Two European Countries Will Soon Join The Schengen Area — Here's What It Means For Travelers
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Eastern Europe is full of amazing gems, like the Bran Castle (aka Dracula’s castle) in Romania and the Roman ruins of Plovdiv, one of the oldest cities in Romania — and the world, in general.
If you’re hoping to feast your eyes on this underrated region anytime soon, an upcoming policy may impact your travel plans. As of March 31, 2024, Romania and Bulgaria will be the latest countries to be added to the Schengen Area, a vast travel zone in Europe that’s free from border checks.
The latest change will be rolled out in two parts. First, the air and sea borders will be removed just in time for the summer travel schedule. After that, officials will decide on a date to remove the land borders, notes a press release from the European Council.
In other words, depending on how you arrive in Romania and Bulgaria, you may not need to show your passport. Plus, you’ll be free to travel between the two countries — and others — with relative ease.
How the Schengen Area works
Started in 1985, the Schengen Area is a group of 27 (soon to be 29) European countries with an open border policy, allowing 400 million European citizens to travel freely across 2.5 million square miles of land. It’s one of the largest border-free zones in the world, explains the European Council. With the addition of Romania and Bulgaria, Cyprus and Ireland will be the only members of the European Union who are not part of the Schengen Area.
In order to be approved, countries have to undergo evaluations and be on the same page about external border control, police cooperation, visas, and personal data. From there, representatives must consult with the European Parliament and each country’s leader must approve the vote unanimously. In this case, negotiations took 12 years, as some leaders (most notably Austria) wanted to tighten migration flow in the existing Schengen Area before adding any new members.
Eventually, a parties agreed, a move which was celebrated on Twitter/X by Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. "Today is a day of great pride for Bulgaria and Romania. The decision to lift internal air and sea border checks is a major step forward for them and for the Schengen area. Both have worked hard for it. They both deserve it. They will make Schengen even stronger,” she wrote.
What it means for American travelers
When you enter the Schengen Area, you’ll need to show your passport. After that, you’ll be able to travel freely without border checks between participating countries. That said, you’re only allowed to stay visa-free for 90 days within a 180-day period — not per country, but for the entire zone.
If you want to see other countries besides Romania and Bulgaria, you’ll need to carefully track your travel dates or use the European Commission’s Short-Stay Visa Calculator to ensure you don’t overstay your welcome. Once your time is up, you’ll have to wait three months before you can enter the Schengen Area again.
An American passport, while powerful, does not guarantee entry into the Schengen Area. Upon arrival, your experience with border control could be as simple as a quick passport check and an entry stamp. But technically, officials can ask about the purpose of your travels, the length of your trip, and whether you can support yourself (i.e., bank statements). Be sure to print out your plans or have them ready to show on your phone.
Also, double-check that your passport is valid for at least six months past your trip dates and remember to get both entry and exit stamps, says the US Department of State. It doesn’t hurt to carry your passport around with you, as internal borders can be reinstated in some circumstances, like a pandemic or security concerns. While, yes, it’s a lot to keep track of, you’ll soon get the hang of it and enjoy Eastern Europe.
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