayed by Belarus, with no implementation date set (as of Oct 2012).
In late 2009, Norway began issuing one-year multiple-entry visas, without the usual requirement of having family or a business partner in Norway, called Pomor-Visas, to Russians from Murmansk Oblast, and later to those from Arkhangelsk Oblast. Finland is not planning border permits, but has issued over one million regular visas for Russians in 2011, and many of them multiple-entry visas. The EU was planning to allow up to 5-year validity on multiple-entry visas for Russians.
There is also a similar system for local border traffic permits between Spain and Morocco regarding Ceuta and Melilla. This system is older and was included in the 1991 accession treaty of Spain to the Schengen Area. In this case there are identity checks for anyone travelling to other parts of the Schengen Area (possible by boat and air only). Such checks are not the rule for other local border traffic zones.
Western Balkan states
Citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia can enter the Schengen Area without a visa. On 30 November 2009, the EU Council of Ministers for Interior and Justice abolished visa requirements for citizens of Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, while on 8 November 2010 it did the same for Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The former took effect on 19 December 2009, and the latter on 15 December 2010.
Visa liberalisation negotiations between the EU and the Western Balkans (excluding Kosovo) were launched in the first half of 2008, and ended in 2009 (for Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia) and 2010 (for Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina). Before visas were fully abolished, the Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia) had signed "visa facilitation agreements" with the Schengen states in 2008. The visa facilitation agreements were, at the time, supposed to shorten waiting periods, lower visa fees (including free visas for certain categories of travellers), and reduce paperwork. In practice, however, the new procedures turned out to be longer, more cumbersome, more expensive, and many people complained that it was easier to obtain visas before the facilitation agreements entered into force.
The European Commission launched a visa liberalisation dialogue with Kosovo on 19 January 2012. In June 2012, the Commission handed over a roadmap on visa liberalisation to the Kosovo authorities, which identified the legislation and institutional measures that Kosovo needed to adopt and implement to advance towards visa liberalisation. On 4 May 2016, the European Commission proposed visa-free travel for the citizens of Kosovo. The European Commission has proposed to the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament to lift the visa requirements for the people of Kosovo by transferring Kosovo to the visa-free list for short-stays in the Schengen Area. The EU approved the visa exemption for nationals of Kosovo, effective from 1 January 2024.
Police and judicial co-operation
To counter the potentially aggravating effects of the abolition of border controls on undocumented immigration and cross-border crime, the Schengen acquis contains compensatory police and judicial measures. Chief among these is the Schengen Information System (SIS), a database operated by all EU and Schengen states and which by January 2010 contained in excess of 30 million entries and by January 2014 contained in excess of 50 million entries, according to a document published in June 2015 by the Council of the European Union. Around 1 million of the entries relate to persons, 72% of which were not allowed to enter and stay in the Schengen Area. Only 7% of persons listed on the SIS database were (missing persons).
The vast majority of data entries on the SIS, around 49 million, concern lost or stolen objects. The European Council reports that in 2013 an average of 43 stolen vehicles a day were detected by authorities using the SIS database.
A list of EU authorities with access to SIS is published annually in the Official Journal of the European Union. As at 24 June 2015, 235 authorities can use the SIS database. The SIS database is operationally managed by eu-LISA.
The Schengen Agreement also allows police officers from one participating state to follow suspects across borders both in hot pursuit and to continue observation operations, and for enhanced mutual assistance in criminal matters.
The Schengen Convention also contained measures intended to streamline extradition between participating countries however these have now been subsumed into the European Arrest Warrant system.
Legal basis
Provisions in the treaties of the European Union
The legal basis for Schengen in the treaties of the European Union has been inserted in the Treaty establishing the European Community through Article 2, point 15 of the Treaty of Amsterdam. This inserted a new title named "Visas, asylum, immigration and other policies related to free movement of persons" into the treaty, currently numbered as Title IV, and comprising articles 61 to 69. The Treaty of Lisbon substantially amends the provisions of the articles in the title, renames the title to "Area of freedom, security and justice" and divides it into five chapters, called "General provisions", "Policies on border checks, asylum and immigration", "Judicial cooperation in civil matters", "Judicial cooperation in criminal matters", and "Police cooperation".
The Schengen Agreement and the Schengen Convention
The Schengen Area originally had its legal basis outside the then European Economic Community, having been established by a sub-set of member states of the Community using two international agreements:
- The 1985 Schengen Agreement – Agreement between the Governments of the States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic on the gradual abolition of checks at their common borders.
- The 1990 Schengen Convention – Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 between the Governments of the States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic on the gradual abolition of checks at their common borders.
