The Schengen countries are the 29 European nations that have abolished internal border controls and operate as a single travel area. If you’re travelling to Europe without an EU passport, knowing exactly which countries are in the Schengen Area is essential — because every day you spend in any of them counts toward the same 90-day limit. This guide gives you the complete Schengen country list for 2026, explains which EU countries are not included, and covers what it all means for your travel allowance.
The complete Schengen country list (2026)
There are currently 29 Schengen countries. Every day you spend in any of them — regardless of how many you visit — counts toward the same shared 90-day allowance. Below is the full Schengen area countries list, including the year each country joined.
| Country | Region | EU Member | Joined Schengen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇹 Austria | Central Europe | Yes | 1997 |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | Western Europe | Yes | 1995 |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | Eastern Europe | Yes | 2024 (air/sea) |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | Southern Europe | Yes | 2023 |
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | Central Europe | Yes | 2007 |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | Northern Europe | Yes | 2001 |
| 🇪🇪 Estonia | Northern Europe | Yes | 2007 |
| 🇫🇮 Finland | Northern Europe | Yes | 2001 |
| 🇫🇷 France | Western Europe | Yes | 1995 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Central Europe | Yes | 1995 |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | Southern Europe | Yes | 2000 |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | Central Europe | Yes | 2007 |
| 🇮🇸 Iceland | Northern Europe | No | 2001 |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Southern Europe | Yes | 1997 |
| 🇱🇻 Latvia | Northern Europe | Yes | 2007 |
| 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | Central Europe | No | 2011 |
| 🇱🇹 Lithuania | Northern Europe | Yes | 2007 |
| 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | Western Europe | Yes | 1995 |
| 🇲🇹 Malta | Southern Europe | Yes | 2007 |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Western Europe | Yes | 1995 |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | Northern Europe | No | 2001 |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | Central Europe | Yes | 2007 |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | Western Europe | Yes | 1995 |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | Eastern Europe | Yes | 2024 (air/sea) |
| 🇸🇰 Slovakia | Central Europe | Yes | 2007 |
| 🇸🇮 Slovenia | Southern Europe | Yes | 2007 |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | Southern Europe | Yes | 1995 |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | Northern Europe | Yes | 2001 |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Central Europe | No | 2008 |
25 of the 29 Schengen countries are EU member states. The four exceptions — Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein — are not in the EU but have signed the Schengen Agreement and operate as full members of the travel area.
EU countries that are NOT in the Schengen Area
Being in the EU does not automatically mean a country is part of the Schengen Area. Two EU member states currently operate outside Schengen:
This distinction matters for trip planning. If you’ve used 85 of your 90 Schengen days and need more time in Europe, Ireland or Cyprus can be a useful stopover — your days there won’t count against your Schengen limit. For a full breakdown of European destinations outside the Schengen Area, see our guide: Non-Schengen European countries.
Non-EU countries that are part of the Schengen Area
Four non-EU countries are full Schengen members. Days spent in these countries count toward your 90-day Schengen allowance exactly like any EU Schengen member:
🇮🇸 Iceland — Part of Schengen since 2001. No border checks with other Schengen countries.
🇳🇴 Norway — Part of Schengen since 2001. Popular for fjords and the Northern Lights — days here count toward your 90-day limit.
🇨🇭 Switzerland — Part of Schengen since 2008. Not in the EU customs union, but fully part of the Schengen travel area.
🇱🇮 Liechtenstein — Part of Schengen since 2011. The smallest Schengen member — easy to overlook, but days there still count.
Switzerland is the most commonly misunderstood. Many travelers assume that because Switzerland is famously independent from the EU, it operates separate entry rules. It doesn’t — Switzerland is fully part of the Schengen Area, and days there draw from the same 90-day pool.
Recent additions: Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia
The Schengen Area has expanded in recent years, and these additions are worth knowing about:
Bulgaria and Romania (2024)
Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen Area for air and sea borders in January 2024. This means passport checks have been removed at airports and seaports, and days spent there now count toward your Schengen 90-day limit. However, land border checks between Bulgaria/Romania and other Schengen countries were still in operation as of 2026 — the full land border integration is pending.
Practically speaking: if you fly into Sofia or Bucharest from a non-Schengen country, you’ve entered the Schengen Area and your days begin counting. If you cross by land from a non-Schengen country, border checks may still apply.
Croatia (2023)
Croatia joined Schengen fully — including land borders — on January 1, 2023. Days in Croatia now count toward the 90-day Schengen limit. This was a notable change for travelers who previously used Croatia as a non-Schengen stopover while managing their days.
What the Schengen country list means for your 90-day allowance
Schengen countries share a single 90-day travel allowance. Every day you spend in any Schengen country — regardless of how many you visit — draws from the same pool. Spending 30 days in France, 30 days in Spain, and 30 days in Italy uses your full 90-day allowance, not three separate 30-day allowances.
This applies to all 29 Schengen countries equally. Moving between them freely is one of the benefits of the Schengen system — no passport checks, no separate country limits — but the shared 90-day cap is the trade-off.
“I’ve only been in Germany for 30 days, so I can stay another 90 days in France.”
All Schengen countries share one 90-day allowance. 30 days in Germany means 60 days remaining across all 29 Schengen countries combined.
The 90 days are measured within any rolling 180-day window — not a fixed calendar period. To understand exactly how the rolling window works, read our full guide: What is the Schengen 90/180 rule?
To track your days across multiple Schengen countries, use the free Schengen 90/180 calculator. Enter each trip — entry date, exit date, country — and it tells you exactly how many days you’ve used and how many remain.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries are in the Schengen Area?
There are currently 29 Schengen countries. 25 are EU member states; the remaining four (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein) are non-EU countries that have signed the Schengen Agreement. Bulgaria and Romania joined for air and sea borders in 2024; Croatia joined fully in 2023.
Is the UK a Schengen country?
No. The UK left the Schengen Area when it left the EU (Brexit, January 2021). Days spent in the UK do not count toward your Schengen 90-day allowance, and the UK has its own separate entry rules — including its own 6-month visitor limit.
Is Switzerland in the Schengen Area?
Yes. Switzerland is a full Schengen member despite not being in the EU. Days spent in Switzerland count toward your 90-day Schengen allowance.
Are Ireland and Cyprus Schengen countries?
No. Ireland has a formal opt-out from Schengen and operates its own border system. Cyprus is an EU member but has not yet joined Schengen. Days in either country do not count toward your Schengen 90-day limit.
Does visiting multiple Schengen countries give me more days?
No. All 29 Schengen countries share one combined 90-day allowance in any rolling 180-day period. Travelling between them freely is permitted, but every day in any Schengen country counts toward the same pool — there are no separate per-country limits.
Is Croatia now a Schengen country?
Yes. Croatia joined the Schengen Area fully on January 1, 2023, including land borders. Days in Croatia now count toward the Schengen 90-day allowance. Travelers who previously used Croatia as a non-Schengen stopover need to update their planning accordingly.
How do I track my days across multiple Schengen countries?
Use the free Schengen 90/180 calculator. Enter each trip with the entry date, exit date, and country. The calculator totals your days across all Schengen countries and shows exactly how many days you have remaining in the rolling 180-day window.