Schengen Area

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The Schengen Area ( ) is an area of ​​26 European countries that formally removes passports and all other types of border controls on their common border. This area mostly serves as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes, with a general visa policy. This area is named after the Schengen Agreement. Countries in the Schengen Region have strengthened border controls with non-Schengen countries.

Twenty-two of the twenty-eight EU member states participated in the Schengen Region. Of the six EU members who are not part of the Schengen Territories, four - Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania - are legally obliged to join the area, while the other two - the Republic of Ireland and Britain - maintain an exit option. The four member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, are not EU members, but have signed agreements relating to the Schengen Agreement. Three European micro-states - Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City - are de facto part of the Schengen Region.

The Schengen region has a population of over 400 million people and an area of ​​4,312,099 square kilometers (1,664,911 square meters). Around 1.7 million people commute to work across the European border every day, and in some areas these people make up a third of the workforce. Every year, there are 1.3 billion Schengen border crossings in total. 57 million crossings is due to the transport of goods by road, with a value of EUR2.8 trillion every year. The decline in trading costs due to Schengen varies from 0.42% to 1.59% depending on geography, trading partners, and other factors. Countries outside the Schengen region also benefit.

After the migration crisis, in June 2018, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Norway, and Sweden temporarily imposed reintroduction of border controls on some or all of the internal frontiers in accordance with Article 25 of the Schengen Border Code, citing security threats. As a result of the November 2015 Paris attack and subsequent attacks in France, France declared a state of emergency, which restores border control across all international borders until November 2017.

Video Schengen Area

History

The Schengen Agreement was signed on June 14, 1985 by five of the ten EEC member states in the Schengen city of Luxembourg. The Schengen area was established separately from the European Economic Community, when consensus could not be reached among all the EC member states regarding the abolition of border control.

In 1990, this Agreement was supplemented by the Schengen Convention, which proposed the abolition of internal border controls and the general visa policy. The agreements and rules adopted under it are entirely separate from the structure of the European Commission, and lead to the creation of the Schengen Area on March 26, 1995.

As more EU member states sign the Schengen Agreement, a consensus is reached to absorb it into EU procedures. The related agreements and conventions were incorporated into the mainstream of EU law by the Amsterdam Treaty of 1997, which came into force in 1999. The consequence of the Treaty that is part of European law is that any amendments or rules are made in the process. , where non-EU members are not participants. Britain and Ireland have maintained the Common Travel Area (CTA) since 1923, but Britain can not accept the abolition of border control and, therefore, is given full opt-out of the area. Although it does not sign the Schengen Agreement, Ireland always looks better to join but has not done so to maintain the CTA and open borders with Northern Ireland. The Nordic members required Norway and Iceland to be included, accepted, so that consensus could be reached.

Maps Schengen Area

Membership

Current members

The Schengen area consists of 26 countries, including four non-EU members. Two of the non-EU members, Iceland and Norway, are part of the Nordic Passport Union and are officially classified as 'countries linked to EU Schengen activities'. Switzerland was allowed to participate in the same manner in 2008. Liechtenstein joined the Schengen Area on December 19, 2011. De facto, the Schengen Area also includes three European micro-states - Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City - which maintaining open or semi-open borders with other Schengen member states. Two EU members - Ireland and the UK - opt out of Schengen and continue to operate border control of public travel territories with other EU member states.

The remaining four EU member states - Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania - are obliged to eventually join the Schengen Territories. However, before fully implementing Schengen's rules, each country should have its readiness assessed in four areas: air borders, visas, police cooperation, and protection of personal data. This evaluation process involves questionnaires and visits by EU experts to selected institutions and workplaces in the countries studied.

The only land border with border control (excluding the temporary) between EU/EEA members, is from Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania (which are expected to be removed), which is in Gibraltar and the people in the Channel Tunnel.

Areas that are not members of the Schengen Area but still have open boundaries with areas:

Note

Candidate members

Cyprus

Although Cyprus, which joined the EU on 1 May 2004, is legally bound to join the Schengen Territories, its implementation is delayed due to a Cypriot dispute. According to former Cypriot Foreign Minister Giorgos Lillikas, "strict and full control based on Schengen will create great daily misery for Turkish Cypriots", and it is unclear whether this control is possible before the settlement of the dispute. The British Sovereign Base Area of ​​Akrotiri and Dhekelia, which is outside the EU, will also require "handling and other mechanisms", especially when Britain leaves the EU. In 2011 there was no date set for the implementation of the Schengen rule by Cyprus. Cyprus is less likely to benefit from Schengen implementation, as it does not have a land border with other EU members, so air travel or about 400 kilometers (250 million)/12 hours of sea travel is required for the nearest.

Bulgaria and Romania

While Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the EU on January 1, 2007, are also legally bound to join the Schengen Territories, its implementation has been delayed. On October 15, 2010, Bulgaria and Romania joined SIS II for law enforcement cooperation. The offer of Bulgaria and Romania to join the Schengen Territory was approved by the European Parliament in June 2011 but was rejected by the Council of Ministers in September 2011, with the Dutch and Finnish governments citing concerns about deficiencies in anti-corruption measures and in organized fighting. crime. Although the initial plan was for the Schengen Territory to open its air and sea borders with Bulgaria and Romania in March 2012, and land boundaries in July 2012, continued opposition from Germany, Finland and the Netherlands had delayed the entry of the two countries into the Schengen Area.. On October 4, 2017, "The European Parliament voted" access "Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Information System." In addition, "the final political decision whether the two countries can become part of the Schengen region and stop the systematic border checks with the EU's neighboring countries should be taken unanimously by all parties of the Council of Europe." Therefore, further progress is a political issue.

