Visa & Residency
Schengen Area
Also known as: Schengen Zone, Schengen, Schengen Visa Area
Quick answer
European Commission — Schengen area · European Commission — short-stay calculator and rules · checked 9 Nov 2026
Bulgaria and Romania completed their entry into the area on 1 Jan 2025. Ireland remains outside the common border regime; Cyprus participates in cooperation but internal border controls have not been lifted.
A residence permit or long-stay visa from a Schengen country generally supports short visits to the other participating countries. It does not confer a general right to live or work in another country. Entry conditions, travel documents and the separate rules for residents still apply.
Sources
- European Commission — Schengen area · checked 9 Nov 2026
- European Commission — short-stay calculator and rules · checked 9 Nov 2026
Related terms
ETIAS
ETIAS is the European Union's planned electronic travel authorisation for eligible visa-exempt visitors to participating European countries. As checked on 9 Nov 2026, it is not operational and applications are not being collected.
EES (EU Entry/Exit System)
The Entry/Exit System (EES) electronically records qualifying non-EU travellers' short stays at the external borders of participating European countries. It began its phased launch on 12 Oct 2025 and became fully operational on 10 Apr 2026.
Visa-Free Travel
Visa-free travel means a traveller is exempt from obtaining a visa for a particular destination and purpose. The exemption still has entry conditions and a permitted length of stay, and may require an electronic travel authorisation.
Permanent Residence (PR)
Permanent residence is an immigration status allowing a non-citizen to remain on an ongoing basis under a country's law. It is distinct from citizenship and can have maintenance or loss conditions. In the United States, a Green Card evidences lawful permanent residence; there is no general requirement to hold a temporary visa for five years before acquiring it.
Deeper guides
Cyprus Permanent Residence 2026: Post-2023 Rules and Pending Schengen Accession
Cyprus Permanent Residence by Investment in 2026 — €300K qualifying investment + €50K/yr demonstrated income (rising for family). Parents removed (2023). Citizenship fast-track removed (2026). Schengen accession pending. Full guide covering what changed, what remains, and how Cyprus compares to Greece, Malta, and Portugal.
EU 90/90 Split-Year Living: The Expat FIRE Strategy for 2026
Spend 90 days in Europe's Schengen Area, 90 days outside, repeat — legally, cheaply, and tax-efficiently. Six tested combos with real costs, tax pitfalls, healthcare options, and planning tools for the 90/90 lifestyle.
Moving to Slovakia 2026: $1,500-$2,500/mo, EU Schengen
Everything you need to know about relocating to Slovakia — cost of living, visa options, healthcare, best cities, taxes.
EU Entry/Exit System (EES): Fully Operational Since 10 April 2026
The EU's biometric Entry/Exit System replaced passport stamping at every external Schengen border on 10 April 2026. What EES is, who it affects, what to expect at the airport, and how it differs from ETIAS.
Hungary Golden Visa for Chinese Applicants (2026): The Cheapest EU Entry Left
Hungary relaunched the Golden Visa on July 1, 2024. After Spain (closed April 2025), Portugal (real estate removed 2023), Greece (€800K threshold September 2024), and Ireland (closed 2023), Hungary is the cheapest EU Golden Visa left — €250K approved fund subscription, 10-year renewable residency, Schengen mobility, 15% flat tax, no physical presence required to maintain the visa. This guide covers the fund mechanics, Chinese-specific capital-movement sequencing, tax structure, and citizenship path.
Moving to Europe From the UK After Brexit: The Complete Visa Guide 2026
Every viable long-stay visa for Brits in Europe: Spain NLV, Portugal D7/D8, France VLS-TS, Italy Elective Residency, Netherlands DAFT, plus digital nomad visas and the 90/180 Schengen rule explained.