Schengen space Information and news about Schengen countries

In 1985, France, Germany and Benelux countries signed Schengen agreements, allowing them to open their internal borders, on a boat located in the water near the village of Schengen (Luxembourg). Schengen agreements started in application in 1990.

Then, some other countries joined the borderless club:

Italy joined the group on November 27th, 1990, followed by Spain and Portugal on the 25th of June, 1991. Then, Greece joined Schengen space (November 6th, 1992). Austria joined Schengen just after it joined the EU, on April 28th, 1995.

It became a bit more complex when Finland and Sweden joined Schengen on november 19th, 1996. They were already part of the Nordic Union of Passports with Norway and Iceland which also joined Schengen space as associated members because they are not members of the European Union (december 19th, 1996).

Switzerland voted in 2005 in favor to join Schengen space, but hasn’t joined yet as well as new European Union countries have also applied to join it.

Within the old European Union member states, only Great Britain and Ireland didn’t join Schengen and keep border controls, thus a Schengen visa is not valid for a UK visit - and optionally, a UK visa not valid to visit EU countries.