Highlights: Croatia, Bulgaria, and Romania to join the Schengen area countries

• Three new countries are the latest to join the Schengen zone. The new Schengen area countries are Croatia, Romania, and Bulgaria.
• Croatia will lift border restrictions with other Schengen countries on January 1, 2023.
• Soon, travelers from one Schengen country will be able to travel to another without a passport or identity card.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3AYz6q5aGk *Willing to visit Schengen? Take expert guidance from Y-Axis immigration professionals. The Schengen zone is going to get bigger with the joining of three new countries. Croatia has received EU Council’s approval to become a Schengen area country. Countries that are due to receive the approval to be Schengen area countries are Bulgaria and Romania. With the approval of these countries to join the Schengen zone, travelers from other Schengen area countries will be able to travel to these countries without a passport or ID. From January 1, 2023, Croatia will lift the border restrictions for other Schengen countries. In fact, Croatia has been a part of the EU since 2013, while Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007. Currently, Romania and Bulgaria aren’t part of the Schengen Zone. They are expected to be approved as part of the Schengen zone in 2023. Meanwhile, Croatia will start to use Euro as the country’s currency in January 2023. Also read: Visit Croatia, the country that already had 15 million tourists in 2022

Still don’t know how Schengen and EU are connected?

Many may be confused as to how the EU and Schengen zone is connected. So, here’s how you must understand it. Here’s the difference between the two:

The EU	The Schengen Zone
The EU is a political and economic union of many European countries.	The Schengen zone is a travel zone comprising many European countries (including those in the EU) the citizens of which can freely travel without a visa or passport.
The EU was established in 1933.	Schengen zone came into being in 1985.
The EU aims to provide an internal market of capital, services, and goods.	The purpose of the Schengen zone is the promotion of freedom of travel among the citizens of its member countries. It will also provide a common visa scheme for visitors arriving from foreign countries.
Each EU member state adheres to a set of rules and regulations. Every citizen in the EU member states possesses voting rights in the EU parliament.	Each state that’s a member of the Schengen zone adheres to the same guidelines that apply to the Schengen visa. However, each member nation has the freedom to choose which visa applications must be approved or rejected.

Also read: Top 5 amazing EU destinations to visit in 2023, as per National Geographic Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament says...  

“Croatia’s place is in Schengen. Criteria have been met. The European Parliament has given its green light. Now the EU Council must deliver,”

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament

Ylva Johansson, in her words...

"The wait has been long, I should say, too long. Expectations are high, rightly so, from authorities but not at least citizens,"

Ylva Johansson, the Home Affairs Commissioner of the EU, about Romania and Bulgaria joining the Schengen zone.

To which country in Schengen is your takeaway...

If you immigrate to any of the Schengen area countries, you will get the opportunity to explore 29 countries in the Schengen zone. Try migrating to Germany, which will also be a great choice for your career growth. If you are willing to Visit Schengen, talk to Y-Axis, the leading immigration and career consultant in the UAE. If you find this blog engaging, you may also like: Finland issues highest ever residence permits to international students in 2022