On being incorporated into the main body of European Union law by the Amsterdam Treaty, the Schengen Agreement and Convention were published in the Official Journal of the European Communities by a decision of the Council of Ministers. As a result, the Agreement and Convention can be amended by regulations.
See also
- Open Balkan – Economic zone formed by a regional organization in Southeastern Europe
- Central America-4 Border Control Agreement – Boundary treaty in Central America
- Common Travel Area – Open borders area comprising the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands
- eu-LISA – agency of the European Union
- 2015 European migrant crisis – 2010s migrant crisis in the European Union
- (FADO) – European image-archiving system for identity documents
- (Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification) – EU system for commitment compliance
- Nordic Passport Union – Nordic ease of travel agreement
- (Prüm Convention) – Law enforcement treaty in part of Europe
- (Public Register of Travel and Identity Documents Online) – Online repository of security features in travel documents
- Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement – Arrangement between Australia and New Zealand
Notes
- Only air and sea borders
- Not an (EU member)
- The United Kingdom, the administering power, considers that the area of Gibraltar is 6.8 km2 (2.6 sq mi), while for Spain it is 6.7 km2 (2.6 sq mi). However, the various extensions using land reclaimed from the sea have in practice increased it to 6.8 km2 (2.6 sq mi).
References
- "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2023". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- "Schengener Übereinkommen". auswaertiges-amt.de (in German). German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
{{}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language () - . Swift Tourism. 2010. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- European Parliamentary Research Service (March 2016). "The economic impact of suspending Schengen" (PDF). Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- European Council on Foreign Relations (2016). "The Future of Schengen". Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- "Schengen's economic impact: Putting up barriers". The Economist. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- Felbermayr G, Gröschl J, Steinwachs T (27 April 2016). "Trade costs of border controls in the Schengen area". Centre for Economic Policy Research. Retrieved 15 June 2017. See also: Felbermayr G, Gröschl J, Steinwachs T (March 2017). "The Trade Effect of Border Controls: Evidence from the European Schengen Agreement" (PDF). Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- "The refugee crisis: Fixing Schengen is not enough". Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- Fortress Europe, BBC World Service
- Schengen area by Latvian Law Firm, Baltic Legal
- "The Schengen Area" (PDF). European Commission. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- (Owen, Nora) (14 March 1995). . Archived from the original on 7 June 2011.; (O'Donoghue, John) (9 March 1999). "Dáil Debates volume 501 column 1506".[]; "Declaration by Ireland on Article 3 of the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland" attached to the Treaty of Amsterdam.
- Council decision 29 June 2010 on the application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis relating to the Schengen Information System in the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania (2010/365/EU) Europa
- "Bulgaria and Romania to join Schengen area starting with air and sea borders: Commission welcomes landmark Council decision". European Commission - European Commission.
- "Schengen zone: Delay for Bulgaria and Romania to join". British Broadcasting Corporation. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
- Castle, Stephen (22 September 2011). "Europe Denies 2 Nations Entry to Travel Zone". The New York Times. from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- Robinson, Frances (22 September 2011). "Bulgaria, Romania Blocked From Travel Zone". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
- Sutherland, Joe (22 April 2014). "Bulgaria made to wait for Schengen access". euroviews.eu. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- "Romania tells EU: 'We are ready for Schengen when you are'". euractiv.com. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- "EP Voted For "Access" of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Visa Information System". Novinitem. Sofia News Agency.
- "32018D0934 - EN". EUR-Lex.
- "European Parliament Votes to Admit Bulgaria and Romania to Schengen Area". 11 December 2018.
- "Procedure File: 2018/2092(INI)". Legislative Observatory. European Parliament.
- "Question for written answer to the Council E-000901/2022 Rule 138 Eugen Tomac (PPE)". Europarl. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
Given the importance of abolishing EU internal border controls as part of the European integration process, what obstacles remain in the path of Romanian accession to the Schengen area 15 years after joining the EU? Can Council explain why more progress has been made in this direction with Croatia, the newest EU Member State?
