Schengen Countries: Complete List 2026 — New Members, Visa Rules

Schengen Countries: Complete List 2026

The Schengen Area is a free movement space of 29 European countries where passport control at internal borders has been abolished and a common visa policy applies. For a Russian citizen, this means that a single Schengen visa grants the right to enter any of these 29 countries and move freely between them. But the list of Schengen countries is not the same as the list of European Union countries, and confusing these two concepts costs applicants months of waiting and visa refusals.

In 2026, the Schengen Area comprises 29 countries: 25 EU member states (of the 27 EU countries, only Ireland and Cyprus are not in Schengen) and 4 non-EU countries that participate in the Schengen Agreement. Over the past three years, three new countries have joined the area — Croatia (2023), Bulgaria and Romania (2024–2025). In this article, we will cover the complete list, new members, exception countries, and practical rules that Russian citizens need to know when planning a trip.

Complete List of Schengen Area Countries (2026)

Below is the current list of 29 Schengen Area countries as of 2026. The list is based on data from the European Commission and the Council of the EU.

Total: 29 countries — 25 EU members and 4 non-EU countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland).

New Members of the Schengen Area (2023–2025)

The Schengen Area is not standing still — three new countries have joined over the past three years. This is a significant event that has expanded the visa-free travel zone and changed visa rules for millions of travelers.

Croatia — 1 January 2023

Croatia became a full member of the Schengen Area on 1 January 2023, simultaneously with the transition to the euro as its national currency. From that moment, Croatian borders with other Schengen countries ceased to be controlled, and a Schengen visa issued by any other consulate became valid for entry into Croatia. Prior to that, Croatia issued its own national visas, which created confusion for travelers.

Bulgaria and Romania — 31 March 2024 / 1 January 2025

Bulgaria and Romania are the newest members of the Schengen Area, and their accession took place in two stages. The first stage took effect on 31 March 2024: checks at air and sea borders were lifted. This meant that passengers flying to Sofia or Bucharest from another Schengen country no longer went through passport control. The second stage — lifting controls at land borders — took effect on 1 January 2025, following a decision by the EU Council on 12 December 2024.

This decision finally made Bulgaria and Romania full members of the Schengen Area. A Schengen visa issued by any of the 29 countries is now valid for entry into these countries, and internal borders between them and other Schengen countries are no longer controlled.

EU Countries That Are NOT in Schengen

Not all European Union countries are members of the Schengen Area. As of 2026, there are two EU countries that are not in Schengen — and this is important to consider when planning trips.

Ireland

Ireland has been an EU member since 1973 but has never been part of the Schengen Area. The reason is that Ireland maintains the Common Travel Area with the United Kingdom, which is also not in Schengen. To maintain the open border with the UK, Ireland exercised an opt-out from Schengen legislation as an EU member — this is a conscious political choice, not an automatic consequence of the relationship with the UK. In practice, this means that a Schengen visa is not valid for entry into Ireland — a separate Irish visa is required.

Cyprus

Cyprus has been an EU member since 2004 but is still not part of the Schengen Area. The reason for the delay is the political division of the island (recognition of Northern Cyprus by Turkey) and technical issues related to border control. According to the European Commission, Cyprus received a positive technical evaluation of its readiness to join Schengen in 2023. However, the technical evaluation is only half the battle: accession requires a unanimous political decision by all EU member states. This is why the process is dragging on: there are political barriers, including those related to the division of the island. The President of Cyprus stated a goal of joining in 2026, but as of August 2026, no confirmed accession date exists.

In practice, this means that a Schengen visa is not valid for entry into Cyprus. Cyprus issues its own national visas. However, Cyprus allows entry with a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa without a separate Cypriot visa — this is a unilateral facilitation by the Cypriot government.

Schengen Countries Outside the EU

Four countries participate in the Schengen Area without being members of the European Union. Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway participate through membership in the European Economic Area (EEA), while Switzerland participates on the basis of separate bilateral agreements with the EU.

