Starting January 1, 2025 Romania and Bulgaria will join the Schengen Area, the world's biggest visa-free travel zone. It’s a giant leap forward for travelers on a Schengen tourist visa. Here’s what you need to know about this expansion, along with what to know about visa and border policies and travel opportunities.
What Is the Schengen Zone?

The Schengen Area is a collection of European countries that maintain open borders for passport-free travel between member countries. Now, as Romania and Bulgaria join the fray, the Schengen area will expand to 29 nations. That will contribute to further network expansion and provide new travel opportunities for all Schengen visa holders.

Essential Visa Information for Traveling

Such modification will benefit especially the Schengen tourists. The visa that currently grants you access to the existing Schengen countries will also give you access to Romania and Bulgaria, rather than them needing separate national visas to visit these countries.

Romania and Bulgaria had previously allowed some limited access to travelers under a Schengen visa while maintaining border controls. These (police) checks will be abolished and, from January 2025, travelers holding a valid Schengen visa will benefit from free and unrestricted access to the zone.

Border Crossing Simplifications

The Schengen zone (which also includes Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) allows free movement between member nations, eliminating internal border checks with neighbouring countries. Now travelers can travel back and forth between those countries and the Schengen countries, including Hungary, Greece and Austria.

This is most relevant for road trips and train travel, skipping border inspection. Procedures at the airports of Romania and Bulgaria will also be changed, following the other Schengen area countries to aid international arrivals and departures as well.

Travel Policy Changes

The Schengen expansion also introduces new travel policies for short- and long-term visitors alike. Here are some key points:

Longer itineraries: Instead of adding to the extra visa paperwork with new visas for Romania and Bulgaria, your European travel plans can now be extended by including these countries in the zone.

Common rules: Visitors will face the same Schengen rules while in Romania and Bulgaria, including a maximum 90 days in every 180-day period for short visits.

Improved Border Screening for Non-Schengen Nationals: Internal borders will be opened however borders from Romanian and Bulgaria, which are the external borders to the Schengen campus, will use smart border systems to regulate access from non-Schengen stations.

What This Means for Tourists

For travelers, it’s a thrilling chance to experience Romania’s historic castles, Transylvania’s rolling hills and Bulgaria’s Black Sea bay with minimal fuss. Each has its unique cultural and natural offerings and, under the Schengen umbrella, is now easy to explore.

The addition of those two countries will help strengthen tourism and remove all the restrictions, especially when passing through Europe.

Conclusion

This is a significant step for European movement, with Romania joining the Schengen zone, which also includes Bulgaria. Easier visas, borders opening, and a whole new world to watch will give Schengen travelers even more reason to explore Europe.

So if you’re thinking about a visit to Europe in 2025, take advantage of this expansion and include these two fascinating countries on your list.