Romania gets the status of a Schengen country on 31 March 2024. It becomes a Schengen Area member by air and sea. It is a step awaited for 13 years. The country has started issuing Schengen visas, which means that its consular mechanisms will be integrated into the free movement area.
The EU officials have also confirmed that Romania and Bulgaria may start issuing Schengen Visa for the short term from 1 April 2024. This means candidates will be able to apply for the visa of Romania and then they can use this visa to also travel to other Schengen states.
It is a significant, difficult, but important thing at the same time, and the Romanian government will be part of the decision-making process specific to the free movement zone. The Romanian Government is also hopeful that the subject of Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area can be reopened towards the end of the year after the elections in Austria are completed.
On 30 December 2023, the Council agreed to remove controls at internal air and sea borders with Bulgaria and Romania. Later another decision will be taken to remove land border controls.
country information
Romania
- Capital: Bucharest
- Official EU language(s): Romanian
- EU member country: since 1 January 2007
- Currency: Romanian Leu RON. Romania has committed to the euro once it fulfills the necessary conditions.
- Schengen: Yes. Since 31 March 2024
New List of Schengen Countries
| Austria | Greece | Malta, | Slovakia |
| Belgium | Iceland | Netherlands | Slovenia |
| Croatia | Italy | Norway | Spain |
| Denmark | Latvia, | Poland | The Czech Republic |
| Estonia | Liechtenstein, | Portugal | Hungary |
| Finland | Lithuania | Sweden | Germany |
| France | Luxembourg | Switzerland | Romania |
| Bulgaria |
Steps for the decision regarding the award of Schengen status
The Ministry of Internal Affairs reached a political agreement together with the corresponding ministries in Austria and Bulgaria regarding the expansion of the Schengen Area with Romania and Bulgaria and the application of the Schengen acquis in Romania and Bulgaria at the air and sea borders starting from March 2024, as well as discussing in 2024 of its application at land borders in close connection with the compensatory measures regarding the strengthening of border control and the application of the Dublin Agreement.
Consequently, during December 26 and 27, discussions took place on diplomatic channels, between the ministries of the interior, and the ministries of foreign affairs, including at the level of the diplomatic missions accredited to the EU, on the draft decision of the Council to legally incorporate the said political agreement. These discussions will continue tomorrow, 28 December 2023.
The materialization of the political agreement in a decision requires the agreement of all EU Member States, a procedural step that will continue tomorrow, December 28, 2023.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs thanks the President of Romania, the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the Permanent Mission in Brussels, for the support provided during the negotiations carried out in the last 5 months.
Also, the Ministry of Internal Affairs thanks the European Commission and the Spanish Presidency, as well as the MAI Austria and MAI Bulgaria for the constructive discussions that led to the political agreement of December 23 for the access of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs will remain fully engaged alongside the President of Romania, the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the continuation of diplomatic efforts until the process materializes through a decision.
The President of the Senate, Nicolae Ciucă, the leader of the PNL, said on Wednesday that the political agreement with Austria for the admission of Romania to the initial Schengen area with air and sea borders is “a real success”, noting that the PNL treated this file as an absolute priority.
He also said that “the most consistent and relevant steps were taken during the liberal governments of recent years when the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Justice made every effort for Romania’s cause”.
“The admission of Romania to the Schengen Area with air and maritime borders is the fruit of work that began immediately after our integration into the European Union. In all these years, whether in power or in opposition, the PNL has treated Romania’s file as an absolute priority, as it is the most important project for the country after we became members of the EU and NATO.
The most consistent and relevant steps were taken during the liberal governments of recent years when the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Justice made every effort for Romania’s cause.
The joint efforts of the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, as well as the Minister of Internal Affairs, Cătălin Predoiu, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminița Odobescu, bring us today extremely positive external signals.
Ciolacu, convinced that next year “we will close the negotiations for the land border as well”
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu reacted immediately, saying that “from March next year, Romanians will benefit from the advantages of the Schengen area by air and sea” and declared that he is “convinced that in 2024 we will close the negotiations for the land border as well”