What European Countries Are Not Part of the Schengen Agreement

The Schengen Agreement is a treaty signed in 1985 that allows for the free movement of people between the participating countries without border checks. It currently includes 26 European countries, including most of the European Union (EU) member states, as well as Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. However, there are a few European countries that are not part of the Schengen Agreement.

The first non-Schengen country in Europe is the United Kingdom. Even though the UK is a member of the EU, it opted out of the Schengen Agreement in 1997. This means that there are still border checks between the UK and the rest of the EU countries, and travelers may need to show their passports when entering or leaving the country.

The second non-Schengen country in Europe is Ireland. Ireland also opted out of the Schengen Agreement, so there are still border checks between Ireland and the rest of the EU. However, there is a Common Travel Area (CTA) agreement between Ireland and the UK, which means that there are no passport controls or visa requirements for citizens of the two countries traveling between them.

The third non-Schengen country in Europe is Croatia. Croatia joined the EU in 2013, but it has not yet joined the Schengen Area. The country is expected to join the Schengen Agreement in the near future, but as of now, there are still border checks between Croatia and the other EU countries. This means that travelers may need to show their passports when entering or leaving the country.

The fourth non-Schengen country in Europe is Romania. Romania is also an EU member but has not yet joined the Schengen Agreement. The country has been working to meet the necessary requirements to join the agreement, but it has not been successful so far. Therefore, travelers may need to show their passports when entering or leaving Romania.

The fifth non-Schengen country in Europe is Bulgaria. Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007 but has not yet joined the Schengen Agreement. The country has been working to meet the necessary requirements to join the agreement, but it has not been successful so far. Therefore, travelers may need to show their passports when entering or leaving Bulgaria.

In conclusion, the Schengen Agreement is a treaty that allows for the free movement of people between participating European countries without border checks. However, there are still a few countries in Europe that are not part of the agreement, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Croatia, Romania, and Bulgaria. Travelers may need to show their passports when entering or leaving these countries, and they may also need to obtain visas or other travel documents depending on their nationality and the purpose of their trip.