Complete Schengen Visa Guide 2026: Everything You Need to Know

What is a Schengen Visa?

A Schengen visa is your golden ticket to explore 29 European countries with a single visa. Instead of applying for separate visas for France, Italy, Spain, and other European destinations, one Schengen visa grants you access to all member states.

Think of it as a master key to Europe.

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The 29 Schengen Countries

Full Members

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

Soon-to-Join Members

Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania (partial membership - air and sea borders only)

Important: While all EU countries aim to join Schengen, some like Ireland and Cyprus are not yet part of the area.