The Schengen Area is a zone of 27 European countries that have abolished passport and other types of border control at their mutual borders. It functions as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes. Croatia is the most recent country to join the Schengen Area, having become a member in January 2023. While Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are not members of the European Union (EU), they are part of the Schengen Area.