ProofstayGuide · Travelling in Europe
Schengen countries in 2026
Quick answer
There are 29 Schengen countries: 25 EU members plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.[1] The UK, Ireland and Cyprus are not in Schengen, and neither is Turkey. Days in any of the 29 count towards one shared 90-day allowance in any 180 days; days anywhere else don't.
The list
The 29 Schengen countries
| Group | Countries |
|---|---|
| EU, in Schengen (25) | Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden |
| Not EU, in Schengen (4) | Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland |
| EU, not in Schengen (2) | Cyprus, Ireland |
The newest members are Bulgaria and Romania: checks at air and sea borders ended on 31 March 2024, and both became full members on 1 January 2025.[2,3]
Common mix-ups
The places people get wrong
| Place | In Schengen? | What it means for your 90 days |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Never in Schengen. UK days don't count; British visitors are limited to 90 in 180 inside Schengen[4,5] |
| Ireland | No | EU, but opted out of Schengen. Irish days don't count[1,4] |
| Cyprus | No | EU, not yet fully in Schengen. Stays there are counted separately from your Schengen 90[1,6] |
| Switzerland | Yes | Not EU, but in Schengen. Swiss days count[1,4] |
| Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein | Yes | Not EU, but Schengen. Days count[1,4] |
| Bulgaria, Romania | Yes | Full members since 1 January 2025. Days count[3] |
| Turkey | No | Days don't count[1] |
| Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo | No | Days don't count. Popular places to spend time outside the 90[1] |
| Andorra | No | Not one of the 29. You reach it through Spain or France, and those days count[1] |
| Gibraltar | No | British territory, not part of Schengen[1,4] |
| Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores | Yes | Part of Spain and Portugal, inside Schengen. Days count[7] |
| French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, Mayotte | No | Part of France and the EU, but Schengen rules cover only France's European territory[7] |
Why it matters
A week in Dublin, Cyprus or Montenegro is a week that doesn't use your Schengen allowance; a week in Zurich or the Canaries does. Getting one of these wrong is the most common reason a hand count differs from the border's. Since the Entry/Exit System began, the border's count is automatic.
Sources
- European Commission, Schengen area. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- European Commission, Controls at air and sea borders with Bulgaria and Romania will be lifted (3 January 2024). Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- European Commission, Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen area (3 January 2025). Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- European Commission, User manual for the short-stay Schengen calculator. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Spain entry requirements. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- European Commission, What is ETIAS. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- EUR-Lex, Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement, Article 138. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
Which days count is the hard part
Let your phone know where you were.
Proofstay records the country you are in every day on your iPhone, knows which ones are in Schengen, and counts your 90/180 the way the EU does, including the places on this page people get wrong. Free to record.
See how Proofstay works →FAQ
Is it in Schengen?
Is the UK in the Schengen area?
No. The UK has never been in the Schengen area, and since Brexit British citizens are non-EU visitors there, limited to 90 days in any 180. Days spent in the UK don't count towards that limit.
Is Ireland in Schengen?
No. Ireland is in the EU but not in Schengen. It has opted out of the Schengen rules. Days in Ireland don't count towards your Schengen 90 days.
Is Cyprus in Schengen?
No. Cyprus is an EU member that hasn't joined Schengen yet. Stays in Cyprus are counted separately and don't use your Schengen 90 days.
Is Switzerland in Schengen?
Yes. Switzerland isn't in the EU, but it is part of the Schengen area. Days in Switzerland count towards your 90. The same goes for Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Is Turkey in Schengen?
No. Turkey is neither in the EU nor in Schengen, so days there don't count towards your Schengen 90/180. Turkey has its own visa rules.
Are Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen?
Yes. Both have been full Schengen members since 1 January 2025, so days there count towards your 90.
Do the Canary Islands count towards the 90 days?
Yes. The Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores are part of Spain and Portugal inside Schengen. France's overseas regions in the Caribbean, South America and the Indian Ocean are not in Schengen.