Travellers to Europe are often confused by the terms European Union, Monetary Union and Schengen Area. Some believe that they can use these terms synonymously. However, this is not correct. Although the countries are partly congruent, there are differences. If you want to travel to Cyprus and apply for a Schengen visa, you will find that this is not possible. Cyprus belongs to the EU but not to the Schengen area. The Czech Republic belongs to the EU and the Schengen area, but not to the monetary union.
How the Schengen area relates to the European Union
As mentioned above, the Schengen area and the European Union are largely congruent, but travellers should not rely on this. The following states currently belong to the European Union, but not to the Schengen area:
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Romania
- Cyprus
Nevertheless, entry is currently possible without any problems with a passport. It is possible, of course, that both the list of countries and the entry modalities will change before the start of ETIAS.
The enclaves of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City are located in the Schengen area. These are also not part of the Schengen area. But that is not a problem. Anyone visiting these states will not notice anything because they must first enter a state within the Schengen area. If you want to visit San Marino, you have to fill out an ETIAS for Italy.
Great Britain and Ireland are also not part of the Schengen area.
The Netherlands, Spain and France have overseas territories outside Europe. These cannot be entered with an ETIAS visa as they are not part of the Schengen area.
The Schengen area and the European Monetary Union
In most countries of the European Union, the euro is the legal tender. Some countries have not joined the monetary union, so the national currency still applies here. From 2023, travellers will be able to travel to the Czech Republic with an ETIAS. If they do not want to pay exclusively by card there, they should take a few crowns with them. Although most shops also accept euros, change is usually given in crowns.
27 countries currently belong to the European Monetary Union. 19 of them adopted the euro on 1 January 2002. Six states do not meet the criteria.
The borders only affect the traveller marginally
The ETIAS is only necessary for the Schengen area. If a tourist travels to another country on the European continent, he must find out what entry modalities are required. Often a passport is sufficient, sometimes the tourist has to apply for a visa.
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Travellers to Europe are often confused by the terms European Union, Monetary Union and Schengen Area. Some believe that they can use these terms synonymously. However, this is not correct. Although the countries are partly congruent, there are differences. If you want to travel to Cyprus and apply for a Schengen visa, you will find that this is not possible. Cyprus belongs to the EU but not to the Schengen area. The Czech Republic belongs to the EU and the Schengen area, but not to the monetary union.
How the Schengen area relates to the European Union
As mentioned above, the Schengen area and the European Union are largely congruent, but travellers should not rely on this. The following states currently belong to the European Union, but not to the Schengen area:
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Romania
- Cyprus
Nevertheless, entry is currently possible without any problems with a passport. It is possible, of course, that both the list of countries and the entry modalities will change before the start of ETIAS.
The enclaves of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City are located in the Schengen area. These are also not part of the Schengen area. But that is not a problem. Anyone visiting these states will not notice anything because they must first enter a state within the Schengen area. If you want to visit San Marino, you have to fill out an ETIAS for Italy.
Great Britain and Ireland are also not part of the Schengen area.
The Netherlands, Spain and France have overseas territories outside Europe. These cannot be entered with an ETIAS visa as they are not part of the Schengen area.
The Schengen area and the European Monetary Union
In most countries of the European Union, the euro is the legal tender. Some countries have not joined the monetary union, so the national currency still applies here. From 2023, travellers will be able to travel to the Czech Republic with an ETIAS. If they do not want to pay exclusively by card there, they should take a few crowns with them. Although most shops also accept euros, change is usually given in crowns.
27 countries currently belong to the European Monetary Union. 19 of them adopted the euro on 1 January 2002. Six states do not meet the criteria.
The borders only affect the traveller marginally
The ETIAS is only necessary for the Schengen area. If a tourist travels to another country on the European continent, he must find out what entry modalities are required. Often a passport is sufficient, sometimes the tourist has to apply for a visa.