Romania and Bulgaria Visa Requirements for Citizens (2026 Schengen Update)

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Romania and Bulgaria became full Schengen members on 31 March 2024 for air and sea borders, and full land-border Schengen members on 1 January 2025. That single change rewired the visa rules for both countries. If your last Romania-Bulgaria trip was pre-2024, almost everything you remember about visas, border stamps, and overland transit is now different.

This guide gives you the 2026 reality - who needs a Schengen visa to enter Romania or Bulgaria, who is visa-free, how the new rules apply to citizens of major countries, and what actually happens at the borders.

Short answer

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: No visa required. Free movement applies.
Visa-free Schengen nationals (US, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, UAE, etc.): No visa for short stays up to 90 days within a 180-day rolling period across the entire Schengen Area, including Romania and Bulgaria.
Visa-required Schengen nationals (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nigeria, Vietnam, Iran, China - most cases, and many other African and Asian states): A Schengen visa issued by any Schengen country is now valid for Romania and Bulgaria. The standalone Romania-only or Bulgaria-only short-stay visas have been phased out.
Long-stay visas (D-type): Still issued individually by Romania and Bulgaria for stays over 90 days, study, work, family reunion, etc.

What changed in 2024-2025

Before March 2024 Romania and Bulgaria were EU members but not full Schengen members. They issued separate short-stay visas, ran independent border controls, and Schengen visas were not automatically valid for them. Travelers often had to apply separately to visit Sofia or Bucharest.

In 2024-2025 that all changed:

31 March 2024: Air and sea borders went fully Schengen. Travelers flying from Frankfurt to Bucharest or sailing from Italy to Burgas no longer faced internal passport checks.
1 January 2025: Land borders followed. The Romania-Hungary, Romania-Bulgaria, and Bulgaria-Greece crossings became internal Schengen borders without routine passport control.
Schengen visa unified validity: A C-type Schengen visa issued by France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, or any other Schengen state is now valid for Romania and Bulgaria.
National short-stay visas (Romania C-visa, Bulgaria C-visa) were largely phased out for tourism purposes.

Visa-free nationalities (no Schengen visa needed for tourism)

Citizens of these countries can enter Romania and Bulgaria visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day rolling Schengen period:

All EU/EEA/Switzerland citizens
US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand
Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Taiwan
Israel, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar
Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Venezuela
Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Moldova (with biometric passport), Kosovo (some cases), Ukraine (with biometric passport)
Many more - full official list at the European Commission visa lists page.

Visa-required nationalities (Schengen C-visa needed)

Citizens of these countries need a Schengen short-stay visa to enter Romania or Bulgaria:

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal
Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines
Mainland China (most categories)
Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan
Most African nationalities including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia
Cuba, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Ecuador, Suriname, Belize
Russia (since 2022), Belarus, North Korea

Apply at the Schengen embassy/consulate of your main country of stay or first country of entry. If your trip is mainly Romania or Bulgaria, apply through Romanian or Bulgarian missions.

How to apply for a Schengen visa for Romania or Bulgaria

The process is the same as any Schengen visa application:

Determine your application country. Apply through Romanian or Bulgarian missions if those are your primary destinations.
Book an appointment through the embassy website or via VFS Global / TLScontact / BLS International where applicable.
Prepare documents:
- Schengen visa application form (signed)
- Two recent passport photos
- Passport (6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages)
- Round-trip flight booking
- Hotel reservations or sponsor invitation
- Detailed travel itinerary
- Travel insurance with EUR 30,000+ medical coverage
- Bank statements (last 3-6 months)
- Employment letter or business documents
- Cover letter explaining trip purpose
Pay the visa fee: EUR 90 standard, EUR 45 for children 6-12, free for under-6.
Attend interview and biometrics (fingerprints and photo).
Wait for processing: 15-45 calendar days typical. Apply at least 1-2 months ahead.
Collect passport with visa.

Visa fees

Application	Adult	Children 6-12	Under 6
Schengen C-visa	EUR 90	EUR 45	Free
Long-stay D-visa	EUR 120	EUR 60	EUR 60
ETIAS authorization (when active)	EUR 7	Free under 18 / over 70	Free

ETIAS - coming for visa-free travelers

The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) was scheduled for late 2025 launch but has been delayed multiple times. As of April 2026 the launch date is now expected in late 2026 or early 2027.

When ETIAS goes live, citizens of visa-free countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.) will need to apply online for an ETIAS authorization (EUR 7, valid 3 years) before traveling to any Schengen country including Romania and Bulgaria.

Until ETIAS officially launches, no advance authorization is needed for visa-free nationalities.

Always check travel-europe.europa.eu/etias for the current launch status.

Land-border reality (2026)

Since January 2025, the following land borders are internal Schengen:
- Romania ↔ Hungary
- Romania ↔ Bulgaria
- Bulgaria ↔ Greece

You can drive Vienna → Budapest → Bucharest → Sofia → Thessaloniki without a single passport check, just like Berlin → Munich → Vienna. Random spot checks may still happen by police but routine border control has ended.

External Schengen land borders that still have full controls:
- Romania ↔ Moldova (Moldova is not in Schengen)
- Romania ↔ Ukraine
- Romania ↔ Serbia
- Bulgaria ↔ Serbia
- Bulgaria ↔ North Macedonia
- Bulgaria ↔ Turkey

If you cross any of these, you'll get a Schengen entry/exit stamp (or use the upcoming EES system once activated).