Croatian

While Croatia, which joins the EU on 1 July 2013, is also legally bound to eventually join the Schengen Territories, its implementation has been delayed. In March 2015, the Minister of the Interior of Croatia, Ranko Ostoji? said that his country is ready to join the Schengen Territories. Croatia requested that the EU undertake a technical evaluation, which takes one and a half years, and begins on July 1, 2015. The evaluation is positive and Croatia gets access to the Schengen Information System in January 2017. On 27 June 2017, Croatia joined SIS II for cooperation law enforcement. Therefore, further progress is a political issue.

The influx of refugees and migrants from Greece through Macedonia and Serbia to Croatia and then to current Schengen countries such as Slovenia, Austria and Hungary, as part of the 2015 European migrant crisis, has led some to question whether there will be a necessary political consensus. for further expansion of the Schengen Area in this atmosphere. In September 2015, Hungary threatened to veto Croatian accession to Schengen Area after it enabled migrants to transit the country to Hungary.

Note

Schengen Region declared outside Area

There are territories of Schengen member states that are exempt from the Schengen Treaty. Areas located outside Europe are not part of the Schengen Area (except the Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira that belong to the Area). The only areas of Schengen member countries located in Europe but excluded are the Faroe Islands and Svalbard.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte and RÃ © Ã… ©, and the overseas collectivities of Saint Martin are part of the European Union but not part of the Schengen Territories. The terms of EU freedom of movement apply, but each region operates its own visa regime for non-European Economic Area (EEA), a non-Swiss citizen. Although the visa applicable to one of these areas will apply to all, the visa exclusion list is different. Schengen visas, even issued by France, do not apply to this region. Visa for Sint Maarten (applicable for trips to the Dutch side of the island of Saint Martin) also applies to the French side. France also has several areas that are not part of the EU or Schengen Region. These are: French Polynesia, Southern Main and Antarctic France, New Caledonia, Saint BarthÃÆ' © lemy, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, and Wallis and Futuna.

Only the Netherlands European region is part of the Schengen Territory. Six Dutch territories in the Caribbean are outside the Area. Three of these areas - Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (collectively known as the island of BES) - are special municipalities within the Dutch territory. The other three - Aruba, CuraÃÆ'§ao and Sint Maarten - are autonomous nations within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. All islands maintain their status as a country and an overseas territory and thus not part of the EU. Six areas have a separate visa system from the Dutch part of Europe and people traveling between these islands and the Schengen County are subject to full border checks, with passports required even for EU/Schengen citizens, including the Netherlands (national ID cards) not accepted).

Svalbard is part of Norway and has special status under international law. It's not part of the Schengen Area. No visa regime exists for Svalbard either for admission, residence or work, but it is difficult to visit Svalbard without traveling through the Schengen Area, although there are charter flights from Russia. Since 2011, the Norwegian government has imposed a systematic border check on individuals wishing to enter and leave Svalbard, requiring a passport or national identity card for non-Norwegian citizens. As a result, the border between Svalbard and other parts of Norway is largely treated like other external Schengen borders. Schengen visas have to go in multiple to allow return to Norway. There is no welfare or asylum system for immigrants in Svalbard, and people unable to support themselves may be sent.

The Danish territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland are not part of the EU nor the Schengen Region, and visas to Denmark do not automatically apply in these areas. However, these two areas have no border control on arrival from the Schengen Area, and air or sea operators are responsible for performing document checks before boarding, as usual for travel within the Schengen Area. EU/EFTA citizens may travel to Faroe and Greenland using national passports or ID cards, while Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian or Swedish citizens may use acceptable identification (such as driver's license or bank ID).

EU member states with allowance

The Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are the only EU members who, prior to the 2004 expansion, have not signed the Schengen Agreement. Both countries maintained the Common Travel Area with passport-free travel for their citizens between them and three Kingdoms of the United Kingdom, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, which are outside the European Union. Gibraltar is part of the United Kingdom but is not part of the Schengen Area or the Common Travel Area.

Britain refuses to sign the Schengen Agreement, one argument being that, for the island nation, border control is a better and less intrusive way to prevent illegal immigration than other acts, such as identity cards, residence permits and registration with police, as appropriate for the state - countries with "broad and permeable land borders". Ireland did not sign the Schengen Treaty because "it would not be an Irish interest to have a situation where the public jurisdiction with the UK would end and Ireland would impose exit and entry control on people traveling between here and the UK and, in addition, on land borders ".

When Schengen is incorporated into the European Union by the Amsterdam Agreement, Ireland and the United Kingdom derive an option out of the part of the treaty that will incorporate Schengen rules (or acquis ) into the EU Act. Based on the relevant protocols, Ireland and the United Kingdom may request to participate in aspects of the Schengen acquis but this is subject to the approval of the Schengen states.