- "Aderarea României la Schengen va fi stabilită în Consiliul JAI din 8-9 decembrie. CE a anunțat temele de pe agenda reuniunii". Digi24 (in Romanian). 30 November 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- "Nu intrăm în Schengen. Austria și Olanda au votat împotriva noastră". Digi24 (in Romanian). Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- "Ministrul austriac de Interne: "Are sens să includem Croația și să nu includem acum Bulgaria și România" în Schengen". Digi24 (in Romanian). 3 December 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- Ernst, Julian (7 December 2022). "Romania: Austria's objections on Schengen bid are factually incorrect". Romania Insider. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- Constanda, Ada (7 December 2022). "Întrebarea pusă de trei ori de presa română prezentă la Viena și la care cancelarul Nehammer n-a răspuns" [The question asked three times by the Romanian media present in Vienna and to which Chancellor Nehammer did not answer]. Libertatea (in Romanian). Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- Stan, Cosmin; Petcu, Iulia (10 December 2022). "Protest la cel mai înalt nivel al României față de Austria. Ciucă și Bode se contrazic în declarații" (in Romanian). Pro TV.
- Țaga, Maria (9 December 2022). "Românii se răzbună pe Austria. Ce companii sunt boicotate după refuzul Vienei de a ne accepta în Schengen". Adevărul (in Romanian).
- Lică, Ștefan (10 December 2022). "Inscripție anti-austriacă apărută pe peretele unei sucursale Raiffeisen Bank din Cluj. Reacția polițiștilor". Adevărul (in Romanian).
- "Bulgaria, Romania eye Schengen membership this year". www.euractiv.com. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- "Bulgaria and Romania should be in Schengen by end of 2023, says Parliament". EP. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- "Austria rejects EC's call to allow Romania, Bulgaria into Schengen". 14 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
- COKELAERE, HANNE (15 September 2023). "Romania threatens Austria with lawsuit over stalled Schengen accession". Politico. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
- "Schengen area: Controls at air and sea borders with Bulgaria and Romania will be lifted - European Commission". home-affairs.ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- "Press corner".
- HÜLSEMANN, LAURA (28 December 2023). "Romania, Bulgaria set to partially enter Schengen zone in March". Politico. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- This terminology is, for example, used in the Final Act of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the latters' association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis.
- "List of non-Schengen countries that can be visited with a Schengen visa". YOYO TRAVELS, Dubai. 14 January 2021.
- "Travel to Andorra". Govern d'Andorra.
- "Andorra and the Schengen Area". Andorra Resorts. 8 March 2022.
- "The Schengen Area and cooperation". Europa. 3 August 2009.
- "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- "Protocol on the accession of the Government of the Republic of Austria to the Agreement between the Governments of the Member States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic on the gradual abolition of controls at their common borders, signed at Schengen on 14 June 1985, as amended by the Protocols of 27 November 1990, 25 June 1991 and 6 November 1992 on the accession of the Governments of the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic and the Hellenic Republic, respectively". Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- "Beschluß des Exekutivausschusses zur Inkraftsetzung des Schengener Durchführungsübereinkommens in Österreich" [Resolution of the Executive Committee on the implementation of the Schengen Convention in Austria] (in German). 7 October 1997. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- "Council Decision of 20 May 1999 concerning the definition of the Schengen acquis for the purpose of determining, in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Treaty establishing the European Community and the Treaty on European Union, the legal basis for each of the provisions or decisions which constitute the acquis". Official Journal of the European Union. L (176/1). 10 July 1999. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- "Agreement between the Governments of the States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic on the Gradual Abolition of Checks at their Common Borders". Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- "Decision of the Executive Committee of 22 December 1994 on bringing into force the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of 19 June 1990". Official Journal of the European Union. L (239/130). 22 December 1994. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- "Treaty between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Estonia, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, Ireland, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Poland, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Member States of the European Union) and the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania, concerning the Accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union (Deposited with the Government of the Italian Republic)". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- "Council Decision (EU) 2024/210 of 30 December 2023 on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania". Official Journal of the European Union. L (2024/210). 4 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- "TREATY CONCERNING THE ACCESSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA TO THE EUROPEAN UNION". EU. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- "Council Decision (EU) 2022/2451 of 8 December 2022 on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Croatia". Official Journal of the European Union. L (320/41). 14 December 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- "Schengen area: Council decides to lift border controls with Croatia". EU. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
- "Treaty between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, Ireland, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Member States of the European Union) and the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovak Republic concerning the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union (Deposited with the Government of the Italian Republic)". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- "COUNCIL DECISION of 6 December 2007 on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic". Official Journal of the European Union. L (323/34). 8 December 2007. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- "The final step of Schengen enlargement—controls at internal air borders to be abolished in late March". Slovenia's EU Presidency. 25 March 2008.
- "EUR-Lex - 42000A0922(08) - EN - EUR-Lex". eur-lex.europa.eu.
- . Government of Greenland. Archived from the original on 25 July 2017.
- "Visa and Work Permit". (Government of the Faroe Islands).
