Here’s something to add a little bit more joy to your Europe trip – Croatia is the newest addition to the border check-free Schengen zone. The European Union (EU) has finally approved Croatia as a Schengen state, and now travellers on a Schengen visa can add Croatia to their list of countries to visit on one visa.

Croatia is the 27th member nation of Schengen, and from January 1, 2023, travellers will be allowed to visit the country on a Schengen visa. Even though the border check-free measure will be implemented from January 1, technical preparations in the country’s airport will be able to follow this from March 26.

Croatia shares borders with Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Italy (sea border). Out of these countries, Slovenia, Hungary and Italy are Schengen states.

What is a Schengen zone?

A Schengen zone or area is the world’s largest visa-free zone. Now 27 countries are part of this Schengen area. Meaning, on one Schengen visa, you are technically allowed to travel visa-free to 27 countries.

Now, a lot of these countries share borders with one another and apart from flight services, there are trains, ships and even roadways through which one can travel between these countries.

Your Schengen visa will allow you to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days over a period of 180 days. It allows a traveller to experience a lot of things and countries in a short span of time.

So, are you planning your Europe tour already?