Schengen Facts for Kids

The word Schengen is important for understanding travel in Europe. It refers to a special area where many European countries have agreed to let people travel freely between them without showing their passports at every border. This idea started with an agreement signed in a small village called Schengen.

What is the Schengen Area?
- Why was the Schengen Area created?
- Which countries are in the Schengen Area?
  - How do borders work in the Schengen Area?
The Schengen Agreement
- Where was the agreement signed?
- What did the agreement do?
Benefits of the Schengen Area
Images for kids
See also

What is the Schengen Area?

The Schengen Area is like a big zone made up of 29 European countries. In this zone, most border checks between these countries have been removed. This means you can travel from one Schengen country to another without stopping at a border checkpoint. It's almost like traveling between different states in one country!

Why was the Schengen Area created?

Before the Schengen Area, if you traveled across Europe, you would have to stop at each country's border to show your passport. This could take a lot of time and make travel difficult. The idea behind Schengen was to make travel easier and faster for people, goods, and services within Europe. It helps people move freely for work, holidays, or visiting family.

Which countries are in the Schengen Area?

The Schengen Area includes most countries in the European Union (EU), plus a few non-EU countries like Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Not all EU countries are part of it, and some non-EU countries are. For example, Ireland is in the EU but not in Schengen. Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen Area for air and sea borders in March 2024.

How do borders work in the Schengen Area?

Inside the Schengen Area, you usually won't see border guards or passport checks when you cross from one country to another. Instead, the focus is on controlling the external borders of the entire Schengen Area. This means that when you enter or leave the Schengen Area from a country outside it, you will go through passport control.

The Schengen Agreement

The idea for the Schengen Area started with a special document called the Schengen Agreement. This agreement was signed on June 14, 1985.

Where was the agreement signed?

The agreement was signed near a small village called Schengen in Luxembourg. This village is located where the borders of Luxembourg, France, and Germany meet. It was a symbolic place to sign an agreement about removing borders!

What did the agreement do?

The Schengen Agreement was the first step towards creating the free-travel zone. It set out the rules for how countries could remove their internal border controls. It also included rules for how to strengthen security at the external borders of the area. This helps keep the area safe while allowing people to move freely inside it.

Benefits of the Schengen Area

The Schengen Area has many benefits for people and businesses.

Easier Travel: Tourists and travelers can explore many countries without constant border checks. This makes holidays and business trips much simpler.
Economic Growth: Businesses can move goods and services more easily across borders, which helps the economy grow.
Cultural Exchange: It encourages people from different countries to visit each other, learn about new cultures, and build stronger connections.

Images for kids

At the border crossing point in Brod na Kupi on the Croatia–Slovenia border, the Croatian border checkpoint is not staffed. Instead, Croatian border guards carry out border checks together with their Slovenian counterparts at the Slovenian border checkpoint in Petrina on the other side of the Kupa river.
The Gibraltar/Spain border in 2004 with the Rock of Gibraltar in the background.
The border checkpoint in La Farga de Molas on the Andorra–Spain border.
A typical Schengen internal border crossing has no border control post and only a common EU-state sign displaying the name of the country being entered, as here between Germany and Austria. The larger blue sign announces entry to the Federal Republic of Germany in German, the smaller white sign announces entry into the German state of Bavaria.
Schengen arrival gate at the Rīga Airport (RIX).
Temporary border controls conducted by the Danish Police in Kruså at the internal border with Germany.
Passport control at an external Schengen border in Finland.
The Warsaw Spire, housing Frontex's headquarters.
Border checkpoint for vehicles operated by the Finnish Border Guard in Nuijamaa at the external border with Russia. The lane on the far right is for EEA (including EU) and Swiss citizens only, whereas the other lanes are for all travelers.
Border control booths in the departures hall at Oulu Airport in Finland, which will be staffed by the Finnish Border Guard when a flight is operated to a destination outside the Schengen Area. Either the 'EU/EEA/Swiss citizens' or 'All passports' sign above the booths can be illuminated.
EasyPASS self-service gates which eligible travelers can use to clear border control at Munich Airport, Germany.
Fencing on the Vistula Spit marking the external border between Poland and Russia.
Border markers and fencing demarcating the external border between Lithuania and Belarus near the village of Stakai.
Mounted Hungarian police officers patrolling the external border between Hungary and Serbia.
Facilitated Rail Transit Document.
Exit stamp for air travel issued at Prague airport.
Exit stamp for rail travel, issued at Bad Schandau train station.
Exit stamp for road travel, issued at Korczowa border crossing point.
Exit stamp for sea travel, issued at Helsinki port.