The UK was formally requested to participate in certain provisions of the Schengen acquis - Title III relating to Police Security and Judicial Cooperation - in 1999, and this request was approved by the Council of the European Union on 29 May 2000 The formal participation of the UK in the field of approved cooperation was enacted by a 2004 Council decision which came into force on 1 January 2005. Although the United Kingdom is not part of Schengen's passport-free area, it still uses the Schengen Information System, a government database used by the state - European countries to store and disseminate information about individuals and property. This allows the UK to exchange information with countries that are part of the Schengen agreement, often in order to bridge law enforcement.

On the contrary, when Ireland initially submitted a request to participate in Schengen acquis in 2002, approved by the Council of the European Union, the decision has not been enacted. In February 2010, the Justice Minister of Ireland, in response to a parliamentary question, said that: "[t] he measures that will allow Ireland to meet the Schengen requirements currently under development".

The previous 1999 report by the European Union, the Select Committee of the House of Lords recommends "full English participation" in all the various four Conven- tion Executing Conventions.

On June 23, 2016, British voters chose Britain to leave the European Union, and on 27 March 2017 Britain formally requested such withdrawals. It is not decided what will happen in the future of the Irish state, although it has been suggested that Ireland will stay in the Common Travel Area and not join the Schengen Territories, as it wants to keep the lack of border control on its land border.

Status of European microstate

Three European micro-states - Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City - can be considered as de facto within the Schengen Territory. They have no border control with the Schengen states that surround it, but they are not officially part of the Schengen. Some national laws have the text "countries that oppose border control are not conducted under the Schengen Treaty and 562/2006 of the EU regulations", which then includes microstate and non-EU areas with open borders.

Liechtenstein has been a member of the Schengen Area since 2011. However, Liechtenstein does not issue visas, and recommends visitors to apply for visas in other Schengen countries, eg. Switzerland. Liechtenstein did not have border checks on the Balzers heliport, so the helicopter had to get inside Schengen alone.

The other four microstates are not parties to the Schengen Agreement, unable to issue Schengen visas and, with the exception of Monaco, are not part of the Schengen Territories. San Marino and Vatican City are landlocked countries surrounded by Italy. Since both have open borders, they can be considered as de facto within the Schengen Territories, meaning they are not officially in agreement but accessible without border control. San Marino and the Vatican City do not conduct border checks for arrivals from outside Schengen, but this is not necessary because they do not have airports or ports. Helicopters are not allowed to go from outside Schengen or from ships directly to San Marino or Vatican City.

In 2015, Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino are negotiating the Association Agreement with the EU. Andorra's ambassador to Spain Jaume GaytÃÆ'¡n said he hoped that the agreement would include provisions for making member states of the association of the Schengen Agreement.

Andorra maintains border controls with France and Spain. EU citizens are required to have a national identity card or passport to enter Andorra, while others need a passport or an equivalent. Schengen visas are accepted, but travelers who require a visa to enter the Schengen Area require multiple-entry visas to visit Andorra, as entering Andorra means leaving the Schengen County. There are border controls in the other direction as well, but rather focus on customs control (Andorra is a tax haven with 4% VAT).

Monaco has an open border with France. Schengen's law is regulated as if it were part of the European Union, and Schengen visas are accepted. Both the French authorities and MonÃÆ'Â Â © gasque conduct checks at the ports and heliports of Monaco.

San Marino has an open border with Italy, though some random checks were conducted by Guardia in Finanza and Guardia in Rocca San Marino.

Vatican City has an open border with Italy. In 2006 showed an interest in joining the Schengen agreement for closer cooperation in sharing information and similar activities covered by the Schengen Information System. Very unusually, Italy has allowed people to visit the Vatican City, without being accepted for an Italian visa, then escorted by police between the airport and the Vatican, or using a helicopter.

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Economy

For each of the two countries in the Schengen region, the total trade between them increased by about 0.1% per year. The same amount of trade increase is recovered for every 1% annual increase in immigration between countries. On average, at each border the elimination of control equals the elimination of 0.7% tariffs, and the cost savings on trade routes increases with the number of internal borders crossed. Countries outside the Schengen region also benefit.

Around 1.7 million people commute to work across the European border every day, and in some areas these people make up a third of the workforce. For example, 2.1% of workers in Hungary work in other countries, especially Austria and Slovakia. Every year, there are 1.3 billion Schengen border crossings in total. 57 million crossings is due to the transport of goods by road, with a value of EUR2.8 trillion every year. Trade in goods is affected stronger than trading in services, and the decline in trade costs varies from 0.42% to 1.59% depending on geography, trading partners, and other factors.

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Internal boundary rules

Prior to the implementation of the Schengen Agreement, most of the borders in Europe were patrolled and a vast network of border posts was in the vicinity of the continent, to examine the identity and rights of people wishing to travel from one country to another.

Since the adoption of Schengen rules, border posts have been closed (and often completely removed) between participating countries; it and the pro forma border are the subjects of photo-journalism art projects. The Schengen Borders Code requires participating countries to remove all obstacles to free traffic flow at the internal border. Thus, street, rail and air passengers no longer have their identities checked by border guards when traveling between Schengen countries, although security controls by operators are still allowed. Tourists must still carry a passport or national identity card, as may be required.

