2025 Travel Trips: The EU vs The Schengen Zone
It’s time to start making those 2025 travel plans and the world is your oyster. From the sunny beaches of Portugal to the flowering streets of Paris and lively pubs of Dublin, choosing where you’re going to visit is just the beginning of an incredible adventure.
Heck, you may even be thinking “Why not go to all three?! They’re so close to each other!” Well, it might not be that simple.
Portugal and Paris (France) are both members of the Schengen Zone, but Dublin (Ireland) is not. However, all three are members of the EU.
But what is the difference between the EU and the Schengen Zone? And will that impact your planning? Yes, it may.
What is the difference between the EU and the Schengen Zone?
The EU (short for European Union) and the Schengen Zone have many similarities, which can cause some confusion among travelers – especially when trying to figure out which travel requirements apply to them.
The EU is a governing group of 27 countries in Europe. These countries partner to prioritize the peace, safety, and well-being of everyone in Europe by creating and abiding by shared laws and regulations about all kinds of topics, including travel and migration, which brings us to our next point.
In 1985, the EU created the Schengen Area. In short, the Schengen Area is a group of 29 countries that have agreed to dissolve border control between each other. This means that once a traveler enters a country in the Schengen Zone, they (in the vast majority of cases) have free reign to travel to any of the other countries part of that agreement.
Where it can get confusing is not all EU members are in the Schengen Area, and not all Schengen countries are in the EU.
Countries that are in both the EU and the Schengen Area
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
Countries That Are in the EU, but not the Schengen Area
Cyprus and Ireland.
Countries That Are in the Schengen Area, but not the EU
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
What Does This Mean for Travel?
Knowing the difference between the EU and the Schengen Area isn’t just an exercise in geography. It’s essential for millions of travelers worldwide.
Let’s take Chinese citizens for example. If you’re a Chinese citizen and want to travel to Portugal, France, and Ireland on one trip, you need a visa for each of those countries. Since Portugal and France are both in the Schengen Area, you’ll only need to apply for one visa for the two (called a Schengen Visa). However, because Ireland isn’t a Schengen country, you’ll need a separate visa, which means an entirely different visa application process.
On the contrary, you may not require a visa to visit Portugal, France, or Ireland. For example, US citizens do not need visas for short stays (under 90 days) in these specific countries. Great news for you, but there are other preparations you’ll need to make. Beginning in 2025, you’ll need to get pre-travel authorization (called ETIAS) to enter the Schengen Area, which means you’ll need permission to visit Portugal and France, but not Ireland. (Please note, this applies to Ireland exclusively, not Northern Ireland).
In conclusion
Understanding the difference between the EU and the Schengen Area makes it easier to plan your travels or decide which countries are feasible when it comes to your time, money, and effort – especially if you’re planning an unforgettable multi-country excursion.
