Schengen: Member States, Meaning, Why UK And Ireland Aren’t Part Of Schengen

The meaning of Schengen in English

Schengen is an agreement between many countries of Europe that allows people and goods to pass freely across the borders of each country without a passport, visa or other controls. The agreement also allows member countries to issue a common visa to visitors which can be used to travel to all member states once valid.

The word Schengen is a name of a small wine-making village Luxembourg, near where the borders of Germany, France, and Luxembourg meet. The Schengen Agreement was signed in the village in 1985. So what we know as Schengen today took its name from the place it was signed.

Schengen: Schengen is the agreement between some European countries to allow free movement of people and goods among member states.

Schengen Visa: Schengen Visa is a common visa policy adopted by member countries of Schengen. Schengen Visa is a travel permit issued by member countries of Schengen to nationals of non-Schengen countries to travel to through any of the member countries for the purpose of tourism and business without the need to obtain separate visas.

Schengen Area: The Schengen Area is an area comprising of all the 26 European countries that signed the Schengen Agreement. These countries have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders.

List of Schengen member states

Which countries are Schengen?

1. Austria
2. Belgium
3. Czech Republic
4. Denmark
5. Estonia
6. Finland
7. France
8. Germany
9. Greece
10. Hungary
11. Iceland
12. Italy
13. Latvia
14. Liechtenstein
15. Lithuania
16. Luxembourg
17. Malta
18. Netherlands
19. Norway
20. Poland
21. Portugal
22. Slovakia
23. Slovenia
24. Spain
25. Sweden
26. Switzerland

Why is the UK not in Schengen?

Similar questions people ask about why the UK and Ireland are missing on the list of Schengen countries include:

Is the UK part of Schengen?

Is UK part of Schengen after Brexit?

Why is Ireland not in Schengen?

Is Ireland part of Schengen?

Until January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom was part of the European Union. Due to the UK and Ireland’s many years of EU membership, many expected them to have been part of the Schengen Area but that isn’t the case. The UK and Ireland did not sign up for the Schengen Agreement. The UK has strict immigration policies and has exited the European Union on January 31, 2020.