Last Updated: March 2, 2026
There are 29 countries in the Schengen Area as of 2026. As of March 2026, the most recent additions are Bulgaria and Romania, which both joined in 2024. Knowing which countries are โ and aren’t โ in the Schengen Area is essential for any Europe trip. Getting this wrong can mean accidentally overstaying your welcome, or missing out on countries where your 90-day clock doesn’t even run. This guide covers every Schengen member, key non-Schengen European countries, and what it all means for your trip.
โก Quick Answer
There are 29 Schengen countries in 2026. Time spent in any of them counts toward the same 90-day limit. Countries like the UK, Ireland, Turkey, and the Balkans are NOT Schengen โ time there doesn’t count against your 90 days.
The 29 Schengen countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
๐ Check Entry Rules for Any European Country
Visa requirements, Schengen status, ETIAS, currency, and more โ personalized for your nationality.
Use the Europe Travel Planner โWhat Is the Schengen Area?
The Schengen Area is a zone of 29 European countries โ named after a small village in Luxembourg โ that have eliminated passport controls at their shared borders. Once you enter one Schengen country, you can travel freely between all of them with no additional border checks.
For visa and immigration purposes, the entire Schengen Area functions as a single country. That means your 90/180-day limit applies across all 29 countries combined โ not per country. Two weeks in France, a month in Spain, and three weeks in Italy all draw from the same 90-day pool.
All 29 Schengen Countries (2026)
| Country | Capital | Schengen Since | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ฆ๐น Austria | Vienna | 1997 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ง๐ช Belgium | Brussels | 1995 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ง๐ฌ Bulgaria | Sofia | 2024 | Bulgarian Lev (ะปะฒ) |
| ๐ญ๐ท Croatia | Zagreb | 2023 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐จ๐ฟ Czech Republic | Prague | 2007 | Czech Koruna (Kฤ) |
| ๐ฉ๐ฐ Denmark | Copenhagen | 2001 | Danish Krone (kr) |
| ๐ช๐ช Estonia | Tallinn | 2007 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ซ๐ฎ Finland | Helsinki | 2001 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ซ๐ท France | Paris | 1995 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ฉ๐ช Germany | Berlin | 1995 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ฌ๐ท Greece | Athens | 2000 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ญ๐บ Hungary | Budapest | 2007 | Hungarian Forint (Ft) |
| ๐ฎ๐ธ Iceland | Reykjavik | 2001 | Icelandic Krรณna (kr) |
| ๐ฎ๐น Italy | Rome | 1997 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ฑ๐ป Latvia | Riga | 2007 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ฑ๐ฎ Liechtenstein | Vaduz | 2011 | Swiss Franc (CHF) |
| ๐ฑ๐น Lithuania | Vilnius | 2007 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ฑ๐บ Luxembourg | Luxembourg City | 1995 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ฒ๐น Malta | Valletta | 2007 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands | Amsterdam | 1995 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ณ๐ด Norway | Oslo | 2001 | Norwegian Krone (kr) |
| ๐ต๐ฑ Poland | Warsaw | 2007 | Polish Zลoty (zล) |
| ๐ต๐น Portugal | Lisbon | 1995 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ท๐ด Romania | Bucharest | 2024 | Romanian Leu (lei) |
| ๐ธ๐ฐ Slovakia | Bratislava | 2007 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ธ๐ฎ Slovenia | Ljubljana | 2007 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ช๐ธ Spain | Madrid | 1995 | Euro (โฌ) |
| ๐ธ๐ช Sweden | Stockholm | 2001 | Swedish Krona (kr) |
| ๐จ๐ญ Switzerland | Bern | 2008 | Swiss Franc (CHF) |
โ ๏ธ Common Confusion: EU โ Schengen
The European Union (EU) and the Schengen Area are two different things. Ireland is in the EU but NOT in Schengen. Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are in Schengen but NOT in the EU. For travelers, what matters is Schengen membership โ that’s what determines whether your 90-day clock is running.
