- The EEA has 30 member countries: the 27 EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
- Switzerland is not in the EEA or the EU, but it is in Schengen. The UK left the EEA when it left the EU.
- Ireland and Cyprus are in the EEA and EU but not (fully) in Schengen, so Schengen visa rules do not apply there.
The European Economic Area (EEA) has 30 member countries: all 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Switzerland is not a member, and neither is the United Kingdom, which left the EEA when it left the EU in 2020. The full list is in the table below, followed by how the EEA differs from the EU, EFTA and the Schengen area. Figures were checked against European Union and European Commission pages on October 10, 2026.
Complete list of EEA countries (30)
Free toolSchengen Short-Stay Visa Calculator| Country | EU member since | Schengen area | Euro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 1995 | Yes | Yes |
| Belgium | 1958 | Yes | Yes |
| Bulgaria | 2007 | Yes (2024; land borders 2025) | Yes (Jan 2026) |
| Croatia | 2013 | Yes (2023) | Yes (2023) |
| Cyprus | 2004 | Not yet: takes part in cooperation, but border checks are not lifted | Yes |
| Czechia | 2004 | Yes | No |
| Denmark | 1973 | Yes | No |
| Estonia | 2004 | Yes | Yes |
| Finland | 1995 | Yes | Yes |
| France | 1958 | Yes | Yes |
| Germany | 1958 | Yes | Yes |
| Greece | 1981 | Yes | Yes |
| Hungary | 2004 | Yes | No |
| Iceland | Not in EU (EFTA) | Yes | No |
| Ireland | 1973 | No (opt-out; runs its own border and visa policy) | Yes |
| Italy | 1958 | Yes | Yes |
| Latvia | 2004 | Yes | Yes |
| Liechtenstein | Not in EU (EFTA) | Yes | No |
| Lithuania | 2004 | Yes | Yes |
| Luxembourg | 1958 | Yes | Yes |
| Malta | 2004 | Yes | Yes |
| Netherlands | 1958 | Yes | Yes |
| Norway | Not in EU (EFTA) | Yes | No |
| Poland | 2004 | Yes | No |
| Portugal | 1986 | Yes | Yes |
| Romania | 2007 | Yes (2024; land borders 2025) | No |
| Slovakia | 2004 | Yes | Yes |
| Slovenia | 2004 | Yes | Yes |
| Spain | 1986 | Yes | Yes |
| Sweden | 1995 | Yes | No |
Euro and Schengen columns follow the EU’s country pages and the European Commission’s Schengen page. Cyprus is still waiting for the Council to lift its internal border controls. Bulgaria joined the euro area in January 2026, which brings the euro area to 21 of the 27 EU states.
EEA vs EU vs Schengen vs EFTA: the differences
| EEA | EU | Schengen area | EFTA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Single-market treaty (in force Jan 1, 1994) | Political and economic union | Zone without internal border checks | Free-trade association |
| Members | 30 | 27 | 29 | 4 |
| Who | 27 EU states + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway | 27 states, no EFTA members | 25 EU states + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland | Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland |
| Switzerland | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Ireland | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Cyprus | Yes | Yes | Not yet (checks remain) | No |
EEA vs EU
Every EU country is in the EEA, but the EEA also includes three non-EU countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Those three apply EU single-market rules on goods, services, capital and the movement of people, but they sit outside several EU policies: the common agriculture and fisheries policies, the customs union, the common trade policy, the common foreign and security policy, direct and indirect taxation, and economic and monetary union. They also have no vote on EU legislation.
EEA vs Schengen
The EEA is about the single market. Schengen is about border checks. The Schengen area has 29 countries: 25 EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. That produces three overlaps worth remembering:
- In the EEA but not in Schengen: Ireland (opt-out) and Cyprus (not yet fully in).
- In Schengen but not in the EEA: Switzerland, which has its own bilateral agreements with the EU.
- Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania are now Schengen members, so they no longer belong on an “EEA but not Schengen” list. Older articles still show them there.
For travelers, this matters because days spent in Ireland or Cyprus do not count toward the 90-in-180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not cover entry to those two countries. Our coverage of the ETIAS launch timeline and the EU Entry/Exit System explains the new Schengen border systems.
EEA vs EFTA
The European Free Trade Association has four members: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Three of them are in the EEA. Switzerland chose not to join after a 1992 referendum and instead trades with the EU through bilateral agreements.
What EEA membership means for people
EEA nationals can move to, live in and work in other EEA countries under single-market free movement rules. The Schengen area is a separate layer that removes routine checks at internal borders. Third-country nationals, including Americans, are not covered by EEA free movement. They need the visa or visa-free status that each country sets, and Schengen rules apply only inside the Schengen area. See also what to do if a Schengen visa is refused.
How the EEA came about
- May 2, 1992: the EEA Agreement was signed in Porto.
- January 1, 1994: the agreement entered into force after Switzerland’s voters rejected it in 1992 and an adjusting protocol was agreed without Switzerland.
- 2004, 2007 and 2013: each EU enlargement was followed by an EEA enlargement agreement, bringing the total to the present 30.
- 2020: the United Kingdom left the EU and, with it, the EEA.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries are in the EEA?
Thirty: 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Is Switzerland in the EEA?
No. Switzerland is in EFTA and Schengen, but not in the EEA or the EU.
Is the UK in the EEA?
No. The UK left the EEA when it left the EU on January 31, 2020.
Is Ireland in the EEA and Schengen?
Ireland is in the EEA but not in Schengen, because it uses an opt-out and keeps its own border and visa policy.
Is the EEA the same as the Eurozone?
No. The euro is used by 21 of the 27 EU states. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are in the EEA but do not use the euro.
Related reading
- Schengen Visas Surge to 10.3 Million in 2025
- ETIAS Update: Fee, 90 Days in 180-Day Period and Launch Timing
- Schengen Visa Refused? Appeal or Reapply
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. If you reference its content, please attribute it to VisaVerge.com with a link to the original source.