Check in country

Although travelers in the Schengen Territory are no longer required to show documents on the internal borders (although there are some controversial examples when they exist, and that is quite common in major land border crossings with Switzerland), the law in most countries still requires them to carry identity documents. Thus, a foreigner with a legal residence in the Schengen State and carrying valid documents may travel within the territory and does not require special permission to do so. It is the obligation of any person traveling within the territory to be able to demonstrate a fully legitimate form of personal identification approved by other Schengen states.

According to Schengen regulations, hotels and other types of commercial accommodation must register all foreign nationals, including other Schengen citizens, by requiring completion of registration forms with their own hands. This does not apply to accompanying couples and small children or members of travel groups. In addition, a valid identification document must be produced to the hotel manager or staff. Schengen regulations do not require any other procedure; thus, Schengen states are free to set up further details on the contents of the registration form, and identity documents to be produced, and may also require persons exempted from registration by Schengen law to be registered. Enforcement of these rules varies by country.

Schengen's rules on internal border crossings illustrate checks for aliens by police in appropriate places within each country.

Internal control

The European Union is a customs union and a Value Added Tax area. However, not all Schengen or all Schengen states are part of a customs or VAT territory. Therefore some countries are legally conducting customs controls aimed at illegal goods, such as drugs.

Security checks can be done legally at ports and airports. Also police checks can be done if they:

• has no border control as destination;
• is based on information and experience of the general police on possible threats to security and public goals, in particular, to combat transnational crime;
• is created and executed in a manner distinctly different from the systematic examination of persons on external borders;
• done on the basis of spot inspection;

Air travel

For flights within the Schengen Area (either between Schengen member states or within the same Schengen Member State), law enforcement agencies, airport authorities and airlines are only permitted to conduct security checks on passengers and shall not conduct border checks. Such security checks may be performed through passport passport verification or national identity card: Such practices shall only be used to verify the identity of the passenger (for commercial or transport safety reasons) and not their immigration status. For this reason, law enforcement agencies, airport authorities and airlines can not require air passengers to fly within the Schengen Territory who are third nationals to prove the legality of their stay by showing a valid visa or residence permit. Additionally, under the European Commission guidelines, airborne passenger identity checks within the Schengen Territory should be made only at check-in, or upon entry into the airport safe zone, or at the departure gate: passengers should not have to undergo verification of their identity on more than one chance before their flight in the Schengen Area. However, identity checks serve as practical border controls, and are a problem for illegal immigrants arriving in Greece (who do not have land borders to other Schengen states) and want to go to some other Schengen countries. The requirements of identity documents vary by country and airline. Normally an EU national passport or national identity card is required. Greece, Iceland and Malta do not share land borders with other Schengen member states.

Tourists who board flights between Schengen countries, but originally from a third country outside the region, must pass the Schengen border checks at the time of departure and border checks enter Schengen on arrival as the route is from outside the region and the authorities in place there will be no way to distinguish between the arriving passengers who are coming up and those who join in the middle.

Temporary border control

The Schengen State was allowed to restore border controls with other Schengen states for a short time in which there was a serious threat to the country's "public policy or internal security" or when "control of external borders is no longer guaranteed because of exceptional circumstances". When the risk arises from a predictable event, the country concerned shall notify the European Commission in advance and consult with other Schengen states.

In April 2010 Malta introduced a temporary examination due to the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. This re-enforces checks in 2015 in the weeks around the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Estonia introduced a temporary examination in September 2014 because of US President Barack Obama's visit.

In response to the crisis of European migrants, some countries are preparing improved border controls.

Recent internal border control

Recent internal border controls are in accordance with information provided by member countries to the European Commission.

French control of migrants from north Africa

After the Tunisian Revolution of 2010-11, the Italian government granted a six-month residence permit to approximately 25,000 Tunisian migrants. This allows migrants to travel freely in the Schengen Area. In response, both France and Germany threatened to impose border checks, not wanting Tunisian refugees to enter their territory. In April 2011, for several hours, France blocked a train carrying migrants on the French/Italian border in Ventimiglia.

At the request of France, in May 2011, the European Commissioner for Domestic Affairs, Cecilia Malmstrm proposed that more latitude would be available for temporary border reshaping in the case of strong and unexpected migration pressure, or a country's failure to protect the external borders of the Union Europe.

On July 25, 2011, in providing a final assessment of the European Commission on the measures taken by Italy and France, the Commissioner for Internal Affairs said, "[f] rom formal step of view taken by the Italian and French authorities has been in accordance with the EU law. However, I am sorry that the spirit of the Schengen rules has not been fully respected ". Ms. MalmstrÃÆ'¶m also called for a more coherent interpretation of Schengen regulations and a stronger evaluation and monitoring system for the Schengen Area.

2015 migrant crisis

During the September 2015 migrant crisis, Germany announced to temporarily restore border controls in accordance with provisions on interim border controls established by Schengen Acquis. Such border controls seem to be an attempt to prevent disturbances from making the crisis worse. The open border appears to have hindered Germany's ability to provide large numbers of people seeking refuge at once. Germany signifies that border controls are only temporary, and only to support regular flow of migration to the region.

