"A new visa code has come into force in most EU member states, speeding up and standardising visa procedures for travellers to Europe. The new rules apply to the 25 countries in the Schengen zone, where people can cross borders without passport checks.Schengen embraces 22 EU countries and three non-EU nations - Norway, Iceland and Switzerland. The UK and Irish Republic are among those outside. Getting a Schengen visa will be "faster and fairer", the EU Commission says." (Quoted from site)