ETIAS for Romania

Romania, known for Bucharest's grand boulevards, the medieval towns of Transylvania, and the Carpathian Mountains, has been a full EU member since 2007 and has been progressively joining the Schengen Area's passport-free travel zone since 2024. Once ETIAS launches, visa-exempt travelers from countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Japan will need an approved ETIAS to enter Romania, using the same online application, fee, and rules that apply across the entire Schengen Area — Romania does not have its own separate version of the requirement.

Getting to Romania

Henri Coandă International Airport near Bucharest is Romania's main gateway for long-haul and international flights, with connections to major hubs across Europe and the Middle East for travelers coming from further afield. Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, and Iași also have international airports with a growing number of direct European routes. Romania shares land borders with fellow Schengen members Hungary and Bulgaria, while its borders with Serbia, Moldova, and Ukraine remain external Schengen borders with full checks. Most visa-exempt travelers from outside Europe arrive by air, where the same ETIAS check applies as at any other Schengen airport.

Do I need ETIAS for Romania?

Yes. Romania's recent, phased entry into the Schengen Area does not change who needs ETIAS or how it works — the requirement is uniform across every Schengen country, whether it joined passport-free travel in the 1990s or more recently. Visa-exempt travelers who are not citizens of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland will need an approved ETIAS before entering Romania. It costs €20 (free for applicants under 18 or over 70), is generally approved within minutes, and stays valid for up to three years or until the applicant's passport expires.

Do I still need my passport checked at Romania's borders?

Yes, in some cases. Because neighbors such as Moldova, Ukraine, and Serbia sit outside the Schengen Area, travelers crossing those specific land borders should still expect standard passport checks even after entering Romania on an approved ETIAS. Within the Schengen Area itself, the same ETIAS authorization covers onward travel from Romania to Hungary, Bulgaria, or any other member country for the remainder of its three-year validity, without a new application.