Apply For
Romania Schengen Visa

Romania is now fully part of the Schengen Area. Romania began applying Schengen visa rules and issuing uniform Schengen visas from 31 March 2024, and it became fully part of the Schengen Area from 1 January 2025 after internal land border checks were lifted.

A Romania Schengen visa is a short-stay visa for travelers who need permission to enter Romania for temporary purposes such as tourism, business, family visits, cultural events, sports activities, conferences, medical travel, short training, or airport transit.

Romania applies the common Schengen short-stay rule, which means your total stay in Romania and other Schengen countries must not exceed 90 days within any 180-day period. Romanian immigration guidance states that a short-stay visa allows one or several stays that do not exceed 90 days within any 180-day period.

Who May Need a Visa for Romania

You may need a Romania Schengen visa if:

• Your nationality is on the EU list of countries whose citizens require a visa for short stays
• You plan to stay in Romania or the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period
• Romania is your main destination based on your longest stay or main travel purpose
• Romania is your first Schengen entry point when all Schengen stays are of equal length
• You are applying from the country where you are legally resident
• You are traveling for tourism, business, family visit, conference, cultural event, sports activity, medical travel, short training, or another temporary purpose
• You do not already hold a valid Schengen visa, Schengen residence permit, or other status that allows your planned travel
• Your country has not signed a visa-waiver agreement with the EU or Schengen states
• You need airport transit permission because of your nationality and travel route

Who May Not Need a Visa

You may not need a short-stay Romania visa if:

• Your nationality is on the Schengen visa-exempt list
• You are a citizen of an EU, EEA, Swiss, or Schengen country
• You already hold a valid Schengen visa that covers your travel dates, entry type, and planned stay
• You already hold a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen country
• You hold a valid long-stay visa issued by a Schengen country
• You are an eligible family member of an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen and fall under relevant free movement rules
• You are a visa-exempt traveler staying within the allowed 90 days in any 180-day period
• You are only transiting and your nationality or route does not require an airport transit visa

Even when a visa is not required, border officers may still ask for supporting documents. This can include a valid passport, accommodation proof, return or onward travel, travel purpose, travel medical insurance, and proof of enough funds for the stay.

Common Romania Visa Purposes

Tourism
For holidays, sightseeing, Bucharest visits, Transylvania tours, Black Sea coast travel, castle trips, mountain visits, cultural tourism, or general leisure travel in Romania.

Business
For meetings, company visits, commercial discussions, trade events, business invitations, professional events, or short business activities.

Family or Friend Visit
For visiting relatives, friends, partners, or private hosts living in Romania during a temporary stay.

Cultural, Sports, or Event Visit
For attending festivals, exhibitions, performances, ceremonies, sports events, competitions, cultural programs, or other temporary events.

Conference or Short Training
For seminars, workshops, professional training, academic meetings, short courses, or conference participation that does not require a long-stay visa.

Medical Visit
For short medical consultation, treatment, rehabilitation, follow-up care, or health-related travel supported by medical and financial documents.

Airport Transit
For some nationalities transiting through the international transit area of a Romanian or Schengen airport on the way to a non-Schengen destination.

Romania Visa Requirements

Most applicants should be ready to provide:

• A valid passport issued within the last 10 years
• A passport valid for at least 3 months after the planned Schengen departure date
• A passport with at least 2 blank pages
• A photocopy of the passport identity page, where required
• Copies of previous Romanian, Bulgarian, Schengen, UK, or US visas, where required
• A completed, dated, and signed Romania Schengen visa application form
• Recent passport-size photos in color with a light background
• Travel medical insurance valid across the Schengen Area
• Proof of round-trip flight reservation or travel itinerary
• Proof of accommodation in Romania, such as hotel booking, rental confirmation, or host invitation
• Proof of financial means for the stay
• Employment, business, student, residence, or civil status documents based on your situation
• Evidence showing your intention to leave Romania and the Schengen Area after the visit
• Invitation letter, if visiting family, friends, a company, or an organization
• Approved invitation from the General Inspectorate for Immigration, if required for your nationality or purpose
• Business invitation, conference registration, event confirmation, or training documents, if applicable
• Medical or treatment documents, if applying for medical travel
• Residence permit or legal residence proof, if applying outside your nationality country
• Parental consent or legal guardian documents for minors, when applicable
• Biometrics, when required
• Any additional documents requested by the Romanian embassy, consulate, eVisa portal, VFS Global, or authorized visa application center

Romanian immigration guidance states that the travel document should exceed the validity of the requested visa by at least 3 months and should have been issued within the last 10 years. For some nationalities, an invitation approved by the General Inspectorate for Immigration may be required before applying.