Other countries, including Austria, Denmark, Slovenia, Hungary, Sweden and Norway have set up border controls in response to the crisis.

In December 2015, Sweden passed a provisional law allowing the government to require all transport companies to check that their passengers carry valid photo identification. The new law comes into effect on December 21, 2015 and is valid until December 21, 2018. The government decides that the new rules will take effect from 4 January 2016 to 4 July 2016. New legislation causes changes and mandatory train lines through border control at Copenhagen Airport for travelers between Copenhagen and Sweden, and with a reduced service frequency. Sweden introduced border controls from Denmark before (November 15, 2015), but it could not stop the flow of migrants, as they have the right to apply for a one-time asylum in Swedish soil. Firstly when the transport company must stop foreigners on the Danish side, asylum seekers stop efficiently. This causes considerable disruption to rail traffic because the railway station does not have the capacity for such checks. This inspection lasted until May 4, 2017, after the EU commission stated that such checks were unacceptable.

On May 30, 2018, when border controls of the migrants crisis were still active in some countries, the European Parliament decided to condemn the prolonged border checks between Schengen member states. But this is only a statement because Parliament does not decide this.

2015 Paris attack

During the November 2015 attack in Paris, France introduced full identity and national checks on its borders.

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External boundary settings

Participating countries are required to apply strict checks on travelers entering and leaving the Schengen Area. This check is coordinated by the EU Frontex agency, and is subject to general rules. Detailed border controls, supervision and conditions under which permission to enter the Schengen Territory may be given in detail in the Schengen Borders Code.

Border check

Anyone crossing the external border - in or out - should be checked by border guards. The only exceptions are for regular trans-boundary commuters (both with free movement rights and third-party citizens) that are well-known to border guards: once a preliminary examination has shown that there is no warning on records relating to them in the Schengen Information System or database national, they can only be subject to random checks, and not systematic checks every time they cross the border.

Previously, the EU, the EEA, and Swiss citizens, as well as their family members enjoyed the right to freedom of movement, were only subject to 'minimum checks' when crossing external borders. This means that their travel documents are only subject to 'quick' and 'direct' visual inspection and optional checks against the database for lost/stolen travel documents. The Schengen Information Systems Consultation and other national databases to ensure that travelers do not represent security, public policy or health threats are permitted only on a strict 'non-systematic' basis where the threat is 'original', 'there' and 'quite serious'. Conversely, other travelers should undergo a 'thorough check'.

However, given the terrorist attacks in Paris, during a meeting of the EU Council on November 20, 2015, the interior ministers of Member States decided to 'immediately carry out systematic and coordinated checks on external borders, including on individuals. enjoy the rights of free movement '. The amendment was made for the Schengen Border Code to introduce a systematic examination of EU travel documents, the EEA and Swiss citizens, as well as members of their families enjoying free movement rights, against relevant databases when crossing external borders. The new regime takes effect on April 7, 2017.

When performing a systematic examination of the database will have a disproportionate impact on traffic flows on external borders, such checks may become relaxed if, based on a risk assessment, it is established that it will not lead to a security risk.

Under 'exceptional' and 'unexpected' circumstances where waiting times become excessive, external border checks may be temporarily relaxed.

Border guards carry out the following procedures when checking travelers crossing external borders:

As indicated by the above table, since many procedures are optional, border guards have the discretion in deciding how strictly they check travelers at external border crossing points. As a result, the length of time taken to perform the examination differs between the Schengen states. Under the previous regime (where people with the right to freedom of movement are only subject to 'minimum checks'), checks of entry for the EU, EEA or Swiss citizens take about five seconds on average in Italy, while in Norway on average it takes about 1 minute. The gap in the examination of third nationals (subject to a more thorough examination) is even greater. For example, entrance checks for national Annex II take an average of 15 seconds in Greece, while the average in Sweden takes three to five minutes. Similarly, the entrance checks for national Annex I average lasted about 30-60 seconds in the Netherlands, while in Latvia, it lasted about two to five minutes on average.

After the new regime came into effect on April 7, 2017, much longer waiting times were reported at many external border crossings, especially since it was just before Easter. Tourists entering Slovenia from Croatia (which, although EU member states, not yet part of the Schengen Territories) have to wait for several hours because Slovenian border guards systematically check travel documents of all travelers (including those with the right to move freely) against the database relevant. Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar admits that the situation is 'unacceptable'. To reduce the long queues, systematic inspection of travel documents from those with free movement rights against relevant databases is temporarily suspended from Friday evening 7th April 2017 until the weekend. However, over the next weekend, long lines reappeared. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi, criticized the situation, called it 'unsustainable', and expressed concern about the impact on tourism (which accounts for 18% of Croatia's GDP). The Croatian President, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovi?, Sent an official letter to the European Commission to voice his concern about the influence of the new regime on border checks. At a meeting held on April 29, 2017, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, Cerar and Plenkovi? agree that, moving forward, a systematic examination of travel documents from those with free movement rights against relevant databases will be suspended at points of land border crossing between Croatia and Slovenia if the waiting time exceeds 15 minutes (with 'inspection targets' done instead). A long line was also reported at the points of the external border crossing in Greece, where the Hellenic Police leadership (responsible for border checks) decided to suspend, for a period of 6 months, a systematic examination of travel documents from those with free movement rights to the base relevant data (with the exception of the cving point of land bordering Kipoi with Turkey, due to security concerns). Greece was primarily influenced by the adoption of the new regime because Greek identity cards could not be read by machines, which meant that border guards had to manually enter the holder information into a computer system to check the relevant databases if the Greeks were presenting an identity card instead of a passport. Similarly, long waiting times are reported at points of external border crossings in France and Spain. Finland, Hungary and Italy also issue notices that suspend systematic checks at some point of intersection of external borders. In July 2017, Greece filed a request to suspend systematic inspection of travel documents from those who have free movement rights against relevant databases for a period of over 18 months, due to 'lack of infrastructure and increased traffic at 12 airports across the country'.

