Austria's Schengen Status: Semi Or Full Membership?

Austria is a Schengen state. It joined the Schengen area in 1997, and citizens can travel freely within the area without identity checks. The Schengen area includes 29 European countries, 25 of which are members of the EU. The purpose of the Schengen area is to expand the individual freedoms of citizens and improve security within Europe.

Austria joined the Schengen area in 1997

Austria is a full member of the Schengen area, having joined in 1997. The Schengen area is a group of 29 European countries that have officially abolished border controls at their mutual borders. It is named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement and the 1990 Schengen Convention, both signed in Schengen, Luxembourg. The purpose of the Schengen area is to expand the individual freedoms of citizens and improve security within Europe.

Austria's membership of the Schengen area means that citizens of other Schengen countries can cross its borders without undergoing identity checks. However, it is still recommended to carry a passport or ID card as proof of identity when travelling within the Schengen area. Austria's membership also means that holders of a Schengen visa can enter the country without needing a separate visa.

In addition to being part of the Schengen area, Austria has been a member of the European Union since 1995. It is a federal parliamentary republic with a chancellor who is the head of government and a president who is the head of state. Austria consists of nine states and has a population of over 9 million people. It ranks fifth in the European Union in terms of GDP per capita.

Austria is an EU member state

Austria is a member of the European Union and has been since 1 January 1995. It is also a member of the Schengen Area, which was established as part of the wider area of freedom, security and justice (AFSJ) policy of the EU. The Schengen Area encompasses 29 European countries that have officially abolished border controls at their mutual borders. As an EU member state, Austria is part of the Single Market, which allows for the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people.

Austria's membership of the EU provides a range of benefits, including a shared approach to common challenges such as migration, terrorism, and climate change. It also enables Austria to benefit from better transport infrastructure, modernised and digitalised public services, and cutting-edge medical treatment. Additionally, Austria has representation in the European Parliament, with 20 representatives, and holds the Council of the EU presidency on a rotating basis.

Austria's membership of the Schengen Area means that its citizens can cross borders within the area without undergoing identity checks, enhancing their freedom of movement. The Schengen Area also has a common visa policy, allowing travellers from outside Europe to enter the EU with a single visa. Austria joined the Schengen Area in 1997, and as a member, has access to the Schengen Information System (SIS), which contains data on persons and objects for tracing purposes.

The Schengen Agreement was signed in 1985

On 14 June 1985, the Schengen Agreement was signed in the small village of Schengen in Luxembourg. The agreement was signed by five EU countries: France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The agreement aimed to abolish border controls between European nations, allowing free movement between member countries. This was a significant step towards European unity and the creation of a borderless Europe.

The agreement emphasised the importance of free movement and collaboration on border matters. It laid the foundation for the introduction of the Schengen Visa, a single visa that allows travellers to move freely within the Schengen Area, simplifying travel. The Schengen Visa is an important aspect of the agreement, as it allows travellers from outside Europe to enter the EU with a single visa, enhancing ease of travel.

The signing of the Schengen Agreement in 1985 was a pivotal moment in the history of European integration. It marked the beginning of a unified area without internal border checks, where people could move freely across countries, impacting their lives, work, and travel. This agreement set the guidelines for how the area would function, ensuring safety and organisation even without border checks.

The agreement also established specific rules, known as the Schengen Acquis, which all member states must follow. These rules include the abolition of internal border controls, the implementation of harmonised external border controls, police cooperation, data sharing, and a common visa policy. The Schengen Acquis has been instrumental in ensuring the smooth functioning of the Schengen Area and maintaining security within the region.

Over the years, the Schengen Area has gradually expanded beyond the initial five signatory countries. In 1995, seven member countries abolished internal border checks, and the area has continued to grow since then. As of 2025, the Schengen Area covers over 4 million square kilometres and includes 29 countries, with almost 420 million people able to travel freely within the area.

Austria is one of the countries that joined the Schengen Area, abolishing its internal border controls in 1997. It is important to note that while the Schengen Agreement has brought significant benefits, there have been instances where border controls have been temporarily reintroduced due to exceptional circumstances or security threats. Despite these temporary measures, the overall goal of the agreement remains to enhance the freedom of movement and improve security within Europe.

The Schengen Agreement abolished border controls

The Schengen Agreement, signed in 1985, and the Schengen Convention, signed in 1990, abolished border controls between member states. The agreement was signed in Schengen, Luxembourg, by five of the ten member states of the then European Economic Community. The Schengen Area now encompasses 29 European countries, including four non-EU member states, and has abolished border controls at their mutual borders.

The abolition of internal border controls

The abolition of internal border controls means citizens can move freely within the Schengen Area without being subject to border checks. This freedom of movement enables every EU citizen to travel, work and live in an EU country without special formalities. The Schengen Agreement abolished the need for passport checks and allowed for the free movement of people.

The Schengen Agreement and freedom of movement

The Schengen Agreement proposed measures to gradually abolish border checks at the signatories' common borders. This included reduced-speed vehicle checks, allowing vehicles to cross borders without stopping, and the freedom for residents in border areas to cross borders away from fixed checkpoints. The Agreement also harmonised visa policies, allowing third-country nationals to spend up to 90 days within a 6-month period in the territory of the Schengen countries.

The impact of the abolition of border controls

The abolition of internal border controls has had a significant impact on the freedom and security of travellers within the Schengen Area. It has also led to the establishment of a common visa policy, where travellers from outside Europe only need one Schengen visa to enter the EU. The Agreement has improved security within Europe through measures such as reinforced external border controls, cross-border police cooperation, and the implementation of the Schengen Information System (SIS).

Temporary border controls

It is important to note that, in exceptional circumstances, a Schengen country may temporarily reintroduce border controls at its internal borders if there is a serious threat to public policy, internal security, or external border control. These temporary controls have been implemented in the past due to events such as the European migrant crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Schengen area includes 29 European countries

The Schengen area includes all EU member states except Ireland and Cyprus. At present, the EU members Bulgaria and Romania only apply some of the Schengen provisions. Until these three countries apply what is known as the Schengen acquis in full, passport controls will remain in place at internal borders. In addition to the EU countries already mentioned, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are also Schengen states.

Austria is a member of the Schengen area and has been since 1 December 1997.

The purpose of the Schengen area is to expand the individual freedoms of citizens and to improve security within Europe. The creation of the Schengen area also led to the establishment of a common visa policy. Travellers from outside Europe only need one Schengen visa to enter the EU.

The Schengen Agreement provides for the abolition of identity checks at internal borders. Holders of a visa issued by a Schengen country may move freely within the entire Schengen area during the period of validity of their visa. There are also no checks when crossing internal borders.

The Schengen area has a population of more than 450 million people and an area of 4,595,131 square kilometres. About 1.7 million people commute to work across an internal European border each day, and in some regions, these international commuters constitute up to a third of the workforce.

Frequently asked questions