These countries participate in the Schengen Area through membership in the European Economic Area (EEA) — Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway — while Switzerland participates on the basis of separate bilateral agreements with the EU. These countries apply all Schengen Area rules, including visa policy, border control, and information systems (SIS). A Schengen visa issued by any of the 29 countries is valid for entry into these four countries.

Important: Not all territories of participating countries are part of the Schengen Area. For example, Greenland and the Faroe Islands (belonging to Denmark) are excluded from Schengen, as are French overseas territories (Martinique, Mayotte, Guadeloupe, Réunion, and others). This means that a Schengen visa does not work for entry into these territories — a separate visa may be required. Confusion arises when a person travels to Denmark but encounters border control on the Faroe Islands.

Types of Schengen Visas

A Schengen visa is not a single document but a general term for two different types of visas that are issued under different rules and for different purposes. Understanding the difference between them is critically important for proper trip planning.

Type C Visa (Short-Stay)

The Type C visa is the classic Schengen visa for short trips: tourism, business visits, visiting relatives, cultural events. It allows stays in the Schengen Area of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The visa can be single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry (multi-visa). The validity period ranges from a few days to 5 years, but the total stay must not exceed 90 days per 180 days.

Type D Visa (National, Long-Stay)

The Type D visa is a national visa of a specific Schengen country, issued for stays longer than 90 days. It is used for work, study, family reunification, or obtaining a residence permit. The Type D visa is issued by the consulate of the country where the applicant plans to reside, and the rules for obtaining it are determined by the national legislation of that country, not by the unified Schengen Code. Holders of a Type D visa can freely travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, but their main place of residence must remain in the country that issued the visa.

The 90/180 Rule: How to Count Days

The 90/180 rule is the fundamental rule of the Schengen Area that is most often misunderstood. It states that a third-country national (including Russia) may stay in the Schengen Area for no more than 90 days within any 180-day period. This does not mean “90 days per half-year” — it means that at any point in time, you count 180 days back from the current date and check how many days you spent in the Schengen Area during that period. If it’s 90 — you must leave the area.

The key point: 90 days is the total limit for all 29 Schengen countries combined, not 90 days per country. If you spent 90 days in Germany, you cannot enter France the next day — the rule counts the total stay across all countries in the area. Important: Since 1 January 2025, days spent in Bulgaria and Romania are also counted within this limit — after their full accession to the Schengen Area, they became part of the unified space. Prior to that, the rules for stays in these countries were counted separately, which created confusion.

For calculating days, the European Commission provides a free online calculator that takes entry and exit dates into account.

Visa Fee 2026

Since 11 June 2024, an increase in the Schengen visa fee has been in effect, approved by the European Commission.

For Russian citizens: The Russia–EU visa facilitation agreement has been suspended since 12 September 2022, so Russian citizens pay the standard fee of €90. Prior to the suspension, a reduced fee of €35 was in effect. After the new rules came into force for all third countries, a uniform tariff was established, and Russian citizens pay on the same terms as citizens of other countries without a facilitation agreement.

The fee is paid at a visa center (VFS Global, BLS International, TLScontact) or directly at the consulate. Visa centers additionally charge a service fee — usually €20–30 per application.

Specifics for Russian Citizens (2026)

Russian citizens need a Schengen visa to enter any of the 29 Schengen Area countries. The following specifics apply in 2026.

Visa Facilitation Agreement — Suspended

The agreement between Russia and the EU on the facilitation of visa issuance (from 2007) was suspended on 12 September 2022. This means that the simplified rules no longer apply to Russian citizens: the visa fee is the standard €90 (instead of €35 previously), processing times have increased, and multiple-entry visas are issued less frequently. The suspension is indefinite — as of 2026, there are no plans to restore the agreement.