Entry/Exit System (EES)

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) - biometric tracking of all third-country travelers entering the Schengen Area - was scheduled for October 2025 and has now been progressively rolled out from late 2025, with full operations across all Schengen borders (including Romania and Bulgaria) expected during 2026.

Once EES is fully active:
- Passport stamps will be replaced by biometric records (fingerprints and photo)
- 90/180-day rules will be tracked automatically
- Overstays will be detected immediately

This affects all visa-free and visa-holding travelers from outside the EU.

Long-stay visas (D-type)

For stays over 90 days in Romania or Bulgaria - work, study, family, retirement - you need a national D-type long-stay visa issued by Romania or Bulgaria specifically. Schengen C-visas don't cover long stays.

Romania D-visa types:
- Work (with employer sponsorship)
- Family reunification
- Study
- Long-stay tourism (specific cases)
- Investment (Golden Visa-style)
- Religious activities
- Diplomatic/Official

Bulgaria D-visa types: similar categories, plus a notable pensioner D-visa for retirees with steady income.

Both countries offer digital nomad visa programs as of 2024-2026:
- Romania digital nomad visa requires income proof of EUR 3,300+ per month
- Bulgaria offers a long-stay visa for remote workers with similar income thresholds

Required documents at the border

Whether visa-free or with Schengen visa:
- Passport with 3+ months validity beyond planned departure
- Return/onward ticket
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking, rental, or invitation letter)
- Sufficient funds (around EUR 50-75 per day)
- Travel insurance with EUR 30,000+ medical coverage
- Schengen visa or ETIAS (when applicable)

Cost of visiting Romania and Bulgaria (2026)

Bulgaria and Romania remain among the cheapest EU countries despite Schengen accession.

Item (per person, USD)	Romania	Bulgaria
Daily backpacker	35-55	30-50
Daily mid-range	60-110	55-100
Daily comfort	110-220	100-200
Hotel mid-range	50-100	45-90
Restaurant meal	8-20	7-18
Bus/train inter-city	8-25	6-20
Coffee/beer	2-4	1.5-3.5

Best travel routes combining both

Many travelers do Romania and Bulgaria together. Popular routes:

Bucharest → Veliko Tarnovo → Sofia → Plovdiv → Black Sea (10-14 days)
Sibiu → Brasov → Bucharest → Veliko Tarnovo → Sofia (12-16 days)
Cluj → Sibiu → Bucharest → Sofia → Plovdiv → Sunny Beach (2-3 weeks)

Train and bus connections between the two countries are good. Bucharest-Sofia takes around 10-12 hours by overnight train. Many travelers fly between Otopeni (OTP) and Sofia (SOF) for around USD 60-150.

Tips for visa applicants

Apply 6-8 weeks ahead. Schengen visa processing can run 15-45 days.
Choose your application country wisely. Apply where you'll spend the most time. If equal, apply where you enter first.
Use Romanian/Bulgarian missions if those are your main destinations - they're often less crowded than French, German, or Italian consulates.
Strong financial documentation matters most. Bank balances, employment letter, and tax returns.
Hotel bookings are usually refundable. Use Booking.com "free cancellation" rates for visa application proof.
Travel insurance must cover EUR 30,000+ medical with explicit Schengen Area coverage.
Don't overstay. EES will catch overstays automatically once active.

FAQ

Do I need a separate Romania visa now?
No. Since 31 March 2024 (air/sea) and 1 January 2025 (land), Romania is full Schengen. A Schengen C-visa from any Schengen country covers Romania.

Do I need a separate Bulgaria visa now?
No. Same as Romania - Bulgaria is now full Schengen since the 2024-2025 accession.

Can I use a Schengen visa for Romania and Bulgaria?
Yes. Multi-entry C-visas issued by any Schengen state (France, Germany, Italy, etc.) are now valid for Romania and Bulgaria.

Are there land border controls between Romania and Bulgaria?
No routine controls since 1 January 2025. Random spot checks by police may still happen.

Can I drive from Hungary to Romania without passport check?
Yes - that border is internal Schengen since January 2025.

Do US/UK/Canadian citizens need a visa?
No, not for stays under 90 days within a 180-day Schengen period. ETIAS authorization will be required once the system launches (currently expected late 2026 / early 2027).

What's the visa fee for Schengen application?
EUR 90 for adults, EUR 45 for children 6-12, free for under-6.

How long does Schengen visa processing take for Romania or Bulgaria?
15-45 calendar days typically. Apply at least 6-8 weeks before travel.

Is the 90-day Schengen rule reset between Romania, Bulgaria, and other Schengen countries?
No. Romania and Bulgaria now count toward your single 90/180 Schengen allowance, not separately as before.

What about Indians and Pakistanis with multi-entry Schengen visas?
A valid multi-entry Schengen C-visa from any country covers Romania and Bulgaria. No need for separate national visas.

Final recommendations

The Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria simplified things dramatically. One Schengen visa now covers 29 countries (the Schengen Area) including Romania and Bulgaria. Visa-free travelers face no extra paperwork until ETIAS launches.

If your trip is Romania- or Bulgaria-focused, applying through their own missions can be faster than going through busier French or German consulates. Both countries remain affordable, beautiful, and now genuinely accessible without visa hassle for most international travelers.

Helpful references:
- European Commission Schengen Borders and Visa Policy
- Romania Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Bulgaria Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Travel Europe (official ETIAS site)
- Schengen Area Wikipedia
- Romania Wikivoyage
- Bulgaria Wikivoyage

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