A similar document on Switzerland's accession to the Schengen visa-free area was signed in January 2008. Switzerland is to enter the Schengen area simultaneously with Liechtenstein in order to keep its borders open.
Liechtenstein is not part of the Schengen area, but a visa-free regime applies in the principality for citizens of EU countries. Thus, the principality's accession to Schengen will be felt first of all not by Europeans, but by foreign tourists. In addition, Liechtenstein will join the single Schengen police database, created for joint fight against illegal migration.