ETIAS for Romania

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System—ETIAS—will be introduced to Europe’s visa policy in 2026 . ETIAS for Romania will be a mandatory step for many overseas visitors once fully implemented.

The purpose of the new travel authorisation is to help improve border management in the Schengen Area. The system will screen foreign visitors and approve them for travel before they enter the borderless zone.

Romania became an official Schengen member state from March 31, 2024. The ETIAS system will be applied to its immigration policy.

Romania joined the European Union in January 2007 and the nation is home to 3.9% of the total EU population. 32 members of the European Parliament are from Romania.

Despite being one of the newer EU members, Romania plays a vital role in the union by providing a bridge between the east and the west.

DOES ROMANIA USE THE EURO?

Romania committed to adopting the euro when it joined the European Union. However, the pandemic disrupted progress.

The country still uses its own currency, the Romanian Leu, but it has committed to changing to the euro once it meets all criteria for the eurozone.

Prime Minister Florin Cîțu has commented that Romania “could enter the eurozone after 2024-2025 and be able to adopt the euro in 2027 or 2028”.

IS ROMANIA A SCHENGEN COUNTRY?

Yes, Romania is now a Schengen country, as of March 31, 2024.

There are no longer border checks between Romania and other Schengen members at airports or seaports.

Land borders are not yet open, but passport control and other checks with neighbouring Schengen countries (Bulgaria and Hungary) are expected to be abolished later in 2024.

ROMANIA’S WAIT FOR SCHENGEN MEMBERSHIP

Despite being a member of the EU since 2007, Romania had to wait 17 years to become part of the Schengen zone.

Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area was postponed several times. The vote had to be unanimous to pass. In previous votes, countries such as Austria and the Netherlands voted against Romania’s accession to the Schengen area, citing concerns about illegal migration.

However, this changed with a final vote at a meeting of the EU Council on December 30, 2023. The member states unanimously voted in favour of Romania joining Schengen.

Romania officially joined the open-borders region on March 31, 2024, although land border checks have yet to be removed.

ROMANIA WILL USE ETIAS

As a Schengen member state, Romania will follow the ETIAS policy.

Romania will benefit from the added safety and security of ETIAS.

ETIAS is not a visa, and by registering for it online, you can still visit Romania visa-free as a tourist or business traveller, according to Romania’s entry requirements.

Travellers will be able to use the same visa waiver to enter Romania and visit any of the other ETIAS countries.

ROMANIA’S VISA POLICY

The visa requirements for Romania already follow the Schengen acquis. EU citizens can visit Romania and all other Schengen states without a visa.

Non-EU passport holders do not have freedom of movement, they must have a valid visa or visa waiver to enter Romania and the Schengen Area and the rest of the Schengen Area.

WHO NEEDS A VISA FOR ROMANIA?

Entry requirements for Romania depend on the nationality of the visitor and the passport they use to travel.

Certain countries have a visa waiver agreement with Romania. This means that citizens of these nations can enter Romania without a visa and stay for up to 3 months. The purpose of travel must be either business or tourism.

Visa-exempt travellers who wish to stay in Romania for longer than 3 months, or to work or study, must apply for a visa.

Passport holders that are not eligible for visa-free entry must obtain a visa for Romania before their trip.

Since it joined the Schengen Area, Romania issues Schengen visas.

IS ETIAS FOR ROMANIA REQUIRED?

The ETIAS for Romania will apply to all visa waiver nationalities. Citizens of these countries will continue to enjoy visa-free travel, providing they apply for the ETIAS Romania first.

It is important to remember that ETIAS is not a visa. The new system is a visa waiver, which will screen travellers and approve them for visa-free entry into the Schengen zone.

Citizens of countries that are not visa-exempt must still apply for a visa. The ETIAS is only available to eligible nationalities.

Travelling to Romania with an ETIAS authorisation will be straightforward. The visa waiver is electronically linked to the passenger’s passport. They will simply need to present their passport at immigration, which will be scanned and approved.

The ETIAS for Romania will be valid for a stay of up to 90 days, which must be within a 180-day period.

ETIAS is a multiple-entry travel permit which is valid for 3 years. Holders can use the same authorisation to enter Romania and all other Schengen states multiple times.

USEFUL TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR ROMANIA

Romania is a popular tourist destination largely due to its impressive nature. The country has the most biographically diverse landscapes in the EU—with mountains, hills, forests, Black Sea beaches, and Europe’s best-preserved delta.

Pre-pandemic, Romania was welcoming over 13 million tourists a year. This number has significantly decreased since COVID-19; however the country’s tourism industry is now recovering.

The highest number of visitors come from Moldova, followed by Hungary, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Germany.

ETIAS PORTS OF ENTRY IN ROMANIA

ETIAS Romania holders will be able to access the country at all air, land, and sea entry points.

Many tourists choose to travel to Romania by plane. The busiest airport is Bucharest Henri Coanda Airport. Other major airports include: Cluj-Napoca Airport, Timisoara Airport, and Iasi Airport.

IS MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR ROMANIA REQUIRED?

EU passport holders are eligible to receive free healthcare in Romania. They must have their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

The healthcare requirements for non-EU travellers depend on whether they have an ETIAS or a Schengen visa.

DOES ROMANIA ETIAS REQUIRE HEALTH INSURANCE?

Medical insurance is not mandatory for ETIAS holders; however it is advisable to always travel with efficient healthcare cover to avoid any unexpected problems.

MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR SCHENGEN VISA HOLDERS IN ROMANIA

Schengen visa travellers must have valid health insurance. This is part of the Schengen visa policy—applicants cannot obtain the visa without medical cover.

The health insurance must be valid for the duration of the trip and cover a minimum of 30,000€.