- . Royal Danish Embassy in London. 4 June 2009. Archived from the original on 10 January 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
- "Protocol on the accession of the Kingdom of Denmark to the Agreement on the gradual abolition of controls at the contracting parties' common borders, signed at Schengen on 14 June 1985". Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- "COUNCIL DECISION of 1 December 2000 on the application of the Schengen acquis in Denmark, Finland and Sweden, and in Iceland and Norway". Official Journal of the European Union. L (309/24). 9 December 2000. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- "Protocol on the accession of the Government of the Republic of Finland to the Agreement on the gradual abolition of controls at the contracting parties' common borders, signed at Schengen on 14 June 1985". Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- "Doubles contrôles aux frontières dans les aéroports de la capitale pour les Français des Antilles" [Double border controls at the capital's airports for French people from the West Indies] (in French). Senate of France. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- "Vertrag zwischen der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft und der Bundesrepublik Deutschland über die Einbeziehung der Gemeinde Büsingen am Hochrhein in das schweizerische Zollgebiet" [Treaty between the Swiss Confederation and the Federal Republic of Germany regarding the inclusion of the municipality of Büsingen am Hochrhein in the Swiss customs territory] (in German). Fedlex. 3 September 1998. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
Art. 16 Im Verkehr zwischen Büsingen und der Schweiz ist für Deutsche und Schweizerbürger ein Grenzübertrittspapier nicht erforderlich. Eine Grenzabfertigung findet nicht statt
[In traffic between Büsingen and Switzerland a document valid for border crossing is not required for German and Swiss citizens. There is no border control.] - "EUR-Lex - 42000A0922(06) - EN". EUR-Lex. Europa.
- Bonet Navarro, Jaime (2005). "El estatuto especial del Monte Athos ante la tradición religiosa. El derecho eclesiástico griego y el derecho comunitario europeo" [The special status of Mount Athos before the religious tradition. Greek ecclesiastical law and European community law]. Boletín de la Facultad de Derecho (in Spanish). UNED.
- (PDF). Legislation online. 27 May 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
Regime of Aghion Oros (Mount Athos) Article 105
- "Protocol on the accession of the Government of the Hellenic Republic to the Agreement between the Governments of the Member States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic on the gradual abolition of controls at their common borders, signed at Schengen on 14 June 1985, as amended by the Protocol signed at Paris on 27 November 1990 on the accession of the Government of the Italian Republic and by the Protocols signed at Bonn on 25 June 1991 on the accession of the Governments of the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic". Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- "COUNCIL DECISION of 13 December 1999 on the full application of the Schengen acquis in Greece". Official Journal of the European Union. L (327/58). 9 December 2000. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- "Cooperation agreement between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, the French Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the Portuguese Republic, the Hellenic Republic, the Republic of Austria, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden, i.e. the Contracting Parties to the Schengen Agreement and to the Schengen Convention, and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway, on the gradual abolition of controls at their common borders". Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- "Agreement with the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the latters' association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- "Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the latters' association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis". Official Journal of the European Union. L (176/36). 10 July 1999. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- "Protocol on the accession of the Government of the Italian Republic to the Agreement between the Governments of the Member States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic on the gradual abolition of controls at their common borders, signed at Schengen on 14 June 1985". Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- . 10 July 1997. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- "Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- "COUNCIL DECISION of 13 December 2011 on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Principality of Liechtenstein". Official Journal of the European Union. L (334/27). 5 December 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- "EUR-Lex - 21999A0710(02) - EN". EUR-Lex. Europa.
- "Protocol on the accession of the Government of the Portuguese Republic to the Agreement between the Governments of the Member States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic on the gradual abolition of controls at their common borders, signed at Schengen on 14 June 1985, as amended by the Protocol on the accession of the Italian Republic signed at Paris on 27 November 1990". Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- Declaration No. 1. on Ceuta and Melilla attached to the Final Act of the Accession Treaty of the Kingdom of Spain to the Schengen Agreement (OJ L 239, 22 September 2000, p. 69)
- "Protocol on the accession of the Government of the Kingdom of Spain to the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 between the Governments of the Member States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic on the gradual abolition of controls at their common borders, as amended by the Protocol on the accession of the Italian Republic signed at Paris on 27 November 1990". Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- "The Schengen acquis - Agreement on the Accession of the Kingdom of Spain to the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 between the Governments of the States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic on the gradual abolition of checks at their common borders signed at Schengen on 19 June 1990, to which the Italian Republic acceded by the Agreement signed at Paris on 27 November 1990". eur-lex.europa.eu. 25 June 1991.
