Accession timeline
From the original five-country agreement on a Luxembourg riverboat to the 29-country area we have today. Major milestones:
Schengen Agreement signed
Five founding countries (BE, DE, FR, LU, NL) sign the original Schengen Agreement on a riverboat in Luxembourg.
Implementation Convention
The agreement gets a working framework: shared visa policy, police cooperation, common external border.
Borders open
First seven countries actually drop internal checks: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain.
Big-bang enlargement
Nine new EU states join — Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia.
Croatia joins
Croatia becomes the 27th member after a fifteen-year wait.
Bulgaria & Romania (land)
Land borders open 1 January 2025, completing 19 years of accession process. Bulgaria and Romania become full members.
Internal border controls in force
In principle there are no checks at internal Schengen borders, but member states may temporarily reinstate them. The list below is updated as states notify the European Commission.
We do not have a current list here — this is not a statement that none are in force. Several member states usually have controls notified at any one time, and they can be reintroduced at short notice. Check the European Commission's notifications for the authoritative position before you travel.
Source: states' notifications to the European Commission. Reinstatements are limited in scope and duration under the Schengen Borders Code.
EES & ETIAS
Two new EU systems at the external Schengen border. They affect every non-EU traveller, including UK passport-holders.
Biometrics replace passport stamps.
Affects every non-EU traveller. Fully operational since 10 April 2026.
Read the EES guide → ETIAS · Travel authorisation€20 online auth for visa-exempt nationals.
Visa applicants do not need ETIAS.
Read the ETIAS guide →Travelling to the Schengen Area?
Our wizard prepares the official Schengen visa application for any of the 29 member states — about 20 minutes end-to-end.
Start your application →