This implies that, the Schengen land and sea borders to the new Schengen countries is abolished from December 21 2007. The control of passengers travelling by air to the Schengen countries will also be abolished in March 2008.
The extension of the Schengen area will have some consequences in relation to both visa and border control. In practical terms it means a Schengen visa which is issued from December 21 2007, will be valid for travels in all the 24 Schengen countries, if there are no territorial limitations. At the same time, people from non-EU countries who have residence permit in any of the nine new Schengen countries, will be able to travel through the respective member states outer frontiers without a visa.
People from non-EU countries with a residence permit in one of the Schengen countries will also be able to travel without a visa to the new Schengen countries.
The following 15 countries have been part of the Schengen area since March 25, 2001: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
Cyprus, Great Britain, Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania and Switzerland are not part of the Schengen area.