Is Romania in the EU (European Union) and Schengen?

If you’re planning a trip to Romania (or anywhere in Europe, really), you need to know the answers to two important questions: is Romania part of the European Union? And is it part of the Schengen zone?

The answers directly affect your visa requirements, how long you can stay (both in Romania and on the continent), and whether you’ll face border checks on the way in.

And while these two questions refer to two different things, many people believe that if a country is a member of the European Union, it already is part of the Schengen zone, and vice versa – if it’s not part of the EU, it’s not in Schengen. Well… that’s not the case!

This is especially useful for those who like to travel around Europe and respect the Schengen travel rules (you are allowed to stay 90 days within 180 days) or better plan their itineraries if they only have a visa for Romania or the Schengen area.

Is Romania in the European Union?

Yes, Romania has been a member of the European Union since 2007, when it joined together with neighboring Bulgaria.

The two countries are among the newest members of the EU. Croatia is the only country that joined afterward, in 2013.

But even though Romania is a member of the European Union, it has still not switched to using the EURO, which is always delayed to “a later date” – so nothing is set in stone and probably it will be years before it happens.

In other words, if you are planning to visit the country, prepare to visit an exchange office first and get some Romanian Lei – the country’s national currency, as it would be difficult to pay with anything else, even though Romania is indeed an EU member.

Or use one of the more modern approaches to banking – like getting a Wise card, Revolut, or anything similar to instantly switch between currencies. Still, cash is still king in smaller towns and rural areas.

Is Romania in the Schengen area?

Since January 1, 2025, Romania became a full member of the Schengen area, together with Bulgaria.

Now, land border checks have been officially lifted and you can drive into Romania from Hungary or cross from Bulgaria without going through customs or passport control (there might still be random checks, so make sure you have the required documents on hand).

The same goes for those traveling by plane or ship – no border checks either and a much smoother entry experience if you come from another Schengen country.

After more than 17 years of waiting since joining the EU, Romania (and Bulgaria) finally made it all the way in!

How Romania’s Schengen Membership Might Affect Your Travel

Until very recently, the fact that Romania was not a Schengen area member actually helped many travelers who usually spent 90 days in a Schengen country, then 90 days in Romania to reset the counter, and then got back in the Schengen area for 90 days more.

Now, this is no longer possible, as any days spent in the country will count toward your Schengen days, and you’re only allowed to spend 90 days within 180 in any Schengen country.

If you’re someone who was relying on this strategy to extend your time in Europe, you need to rethink your plans.

The only EU countries still outside Schengen are Cyprus and Ireland. Cyprus does accept Schengen visas for entry (though a Cyprus-issued visa won’t get you into the Schengen area), and Ireland has its own separate visa system.

You also have other countries in Europe that are not in the EU, nor Schengen, like Serbia, Moldova, Albania, or Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The EES and ETIAS

If you’re a non-EU traveler visiting Romania (or any Schengen country), there are two relatively new systems you should know about.

The first is the Entry/Exit System (EES), which started rolling out in October 2025 and is fully operational starting early 2026.

The EES replaces the old passport stamping system with digital registration, so when you enter and leave the Schengen area, your fingerprints and facial image are scanned and stored digitally.

The goal is to track overstays and combat identity fraud more effectively.

The second is ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System), which is expected to launch in late 2026.

If you’re from a visa-exempt country like the United States, Canada, Australia, or the UK, you will need to apply for ETIAS authorization online before traveling to any Schengen country, including Romania.

It costs around 20 euros and is valid for three years. Think of it as Europe’s version of the American ESTA. It’s not a visa, but you won’t be able to board your flight without it once the system goes live.

Neither of these systems changes the 90/180-day rule or which countries are in Schengen. They’re additional steps in the border process, not changes to who can visit or for how long.

Why does it matter if Romania a Schengen member or not?

The Schengen zone functions as a huge area comprised of multiple countries that share a common visa policy and act as a single entity for travel purposes.

This further means that you can travel freely between countries in the Schengen area, with no border and passport controls of any sort – even though of late, some countries have re-introduced temporary border checks for various reasons.

But everything is simplified here – as long as you hold a Visa to get into a Schengen country, you can travel to any other Schengen country freely, although work visas remain valid for the one country originally issued for.

If you have any other questions regarding Romania and the Schengen area (or the country being part of the European Union), let me know by commenting below.