Visa Centers in Russia

Most Schengen consulates in Russia accept applications through visa centers: VFS Global, BLS International (for Spain), TLScontact (for France). An appointment is required in advance — at some centers, the wait is 2–8 weeks. The consulates of Germany, Italy, and France in Moscow continue to operate but with reduced staff and extended processing times.

Applying from Third Countries

Russian citizens who are outside the Russian Federation on lawful grounds (e.g., holding a residence permit, long-term visa, or legal status in a third country — Turkey, Serbia, Kazakhstan, UAE, and others) can apply for a Schengen visa at the consulate of the relevant country in their country of residence. This is regulated by the EU Visa Code (Regulation No 810/2009, Article 6). For more details, see our article “Russian Documents for Schengen Visa”.

Schengen vs. Hague Convention: Don’t Confuse

A common confusion is mixing up the Schengen Area with the 1961 Hague Convention. These are two different agreements with different sets of participants:

• Schengen Area — abolition of border control (29 countries)
• Hague Convention — simplified legalization of documents through apostille (129 countries as of 2026)

An apostille is needed for the recognition of documents abroad, while Schengen is for crossing borders: these are different procedures, and having an apostille does not grant the right to enter. Similarly, a Schengen visa does not exempt you from the need to apostille Russian documents for use in the destination country.

All 29 Schengen countries are also participants in the Hague Convention, but the Hague Convention includes many countries that are not in Schengen (USA, UK, China, Canada, Israel, and others). The complete list of Hague Convention countries is in our article “Hague Convention Countries List 2026”.

FAQ

What is the difference between Schengen and the European Union?

The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 countries. The Schengen Area is a border-control-free zone of 29 countries. There are EU countries that are not in Schengen (Ireland, Cyprus) and Schengen countries that are not in the EU (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland). The UK left the EU (Brexit) and was never in Schengen.

Can I enter Schengen with a visa from one country and travel to another?

Yes. A Schengen visa issued by any of the 29 countries grants the right of entry and free movement throughout the entire Schengen Area. The visa issuance rule: you should apply to the consulate of the country that is the main destination of your trip. If the destination is evenly distributed — to the consulate of the country of first entry.

Is a Schengen visa valid for entry into Bulgaria and Romania?

Yes, since 1 January 2025, Bulgaria and Romania are full members of the Schengen Area. A Schengen visa issued by any of the 29 countries is valid for entry into these countries — both by air and by land.

Do I need a Schengen visa for Cyprus?

No, a Schengen visa is not valid for entry into Cyprus, as Cyprus is not part of the Schengen Area. Cyprus issues its own national visas. However, holders of valid multiple-entry Schengen visas can enter Cyprus without a Cypriot visa — under the unilateral decision of the Cypriot government.

How many countries are in Schengen as of 2026?

29 countries. The most recent to join were Bulgaria and Romania (fully — 1 January 2025, partially — 31 March 2024) and Croatia (1 January 2023).

Will Cyprus join Schengen?

Cyprus received a positive technical evaluation of its readiness to join Schengen in 2023 and planned to join in 2026. However, as of August 2026, no confirmed accession date exists. The issue is primarily political, not technical.

Sources and Relevance

The information in this article is current as of August 2026. The following official sources were used in its preparation:

• European Commission — Schengen Area — official list of Schengen Area countries
• Council of the EU — Schengen: Council decides to lift land border controls with Bulgaria and Romania — decision of 12 December 2024
• European Commission — Schengen visa fee increased (11 June 2024) — visa fee increase to €90
• European Commission — Short-stay calculator — 90/180 days calculator
• EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (Visa Code) — EU Visa Code
• Council of the EU — Schengen Area — Schengen Area overview

Additional materials:

• KPMG — Bulgaria and Romania Fully Join Schengen Area — analytical overview of accession
• ETIAS — Cyprus Committed to Schengen Entry by 2026 — Cyprus accession plans

Important: The composition of the Schengen Area and visa rules may change. Before applying, always check current information on the websites of the consulates of your destination countries and the European Commission.