- "Protocol on the accession of the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 on the gradual abolition of controls at the contracting parties' common borders". Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
- "Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- "COUNCIL DECISION of 27 November 2008 on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Swiss Confederation". Official Journal of the European Union. L (327/15). 5 December 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- . Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- . Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Berlin. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
- "Frequently asked questions". europa.eu. European Commission. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
When will Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria join the Schengen area?... These three Member States still have to pass the Schengen evaluation before they can join the Schengen area. The target date for Bulgaria and Romania is 2011.
- Annie Charalambous, ed. (4 November 2019). "Cyprus submitted application to enter Schengen area in September". In Cyprus. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "Cyprus gains extra layer of access to Schengen, but not full membership | Cyprus Mail". cyprus-mail. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- European Commission (16 May 2023). "State of Schengen report 2023". europa.eu.
- "Technical Notice (2): Getting ready for the end of the Transition Period" (PDF). Government of Gibraltar. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- "Judgement of the court in Case C-192/99".
In 1982, in view of the entry into force of the British Nationality Act 1981, the United Kingdom Government lodged with the Italian Government, as depositary of the Treaties, the 1982 Declaration, which replaced the 1972 Declaration with effect from 1 January 1983. The 1982 Declaration provides: 'As to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the terms "nationals", "nationals of Member States" or "nationals of Member States and overseas countries and territories", wherever used in the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community or the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community or in any of the Community acts deriving from those Treaties, are to be understood to refer to: (a) British citizens; (b) Persons who are British subjects by virtue of Part IV of the British Nationality Act 1981 and who have the right of abode in the United Kingdom and are therefore exempt from United Kingdom immigration control; (c) British Dependent Territories citizens who acquire their citizenship from a connection with Gibraltar.
- Ashifa Kassam; Daniel Boffey (31 December 2020). "Spain and UK reach draft deal on post-Brexit status of Gibraltar". The Guardian.
- "Chief Minister's Statement – The New Year's Eve 'In-Principle' Agreement: A Post Brexit Deal for Gibraltar - 946/2020". Government of Gibraltar. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- "Brexit: Gibraltar gets UK-Spain deal to keep open border". BBC News. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
- "Press Conference of HM Government of Gibraltar". Government of Gibraltar. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
We anticipate that residents of Gibraltar of whatever nationality—the residence in Gibraltar is what matters—will have the ability to enter and exit Schengen like Schengen nationals, if you want to express it that way, and that those who are not resident in Gibraltar, or indeed in the rest of the Schengen Area, will then have to go through the third-country national check. [...] They will have to show their passports, as they do today. [...] Today a non-Gibraltar resident who is a British citizen has to show his passport and has to be given entry by the BCA, because they come into Gibraltar. In the future they will be given entry by the BCA and by the Schengen authorities, by Frontex, to be able to enter Gibraltar, and the Schengen zone.
- "Press Conference of HM Government of Gibraltar". Government of Gibraltar. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
They will in effect be looking out for the same things, but they will be dealing with different entry points, in effect, there will be a Gibraltar entry point and a Schengen entry point. The best example I can give you which we have wrestled with—it's slightly different—is the sort of agreement which provided for juxtaposed controls at St Pancras and Paris, but in a very different way, because you haven't got this principle here of those juxtaposed controls; you have two controls to go through. In one control you're given entry into Gibraltar, and in the other control you're given entry into Schengen.
- "Post-Brexit talks on Gibraltar's future drag into 2022". 16 December 2021.
- "Talks on Gibraltar's future relationship with EU go into fifth round". The Sovereign Group. 17 February 2022.
- Gallardo, Christina (14 December 2022). "UK and Spain close in on post-Brexit deal for Gibraltar". Politico.eu. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
- Kassam, Ashifa; Elgot, Jessica (2 January 2023). "Spain 'ready for any scenario' as Gibraltar talks with UK falter". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- "Cyprus Wants to Join EU's Visa-Free Schengen Area in 2024 for Travel". The National Herald. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- Kades, Andria (21 November 2023). "Cyprus eyes Schengen Area accession in 2024 action plan". CyprusMail. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- . Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Berlin. Archived from the original on 10 May 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- United Nations General Assembly (9 March 2015). "A/AC.109/2015/13. Gibraltar. Documento de trabajo preparado por la Secretaría". Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
- "UK government highlights areas of concern in the Gibraltar-EU treaty negotiations". GBC. GI.
- "EUR-Lex - 52021PC0411 - EN -". EUR-Lex. Europa.
- . Consulate General of France in New York. Archived from the original on 6 July 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
- . French Consulate of Cape Town. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2011.