When conducting checks on external borders, border guards, by law, are required to respect the dignity of tourists (especially in cases involving vulnerable persons) and are prohibited from discriminating people on the basis of sex, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief they. , disability, age or sexual orientation.

External border controls are located on roads across borders, at airports, at seaports and on trains. Normally, there are no fences along the land border, but there are exceptions such as the Ceuta border fence, and some places on the eastern border. However, the surveillance camera system, some equipped with infrared technology, is located in some more critical places, for example on the border between Slovakia and Ukraine, where at some point there is a camera every 186 meters (203 meters).

All travelers coming from outside the Schengen Region using their own aircraft or boats must go directly to airports or ports that have border controls. This is a difficult gap to examine, and large-scale drug smuggling using sailboats has been found. Along the southern coast of the Schengen states, the coast guard made substantial efforts to prevent private vessels from entering without permission.

At many points of the external border crossings, there are special channels for the EU, the EEA and Swiss citizens (as well as their family members) and other pathways for all travelers regardless of citizenship. At some point of the external border crossing, there is a third type of route for travelers who are citizens of Annex II (ie non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens exempt from visa requirements). Although Andorran and San Marinese citizens are not EU or EEA citizens, they can still use special channels aimed at the EU, the EEA and Swiss citizens. British citizens will not be able to use the EU line after Brexit as a standing rule unless the rights are negotiated into the Brexit agreement with the EU.

Additional obligations imposed by European legislation on national border authorities when it comes to processing travelers who are third nationals (eg the obligation to affix their travel documents) should not prevent the development of an automatic border control system available to such travelers. As demonstrated by the examples listed above the automated border control system that has been developed at the crossing points of the Schengen Area external border, the national border authorities have been able to adjust the design of their automatic border control system to enable third nationals to make their use. One solution is to have a physically positioned border guard beside an automatic frontier gate that can stamp travel documents if necessary: ​​this approach has been adopted by the Finnish Border Guard at an automatic border gate at Helsinki Airport, where qualified users (required to receive passport stamps) including holders of biometric passports from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States, and by Portuguese ServiÃÆ'§o de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras at the automatic border gate at Lisbon Airport where qualified users (requested to receive passport stamps) including passport holders of Angola and Brazil and holders of diplomatic/service passports. A similar but slightly different solution has been adopted by the Royal Dutch Marechaussee in Privium iris recognition automatic border gate at Schiphol Airport Amsterdam (where qualified users include EU/EEA/Swiss registered citizens, US citizens who are members of Global Entry, and all citizens who is the holder of a diplomatic passport), as well as by the German Federal Police at ABG Plus auto gate at the airport gates of Frankfurt (where eligible users include EU/EEA/Swiss registered citizens and US citizens who are members of Global Entry): when citizens eligible third country countries use Privium/ABG Plus, after their iris is scanned and verified, different gates open to it for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and third country countries are directed to the line that takes them to the front of the queue for manual passport inspection at the immigration desk, where the border officer sticks to the user's passport. Another possible solution is to design automatic border gates to print paper slips with incoming or outgoing stamps on them, as well as tourist names and travel document numbers, whenever a user is a traveler subject to the requirement to have his travel documents stamped. At the Helsinki Port, the Finnish Border Guard has adjusted the design of the automatic border gate there to extend the feasibility of including Russian citizens (who, as Annex I citizens, are required to have visas) by requiring them to scan both biodata. pages and visas inside their passports, then enter the gates for face pictures and fingerprint recognition, and once the gates open to approach the border officers to be stamped their passports.

Sometimes, external border controls are located in non-Schengen areas, but within the EU. For example, France operates border checks on controls coupled to travelers departing from the UK to Schengen Area before they take the train or ferry at St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International railway stations, as well as at Port of Dover and Cheriton Terminal Eurotunnel.

ETIAS

In November 2016 the European Commission proposed a system for the electronic authorization of a third visa-exempt state country called ETIAS (European Travel Information System and Authorization). Under the ETIAS proposal will be managed by the European Border and Coast Guard in collaboration with national authorities. Foreign visitors will be required to submit personal data in advance and pay processing fees (fees are waived for children). The submitted application will be processed automatically by checking against the database and monitoring list and if there is no problem, authorization should be issued immediately. Authorization requests can be processed up to 72 hours, in which case the applicant should be notified if an authorization request is issued or denied or if additional information is required. In case the authorization is denied the applicant will have an appeal right in accordance with the national law of the member country. Authorization will be valid for five years. The travel authorization with limited territorial validity can only be excluded in a remarkable manner. It is envisioned as a system similar to the US ESTA system and the Canadian ETA system. It is expected to start operating on January 1, 2020. The cost of developing ETIAS is estimated at EUR212.1 million.

