29 Schengen Countries

 

Romania and Bulgaria have finally joined the Schengen Area.

Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007 and met all the requirements to join the Schengen in 2011, but discrimination from other EU/Schengen Countries prevented them from joining until today.

Technically you can now drive from Greece to Spain or Scandinavia without a border.

The Schengen Area is 29 Countries (25 EU Member Countries – except Cyprus and Ireland – and the Non-EU Countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Norway) that supposedly can travel throughout the whole 1,744,190 square miles without having to show a Passport or National ID Card.

Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican aren’t part of the EU or the Schengen, but have open borders with the EU so are basically part of the Schengen Area.

In Theory the Schengen Area offers the 475 Million People Freedom of Movement, but in reality many Schengen Countries have in the past and some currently have Passport and National ID Card Checks on their Borders:

 

Germany has border checks with Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands (until at least March 15, 2025.)

Austria has border checks with Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia (until at least May 11, 2025.)

Denmark has border checks with Germany (until at least May 11, 2025.)

France has border checks with Germany, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg and Switzerland (until at least April 30, 2025.)

Italy has border checks with Slovenia (until at least June 18, 2025.)

Norway has border checks on all ferries to Schengen Area Countries (until at least May 11, 2025.)

The Netherlands has border checks with Germany and Belgium (until at least June 8, 2025.)

Slovenia has border checks with Croatia and Hungary (until at least June 21, 2025.)

Sweden has border checks with Norway and Finland (until at least May 11, 2025.)

Note; When I flew from Barcelona, Spain to Dusseldorf, Germany in November 2024 everyone had to show their Passport or National ID Card to board the plane  - Eurowings said it was a German Government requirement.