There are several countries who have entered into a bi-lateral agreement with Europe due to which their citizens can travel to Schengen countries either for business, as a visitor or as a tourist without getting a Schengen visa.

The number of days permitted to stay in any of the Schengen zone countries doesn’t exceed 90 days/ three months every half a year needless of the travel reasons. Also you cannot engage in any work or study related activities under this scheme. There are other Schengen visas for that purpose.

Even though you can visit for free you may be asked questions at the immigration and they have the right to entry, which means if they find your travel suspicious can send you back.

Here is the list of countries that can visit Schengen states without a visa permit.

* Visa-free regime applies to citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, and Serbia only if they are holders of biometric passports.

** Visa-free regime applies to holders of passports issued by Taiwan only if their passport contains an identity card number.

** Only Vanuatuan nationals holding ordinary passports issued before May 25, 2015, can enter the Schengen Area visa-free.

2) Special administrative regions of the People’s Republic of China:

• Hong Kong***
• Macao***

*** Visa-free regime applies only to holders of a “Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” passport.
*** Visa-free regime applies only to holders of a “Região Administrativa Especial de Macau” passport.