Schengen vs. EU vs. Eurozone: What’s the Difference?
These three terms get mixed up constantly. Here’s the simple breakdown:
The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 countries. Members share certain laws, trade agreements, and policies. Some EU citizens can live and work in any other EU country.
The Schengen Area is a travel zone of 29 countries with no internal border controls. It exists for freedom of movement โ not politics. That’s why non-EU countries like Norway and Switzerland are in Schengen, while EU member Ireland is not.
The Eurozone is the group of 20 EU countries that use the Euro (โฌ) as their currency. Some Schengen countries like Denmark, Sweden, and Poland use their own currencies.
As a traveler, the only one that affects your visa situation is Schengen. The EU and Eurozone don’t change how long you can stay.
| Country | EU? | Schengen? | Euro? |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | โ | โ | โ |
| Norway | โ | โ | โ |
| Ireland | โ | โ | โ |
| Switzerland | โ | โ | โ |
| Poland | โ | โ | โ |
| United Kingdom | โ | โ | โ |
Non-Schengen Countries in Europe (Where Your 90 Days Don’t Count)
This is the list many travelers actually need. These countries are in Europe but outside the Schengen Area โ meaning time spent here does not count toward your 90-day Schengen limit. Many long-term travelers use these as “reset” destinations between Schengen stays.
| Country | Visa-Free Stay (for US/UK/CA/AU) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ฆ๐ฑ Albania | Up to 1 year (US) / 90 days (others) | Popular digital nomad base. Affordable, beautiful coast. |
| ๐ง๐ฆ Bosnia & Herzegovina | 90 days in 180 days | Rich history, incredibly affordable. |
| ๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom | Up to 6 months (US/CA/AU) | Left the EU in 2020. Completely separate immigration system. UK ETA now required for all 85 visa-exempt nationalities. |
| ๐ฎ๐ช Ireland | Up to 90 days (US/CA/AU) | EU member but NOT Schengen. Own immigration rules. |
| ๐ฒ๐ช Montenegro | 90 days in 180 days | Stunning coast, growing expat scene. |
| ๐ฒ๐ฐ North Macedonia | 90 days in 180 days | Very affordable. Lake Ohrid is a hidden gem. |
| ๐ท๐ธ Serbia | 90 days in 180 days | Belgrade is a top digital nomad hub. Great nightlife, low cost. |
| ๐ฝ๐ฐ Kosovo | 90 days in 180 days | Europe’s newest country. Extremely budget-friendly. |
| ๐น๐ท Turkey | 90 days in 180 days (e-visa for some) | Massive country straddling Europe/Asia. E-visa required for US, CA, AU citizens. |
| ๐บ๐ฆ Ukraine | 90 days in 180 days | Travel advisories in effect due to ongoing conflict. |
| ๐ฒ๐ฉ Moldova | 90 days in 180 days | Off the beaten path. Wine country. |
| ๐ฌ๐ช Georgia | Up to 1 year (visa-free) | Top digital nomad destination. 1-year visa-free stay for 95+ nationalities. |
| ๐จ๐พ Cyprus | 90 days | EU member but NOT Schengen. Will be covered by ETIAS but currently separate. |
๐ก The Digital Nomad Strategy
Many long-term travelers alternate between Schengen and non-Schengen countries to legally maximize their time in Europe. The most common pattern: spend 90 days in the Schengen Area, then 90 days in places like Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, or Georgia, then re-enter Schengen with a fresh 90 days. See our complete guide to the 90/180-day rule for how this works.
Need a Visa for Any of These Countries?
While Schengen countries all share the same 90-day visa-free policy, non-Schengen countries each have their own rules. Turkey requires an e-visa for many nationalities. The UK now requires an ETA for some visitors. Other countries may need separate visa applications entirely.
Check Visa Requirements for Any Country
Not sure if you need a visa? iVisa covers 200+ countries and can tell you exactly what documents you need based on your nationality.
