Last updated: 15 August 2026 · Reviewed by Małgorzata Zep, lawyer and travel industry specialist
Romania completed its Schengen accession recently, and much of the information online still describes the old rules. This guide covers what applies now, who needs a visa, and the travel insurance condition in the detail consulates check.
Do You Need a Visa for Romania? Entry Requirements
Romania is part of the Schengen Area, so there is no separate “Romanian visa” for short visits. You apply for a Schengen visa (type C), which allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all 29 Schengen countries — not 90 days in Romania plus 90 elsewhere.
Whether you need one depends on your nationality. Holders of a valid Schengen visa or a residence permit from a Schengen state need no separate Romanian visa.
| If you hold a passport from | For a short stay you |
|---|---|
| EU / EEA / Switzerland | Need no visa at all — you have free movement |
| The US (Americans), UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and around 60 other visa-exempt countries | Do not need a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. From Q4 2026 you will need an ETIAS authorisation (€20, valid 3 years) — an online form, not a visa |
| India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, Egypt, South Africa, the Philippines and most other countries | Must apply for a Schengen visa before travelling, with the documents below |
| Any nationality holding a Schengen residence permit or valid Schengen visa | Need no separate visa for Romania |
⚠️ Visa-free entry is not unlimited entry. The 90/180 rule applies to the Schengen Area as a whole, and since the EES became fully operational on 10 April 2026 your entries and exits are recorded electronically — overstaying is now detected automatically at the border.
⚠️ Romania is now a full Schengen member. Air and sea borders opened in March 2024, and land border controls were lifted on 1 January 2025. A separate Romanian national visa is no longer needed for short stays.
Romania Visa Types: Tourist, Business, Visit and Transit
All of these are the same document — a short-stay Schengen visa. What differs is the purpose you declare and the supporting evidence you attach.
- Tourist visa — holidays and sightseeing. Evidence: accommodation bookings and an itinerary.
- Visit visa — family or friends. Evidence: an invitation from your host in Romania, with their address and status.
- Business visa — meetings, conferences, negotiations. Evidence: an invitation from the Romanian company and proof of your employment.
- Transit visa — changing flights airside. Most nationalities do not need one; a few do, so check before booking a connection.
⚠️ Declare the purpose that matches reality. A tourist visa used for paid work, or a visit visa where no host exists, is a misrepresentation — and consulates cross-check invitations.
Where to Apply: the Main Destination Rule
You do not choose freely. Under the EU Visa Code you apply to the country that is your main destination — where you will spend the most nights. If nights are split equally, you apply to the country you enter first.
So you apply to Romania only if Romania is where you will spend most of your trip. Applying to the wrong consulate is a common cause of rejection, and the €90 fee is not refunded.
In practice you will file at the Romanian embassy or consulate in your country of residence, or at the visa centre it has contracted to collect applications and biometrics.
Romania Visa Requirements: Documents You Will Need
- Passport valid at least 3 months beyond your planned departure, issued within the last 10 years, with two blank pages
- Completed application form and a recent passport photo meeting the biometric standard
- Travel medical insurance — minimum €30,000, valid in all Schengen states, covering repatriation
- Proof of accommodation for the whole stay — bookings, or an invitation from a host
- Round-trip travel booking showing your itinerary
- Proof of sufficient funds — recent bank statements
- Proof of ties to your home country — employment letter, studies, family or property
Because accession is recent, older guides still refer to a Romanian short-stay visa distinct from Schengen. Apply on the Schengen rules.
Romania Visa Cost, Fees and Processing Time
| Adults | €90 |
| Children 6–11 | €45 |
| Children under 6 | Free |
| Decision | 15 calendar days, extendable to 45 in individual cases |
| Apply from | Up to 6 months before travel |
| Apply by | No later than 15 days before departure |
The fee is charged for processing, not for the visa, and is not refunded if you are refused. Visa centres charge their own service fee on top. Apply early in peak season — appointment slots, not processing, are usually the bottleneck.
Romania Visa for Indians and Travellers from the USA
Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa for Romania. Applications are lodged through the contracted visa centre, with an appointment for biometrics, and the requirements are the standard ones set out above — the €90 fee, €30,000 insurance and proof of funds and ties. See our guide to the Schengen visa for Indian citizens for the documents Indian applicants are asked for most often.
Travellers from the USA are in the opposite position: no visa is needed for a short stay, and from Q4 2026 only an ETIAS authorisation. If you are a US resident on a non-US passport, your nationality decides — not your residence.
Travel Insurance for a Romania Visa: Travel Medical Insurance Explained
Your policy is assessed against Article 15 of the EU Visa Code, and consulates check four specific points:
At least €30,000 in medical expenses — that figure applies to medical cover specifically, not to a combined limit across all sections of the policy.
Repatriation included, both medical repatriation and repatriation of remains. This is the most common omission and an outright refusal ground.
Valid in all Schengen states. Now that Romania is a full member, a policy limited to Romania alone does not satisfy the rule — your visa permits travel across the whole zone.
Covering the entire requested period, including the days of arrival and departure.
⚠️ Romania uses the leu (RON), not the euro, so medical bills are issued in local currency. That does not change the €30,000 requirement, which is fixed in euro by the Visa Code.
Our certificate states all four points explicitly and starts at €20 for 30 days.
Travel Insurance for a Romania Visa: Travel Medical Insurance Explained
Travel medical insurance is a legal condition of the visa under Article 15 of the EU Visa Code, not a recommendation. It must cover at least €30,000 in medical expenses, including emergency treatment and repatriation, and be valid in every Schengen state — not only Romania.
⚠️ The rule that catches people out: cover valid only for Romania is refused. Your visa lets you travel across the whole zone, so your policy must too.
Our cover meets the requirement and starts at €20 for 30 days, with a certificate accepted at the consulate. See Schengen visa medical insurance or read what the policy covers.
Entry Rules Changing in 2026
Two systems affect everyone travelling to the Schengen Area, including Romania:
- EES (Entry/Exit System) — rolled out from 12 October 2025 and fully operational since 10 April 2026. It registers your entries and exits electronically, replacing passport stamps, and records fingerprints and a facial image.
- ETIAS — expected in Q4 2026. A travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationalities only, costing €20 and valid three years. It is not a visa, and if you need a Schengen visa, ETIAS does not apply to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Romania in the Schengen Area?
Yes. Air and sea borders opened in March 2024 and land border controls were lifted on 1 January 2025.
What travel insurance do I need for a Romania visa?
At least €30,000 in medical cover including repatriation, valid in all Schengen states and for the entire period of your stay.
Do I still need a separate Romanian visa?
No. A Schengen visa now covers Romania, and a visa issued by Romania is valid across the whole zone.
Does Romania use the euro?
No. Romania uses the leu, although the visa fee and the insurance minimum are set in euro.
How much does a Romania visa cost?
€90 for adults, €45 for children 6–11, free under 6.
Can my policy cover only Romania?
No. It must be valid across all Schengen states, because your visa allows travel throughout the zone.
What are the Romanian visa requirements?
A passport valid 3 months beyond departure and issued within 10 years, a completed form and biometric photo, travel medical insurance of at least €30,000 covering repatriation across all Schengen states, proof of accommodation and return travel, sufficient funds, and evidence of ties to your home country.
How do I get a tourist visa for Romania?
Apply for a short-stay Schengen visa declaring tourism as your purpose, at the Romanian consulate or its visa centre in your country of residence, up to 6 months before travel and no later than 15 days before departure.