ETIAS requirements will not apply to:

• a citizen belonging to the EU or Schengen region
• people who need a Schengen visa
• micro-citizens of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican
• local border traffic permit holder
• holders of diplomatic passport
• crew member on duty
• EU citizen family member holding a valid resident card
• citizens of third countries enjoy the right to free movement by holding valid domicile cards
• a recognized refugee or a stateless person living in one of the member countries and holding travel documents issued there
• a visit to the UK (also pre-Brexit) or Ireland (as EU countries voted out of Schengen),

In addition to the third foreign country that is exempted from the visa, ETIAS requirements will also apply

• non-national member of EU citizen who does not hold a valid domicile card
• a citizen of a third country enjoys the right to free movement but does not have a valid domicile card
• visits to Croatia, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania (even if the EU countries have not yet approved the Schengen Agreement, as the Schengen Borders Code (2016/399) rules on "Entry requirements for third nationals" applies to countries this).
• visits to Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland (because they are Schengen countries)

In addition, EU citizens who have dual citizenship will be required to use passports issued by EU Member States to enter Schengen territory if they exercise their right to free entry visa/ETIAS.

Board responsibilities

The Schengen Rules require that all operators carrying passengers across the Schengen external border should check, before boarding, that passengers have the correct travel documents and visas required to enter. There is a penalty for carriers carrying foreign citizens without proper travel documents. It works like coupled controls and is more efficient than border controls on arrival, as immigrants have the right to apply for asylum on passport controls at the entrance port of the EU. Such applications must be self-made in the destination country of the application. Preventing immigrants from boarding a plane or boat prevents them from applying for asylum.

Short stays and transit visas

The rules applicable to short-term entry visas into the Schengen Area are set out in EU regulations containing two lists: a national list (or a class of travel document holder) requiring a visa for a short stay ( Annex I list ) and list not (list Annex II ).

Listed on the visa-free list sometimes but not always exclude citizenship or classes listed from the requirements to obtain a work permit if they wish to take employment or entrepreneurial activity during their stay; business travel is usually not considered work in this sense.

Schengen visa fee

In accordance with EU guidelines, the Schengen visa application must be accompanied by a payment of the visa fee. Fees (visa processing) must be paid on the day the application is filed and usually only paid in the local currency equivalent. They can not be returned regardless of the results of the application. However, discounted fees are given to several groups; and be released to students on official school/university trips, couples and small children of EU citizens, and children under the age of six regardless of citizenship.

Entry requirements for third country citizens

Schengen visas or visa exemptions do not entitle travelers to enter the Schengen area, but allow tourists to find entry points at the port. The Schengen Borders Code outlines the requirements that third citizens must fulfill in the Schengen Area. For this purpose, a third citizen is a person who does not enjoy the right of free movement (ie a person who is not a member of the European Union, EEA or Switzerland, or any member of such family). a person who has a residence permit with an indication of "EU citizen family member" or "family member of EEA or CH").

Entry requirements for third nationals who intend to stay in the Schengen Area for no more than 90 days in any 180-day period are as follows:

• Nomads have valid travel documents or documents that give them permission to cross the border (visas are not considered travel documents in this sense); the receipt of travel documents for this purpose remains within the member country's domain;
• Travel documents must be valid for at least 3 months after the intended departure date of the Schengen Area (although in case of urgent emergency, this obligation can be revoked) and must be issued within the previous 10 years;
• The traveler has a valid visa (if required) or a valid residence permit;
• The traveler may justify the purpose and conditions of the intended stay and have sufficient means of subsistence, either during the intended period of stay and to return to the country of origin or transit to a third country in which the traveler will surely be accepted, or be in a position to obtain such means legitimately;
• The Schengen Information System does not contain a rejection of travelers' sign-in alerts, and
• Travelers are not perceived as a threat to public policy, internal security, public health, or international relations of any of the Schengen states.

However, even if the third country does not meet the criteria for admission, acceptance may still be granted:

• On the basis of humanity
• On the basis of national interests
• On the basis of international obligations
• If the person does not have a visa, but meets the criteria for obtaining a visa at the border
• If the person has a residence permit or re-entry visa issued by the Schengen country

Border guards are required to stamp the travel documents of third nationals as they cross the external border. However, citizens of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City are exempted from this requirement, as are the heads of state, whose visits are announced through diplomatic channels, and local border traffic permit holders and residence permits. Certain exceptions also apply to crew and aircraft. Third citizens who meet all the criteria for entry into Schengen territory should not be refused entry because the only reason is that there is no empty space in their travel documents to put the stamp; Instead, the stamp should be affixed to a separate sheet of paper.

Stay longer than 90 days

To stay in the Schengen Area as a whole for more than 90 days, a third country citizen must have a long-term visa for a period of no more than one year, or residency for a longer period of time. Long-term visa is a national visa but is issued in accordance with a uniform format. He grants the holder the right to enter the Schengen Territory and remain in the issuing state for a period longer than 90 days but not later than one year. If the Schengen state wishes to permit a holder of a residence visa to stay there for more than a year, the state must issue him with a residence permit.

