*Video* Managing the Schengen Zone
Travel Tip #4
These days I balance my travels per Schengen area requirements. For instance, the Schengen zone accounted for my stay in Cyprus last month and is dictating whether I can join a friend for a 2-week sailing trip in the Mediterranean later this summer. If we sail the Greek islands, it’s probably a no-go for me, but if we stay in Turkey, I’m all in.
The Schengen Zone comprises 29 countries: 25 EU Member States and 4 non-EU countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Ireland has an opt-out. Cyprus is part of the EU, but not in the zone. It is, however, a Schengen candidate and is expected to join soon.
Romania and Bulgaria were admitted to the zone just this year. Interestingly, Bulgaria not being a member state accounted for its popularity as a nomad destination in preceding years. Now nomads head to Serbia as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina when we need to escape the EU.
As you can see, for non-Europeans, Schengen is a significant factor in where and when we can travel to the EU. If you’re not an EU citizen, you’ll need to pay attention to not overstay in the zone. For most nationalities, you can stay a maximum of 90 days within 180 days.
For instance, American, Australian, Canadian, and British citizens are considered “visa-free nationals” and can enter the zone without a visa but are subject to Schengen regulations. If you overstay, you’ll be subject to fines, deportation, and possible banning or blacklisting.
In all, I don’t mind the Schengen visa requirements as they nudge me to discover new places. Last year, I spent a month in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s a place I probably wouldn’t have visited except that I was looking for a visa break and I loved it!
Here’s a 10-second video of the lovely town of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, filmed by my friend Oluchi Adeboye.
✴️ Bonus Tip: Use a Schengen calculator to count your days easily in the member nations.
Do you think these regulations make it easier for harder to travel in the EU? How would you divide your time if you had only 3 months in Europe. What would be your first non-Schengen country to visit?
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Christened “Wander Woman” by National Geographic, Erin Michelson is a professional speaker and author of the Nomad Life™ series of travel books and guides, including the #1-ranked “Explore the World with Nomads.”
Looks lovely.