Check Your Visa Requirements โCountries That May Join Schengen Next
The Schengen Area has grown steadily since its founding in 1985. Bulgaria and Romania were the most recent additions, joining in 2024 after years of delays. Here’s what’s on the horizon as of 2026:
Cyprus is an EU member and is expected to join Schengen eventually, though no firm date has been set. The country’s division (Northern Cyprus is controlled by Turkey) complicates matters.
Several Western Balkan countries โ including Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Albania โ are at various stages of EU accession. If they join the EU, Schengen membership would eventually follow, though this is likely years away.
When a country joins Schengen, it means your 90-day clock starts running there too. If you currently use Albania or Montenegro as your “90-day reset” destination, keep an eye on their EU/Schengen progress โ the rules could change in the future.
How to Track Your Days Across Schengen Countries
With 29 countries sharing the same 90-day pool, tracking your days manually gets complicated fast โ especially if you’re making multiple trips. A week in Amsterdam, two weeks in Barcelona, ten days in Prague… it adds up quickly.
This is exactly why we built our free Schengen Stay Calculator. Enter your past and planned trips, and it instantly shows how many days you’ve used and how many you have left.
๐งฎ Use the Free Schengen Calculator โ
Protect Yourself While Traveling Europe
Whether you’re hopping between Schengen countries for a few weeks or doing the full 90-day circuit, travel insurance is worth having. A hospital visit in Switzerland can easily cost thousands. A cancelled flight during peak season can wipe out your budget.
If you’re applying for a Schengen visa (not visa-free), travel insurance with at least โฌ30,000 medical coverage is actually mandatory โ you can’t get the visa without it.
Even for visa-free travelers, having coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, and lost baggage means you’re not one bad day away from a financial disaster.
๐ก๏ธ Travel Insurance for Schengen Travel
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Check SafetyWing Rates โWhat About ETIAS?
Starting in late 2026, visa-free travelers will need an ETIAS authorization before entering any Schengen country. This is a quick online application (โฌ20, approved in minutes) โ similar to the US ESTA. The fee was confirmed at โฌ20 on July 17, 2025 (European Commission).
ETIAS doesn’t change which countries are in Schengen, and it doesn’t change the 90/180-day rule. It’s simply an extra step before you travel. Read our complete ETIAS guide for everything you need to know.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries are in the Schengen Area in 2026?
There are 29 countries in the Schengen Area as of 2026. The 29 Schengen countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Is the UK in the Schengen Area?
No. The UK left the EU in 2020 and was never part of the Schengen Area. Time spent in the UK does not count toward your 90-day Schengen limit.
Is Ireland in the Schengen Area?
No. Ireland is an EU member but opted out of the Schengen Agreement. It has its own visa and immigration rules.
Does time in Croatia count toward my 90 days?
Yes. Croatia joined the Schengen Area in January 2023. Time there counts toward your 90-day limit.
Did Bulgaria and Romania join Schengen?
Yes. Both countries joined the Schengen Area in 2024, first for air and sea borders, with full land border integration following. Time spent in either country now counts toward your 90-day Schengen limit.
Does Switzerland require a Schengen visa?
Switzerland is a full Schengen member despite not being in the EU. The same visa rules and 90/180-day limit apply as in any other Schengen country.
Can I spend 90 days in France AND 90 days in Spain?
No. France and Spain are both in the Schengen Area, so they share the same 90-day pool. 90 days across ALL Schengen countries combined โ not 90 days per country.
Which European countries can I visit without using my Schengen days?
The UK, Ireland, Turkey, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and Cyprus are all outside the Schengen Area.
Is Cyprus in the Schengen Area?
No, not yet. Cyprus is an EU member but has not joined the Schengen Area. However, it will be covered by the upcoming ETIAS system.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Visa rules change frequently โ always verify with official sources before traveling. Last updated: March 2, 2026.