Romania’s uniform visa guidance also lists travel medical insurance with minimum coverage of €30,000 as a supporting requirement for Schengen short-stay visas.

How the Romania Visa Process Works

• Check whether Romania is the correct consulate
  If Romania is your main destination, or your first Schengen stop when all stays are equal, Romania is usually the right country for your application.
• Confirm where you can apply
  Applications are normally submitted through the Romanian embassy, consulate, diplomatic mission, or authorized visa application center responsible for your country of legal residence.
• Use the Romanian eVisa portal where required
  Romania provides an online eVisa portal that allows applicants to start the visa process and check the status of their application online. Depending on the mission, you may still need to attend in person for original documents, biometrics, and final submission.
• Choose the correct visa purpose
  Your visa purpose should match your real travel reason, such as tourism, business, family visit, cultural event, sports activity, conference, medical travel, short training, or airport transit.
• Prepare your passport and supporting documents
  Your passport, application form, travel dates, accommodation proof, financial documents, insurance, and purpose documents should support one clear and consistent travel plan.
• Arrange invitation documents when needed
  If you are visiting a private host, company, event organizer, school, medical provider, or institution in Romania, you may need an invitation letter, host details, business documents, event confirmation, or treatment documents.
• Check if an approved invitation is required
  For some applicants, the invitation must be approved by the General Inspectorate for Immigration before the visa application can be submitted. Romanian immigration guidance states that such invitations are normally approved within 60 days, and the applicant must apply within 30 days after approval.
• Book your appointment in time
  Schengen visa applications are generally submitted no earlier than 6 months before the intended trip and no later than 15 days before travel. Appointment availability can vary by location, so early preparation is recommended.
• Attend biometrics and submit your file
  You may need to attend in person with your passport, signed application form, photos, appointment confirmation, supporting documents, insurance certificate, and accepted payment method. Fingerprints and a digital photo are collected for many applicants.
• Pay the visa and service fees
  The standard Schengen visa fee is currently €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to under 12. Children under 6 are generally exempt from the visa fee, although visa center service charges may still apply.
• Wait for the decision
  Normal Schengen visa processing is usually around 15 calendar days, but it can be extended up to 45 days if a more detailed examination, missing documents, or additional checks are required.
• Collect your passport and check the result
  If approved, a visa sticker is placed in your passport. If refused, you should receive a decision explaining the refusal reason and possible appeal or review options.
• Check your visa after approval
  Before traveling, check your name, passport number, visa validity dates, duration of stay, number of entries, territorial validity, and any remarks printed on the visa sticker.

Why Choose Our Romania Visa Assistance

We support travelers with:

• Document review before submission
• Purpose-based guidance for tourism, business, family visits, medical travel, cultural events, sports events, conferences, and short training
• Help organizing itinerary, accommodation, insurance, and supporting papers
• Romania Schengen visa application form support
• Romanian eVisa portal readiness guidance
• Appointment readiness guidance
• A clear checklist tailored to your nationality, residence country, and trip purpose
• Guidance for invitation letters, host details, company letters, event confirmations, or medical documents
• Guidance for approved invitation requirements, where applicable
• Guidance for employment, business, student, residence, financial, or civil status documents
• Support for first-time Schengen applicants
• Help understanding single-entry, double-entry, and multiple-entry visa expectations
• Review to reduce avoidable mistakes before submission
• Guidance on where to apply through the correct Romanian mission or authorized visa center
• Support in checking whether Romania is the correct main destination for your Schengen trip

Important Note

Visa approval is always decided by the Romanian embassy, consulate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Inspectorate for Immigration, visa center authority, or competent Schengen authority. No agency can legally guarantee approval, faster processing, longer validity, or a multiple-entry visa. Entry type, duration of stay, territorial validity, and number of entries are decided on the merits of each case.

A Romania Schengen visa is for short stays only. It does not automatically allow long-term work, residence, or study in Romania. For employment, long-term study, business residence, family reunification, or stays over 90 days, you usually need the correct Romanian long-stay visa or residence permission.

Short-stay visas issued by Romania before 31 March 2024 were Romanian national short-stay visas and may not allow travel to the full Schengen Area. Romania’s uniform Schengen visas issued from 31 March 2024 can usually allow travel within the Schengen Area according to the visa conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions