What You Must Know About Schengen

For those of you who may not be familiar, the Schengen Zone refers to an area comprising 29 European countries that have agreed to allow free movement of their citizens within this area as if it were a single country. It is named after the Schengen Agreement, which was signed in 1985 in the village of Schengen in Luxembourg.

Key features of the Schengen Zone include:

No Border Controls: There are generally no passport checks or border controls at the internal borders between Schengen countries. This allows for ease of travel and transport across these nations.

A Common Visa Policy: The Schengen Zone operates with a common visa policy for short stays (up to 90 days within a 180-day period), known as the Schengen visa. This visa allows travelers to move freely within the entire Schengen Area with a single visa.

Cooperation on Security and Law Enforcement: Countries within the Schengen Zone cooperate closely on police, judicial, and security issues to maintain safety within the zone despite the absence of internal border checks.

External Border Control: While internal borders are open, external border controls are strict to ensure that the entry requirements and security measures are upheld for those entering the Schengen Zone from non-Schengen countries.

The Schengen Area includes most EU countries, except for Ireland and a few newer EU members, as well as four non-EU countries: Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Cyprus is and EU member, but due to issues concerning its border with Turkish controlled North Cyprus is not yet part of the Schengen Zone but are legally obliged to join in the future.

The Schengen Agreement significantly facilitates travel and commerce across member countries but also requires extensive collaboration on security and immigration matters among these nations.

The Schengen Area is great news for those who receive a retirement or residence visa in one of the E.U. countries. It means you can travel throughout the area freely and with no limitations on length of stay. There are no passport checks between countries. HOWEVER, if you do not get a residence or retirement visa, you are limited to 90 days inside of Schengen before needing to remain outside of Schengen for the next 90 days. This can be very tricky, but it can be done. That is what my eBook, "Live Like Pirates" is all about.