Schengen visa is valid for the Schengen area that consists of 26 countries. These 26 countries belong to both EU and non-EU countries. Schengen area allows free movement of people in all 26 countries without any legal restriction.
Any person who owns a temporary or permanent residence of any European country can enjoy free traveling in the whole Schengen area.
Foreigners who get any kind of Schengen-visa (visit visa, job-seeking visa, study visa) for any European country can also freely travel to the whole Schengen area.
List of countries you can visit with Schengen visa:
The following EU countries are part of the Schengen area.
- Denmark
- Germany
- Belgium
- Austria
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Greece
- Hungary
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
And, the following non-EU countries are also part of the Schengen area.
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
So, together the total number of these countries becomes 26. UK and Ireland are part of the European Union but they are not part of the Schengen area. A traveler needs a visa to enter these countries. It is expected in the near future that Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania will join the Schengen area.