Long-stay visa holders or residences are entitled to move freely in other countries that form the Schengen Area for a period of up to three months in every half year. Third-year nationals who are long-term residents in the Schengen state may also obtain the right to move and reside in other Schengen states without losing their legal status and social benefits.

Asylum seekers requesting international protection under the Geneva Conventions of Schengen member states do not issue residence permit, but are issued, within three days after the application is filed, the authorization to remain in the territory of the member country while the application is pending or under review. This means that, while their applications for refugee status are being processed, asylum seekers are only allowed to remain in the Schengen member states where they have claimed asylum and are not entitled to move freely in other countries that make up the Schengen Area. Successful applicants who have been granted international protection by Schengen member states are issued a residence permit which is valid for at least three years and renewable, while applicants given child protection by Schengen member states are issued residence permit valid for at least 1 year and renewable, unless there are compelling strong grounds with national security or public order. Family members of international protection beneficiaries or subsidiaries of Schengen member countries are issued residence permits as well, but their validity may be shorter. Applicants who have been granted temporary protection by Schengen member states (as well as their united family members) are issued residence permits valid for the entire period of temporary protection.

However, some third nationals are allowed to stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days without the need for applying for a long stay visa. For example, France does not require the citizens of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City to apply for long stay visas. In addition, Article 20 (2) of the Convention which implements the Schengen Agreement allows for 'in exceptional circumstances' and for bilateral agreements agreed upon by individual signatories with other States before the Convention enters into force. As a result, for example, New Zealanders are allowed to live up to 90 days in every Schengen countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg , Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) who have terminated bilateral visa exemption agreements with the Government of New Zealand before the Convention comes into force without the need to apply for long stay visas, but if traveling to other Schengen countries 90 days within the 180 day validity period shall apply.

Entry requirements for third country family members of EEA citizens

Entry rights to the EEA and Switzerland (including all EU and EEA countries and Switzerland) without additional visas are extended to family members of third countries from EEA countries exercising their contractual rights from free movement holding valid resident cards from their EEA host country home and would like to visit other EEA member countries for short visits up to 90 days. This is implied in the Directive 2004/38/EC, Article 5 (2) provided they travel with the national EEA or join their spouse/future partner (Article 6 (2)). If non-EEA family members do not have EEA residence or visa cards, but may show their family ties to the EU nationally in other ways, then visas must be issued at the border free of charge and entry permission is permitted.

However, this requirement (as of December 2008) has been incorrectly amended into Belgian, Latvian and Swedish laws, and is not transferred at all by Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Lithuania, Germany and Slovenia. The five member states (as of December 2008), do not follow the Directive stating that non-EEA family members may still face difficulties (refusal to board a ship by a transport company, refusal to enter by border police) when traveling to them declare using their domicile card obtained in other EU countries. Visas or other documents may still be required.

For example, Britain interprets the "residence card" in Article 5 (2) of the Directive which means the "English" domicile card, and ignores the other cards, instead requiring "EEA family permission" as opposed to the Directive. Showing family ties to the EU national by other means (as mentioned above) should avoid this. Denmark and Ireland do not prescribe that valid citizenship cards will exclude non-EEA family members from visa requirements. Spain only allows residence cards from Schengen countries, therefore cards from England, Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus are not allowed. Spanish law does not comply with the Directive. Austria, somewhat like Britain, seems to require a permanent resident card issued by Austrian authorities to enter without a visa.

Beginning April 6, 2015 , non-EU European family members who have domian cards, provided to them under article 10 directive 2004/38/EC , are entitled to enter the UK without the need to apply for EEA Family or Family Visa Permit, simply by giving their resident's card at the border. However, UK border officers will grant admission to non-EU family members if they can prove their connection with EU national family members who will accompany them, providing documents such as marriage or birth certificate . Entering the UK as a residence card holder Article 10

Local boundary traffic on the outer border

Schengen countries sharing land borders with non-EU Member States are authorized under the European Union Regulation 1931/2006 to conclude or maintain bilateral agreements with third-neighboring countries for the purpose of implementing local border traffic regimes. Such an agreement establishes a border area that can reach up to a maximum of 50 kilometers (31 mi) on both sides of the border, and provides for the issuance of local border traffic permits for the inhabitants of the border area. Permits may be used to cross the external frontier in the border area, not be branded while crossing the border and shall display the names and photographs of the holder, as well as the statement that the holder is not authorized to move beyond the border area and that any misuse shall be liable.

Permits are issued with a validity period of one to five years and allow to stay in the border area for up to three months. Permits may only be issued to legitimate residents of border areas who have been living in the border area for at least one year (or longer if determined by bilateral agreements). Applicants for permits must demonstrate that they have a valid reason to frequently cross the external land border under the local border traffic regime. The Schengen State must maintain a list of issued permit centers and must provide direct access to relevant data to other Schengen countries.

Local border traffic holders may spend up to 3 months every time they enter the border state of the issuing license (this time limit is much cheaper than "90 days in a 180 day period" usually given to citizens thirds visiting the Schengen Region).

Before the conclusion

Source of the article : Wikipedia