European travel is a popular choice among world explorers. It offers a wide spectrum of tourism options for all kinds of travelers, regardless of their budget. Perhaps the highest appeal lies in its geographic layout, which allows for easy access to more than one country and the wide range of cultural experiences one can encounter on a single trip.
In the past, only countries belonging to the Schengen Area were allowed to travel visa-free through the 26 member countries forming the alliance. Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Sweden are all part of the covenant. Twenty-two of these countries are also members of the European Union.
The Schengen agreement was signed in 1995 on the river-boat Princess Marie-Astrid on the river Moselle near the town of Schnegen (hence the name), Luxembourg, where the territories of France, Germany and Luxembourg meet, in an effort to enhance freedom and abolish border checks within a region covering a population of over 400 million people and an area of 4,312,099 square kilometers (1,664,911 square miles). It also asked for a sole visa policy for international travelers. Thus, it operated as a single state with external borders for itinerants entering and exiting the area, sharing a common visa, but with no internal border controls.
Recently, discussions in the EU Council and the European Parliament are underway, allowing residents of sixteen Caribbean and Pacific countries including Dominica, Grenada, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanatu, Peru, Colombia and the United Arab Emirates to travel without visas through the Schengen Area.
The decision to allow free-access has come after intense bilateral negotiations and is primarily based on the improvement made by the countries in four key areas: strengthening the rule of law, combating organized crime, corruption and illegal migration while improving administrative capacity in border control and security of documents. In other words, these countries have been made safer to travel to and from.
This makes sense, considering the agreement seeks to achieve full visa reciprocity. Specifically, EU citizens would not need a visa either for travelling to the non- EU countries under the agreement. A visa reciprocity mechanism has been set up in detail: if a country whose citizens are exempt from the visa requirement introduces a requirement for one or more of the EU states, the Commission is notified. At that point, the Commission takes steps with the authorities of these countries to restore the visa-free travel agreement. There can even be retaliation measures.
While the requirements vary from country to country, the general process is the following for members who have acquired the privilege of visa-free travel through the Schengen Area.
- If you are travelling for tourism or business, you will not need a visa as long as you spend 90 days or less in these countries. Under the agreement, you can enter the Schengen Area as long as your stay does not exceed 90 das within a 6 month period.
- Your passport validity will need to extend 90 days after your initial arrival into the area.
- You will need documentation that shows you have sufficient finances to support your entire stay in the region
- You will need to provide a reason and documentation that can support your reason for travel into the region.
- Upon arrival you will still need to show your passport and go through customs. At this external border, if approved entry, you will receive a stamp with the date indicating your arrival into the country. Once admitted you will have free access to move within the region, as long as you do not spend more than 90 days within a 180 day period.
- When you leave the area, your passport will be stamped, and you will need to wait 90 days before you can enter again without a visa.
It is always wisest to check with your local embassy or government to see if your country has an agreement with the Schengen Area and to make sure you meet guidelines specified. Either way travelling there is always worth the effort!