Currently, Romania issues national entry visas. This is expected to change as from 1 April 2024, when Romania is expected to start issuing uniform Schengen C visas, as well as other types of visas, as follows:
- Uniform (Schengen) visas, symbol C;
- Limited territorial validity visas, symbol C;
- Airport transit visas, symbol A, valid for transit through international transit areas in one or more airports of Schengen member states;
- Long-stay visas, symbol D.
Schengen visas will allow holders to travel to the Schengen area for stays not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period. Long-stay visas, symbol D, will become national visas and the applicable legislation for submitting and processing this type of visa continues to be Government Emergency Ordinance no. 194/2002 on the regime of foreigners in Romania, republished, with subsequent changes and amendments.
The Romanian e-Visa platform e-Viza will be unavailable between 1 March and 31 March 2024 for the submission of short-stay visa applications. Applicants will only be able to apply for visas in emergency situations by contacting a Romanian consular office directly.
Land border checks will continue to apply for any land-based travel between Romania and Bulgaria themselves, as well as between Romania and Bulgaria and other Schengen Area countries. Consequently, Romania will continue to issue national entry visas for land travel.