A Schengen visa is a short-term visa that covers an area called Schengen area in Europe.

The Schengen area was established in 1995 to abolish internal border control in Europe and have a common visa policy. There are 26 nations that are classed as Schengen member states. This is an agreement between the member states that officially abolishes passport and border control between each of the state’s border. This means, when you apply for a visit or business visa to any of these countries, upon entry- you are automatically granted full access to all other member states hassle free.

Below is a list of the member countries in the Schengen area:

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. Luxemburg
17. Malta
18. Netherlands
19. Norway
20. Poland
21. Portugal
22. Slovakia
23. Slovenia
24. Spain
25. Sweden
26. Switzerland

Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland remain non-member of the EU but members of the Schengen Agreement.

This Schengen agreement makes it very easy for people to travel around Europe as they only need one visa to gain access to 26 nations.

Out of the European Union 6 countries remain separate from the Schengen area.

1. Bulgaria
2. Croatia
3. Cyprus
4. Ireland
5. Romania
6. United Kingdom

Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania are obliged and legally bound to become members of the Schengen Area, however, each of these members must be accessed in the follow (air borders, visas, police cooperation and personal data protection) before becoming members.

Ireland and the United Kingdom are not obliged to join the Schengen area and decided not to sign the Schengen agreement as they are Island nations and they have stated that they have much more control over their own borders to remain as separate visa nations.