- Romania and Bulgaria will join Schengen travel zone on January 1, 2025
- Allows citizens to travel to other Schengen countries without a passport
- However, challenges remain for freight transport and border bureaucracy
- Temporary border controls have been imposed across some European countries, citing concerns over illegal migration
Romania and Bulgaria to join EU’s border-free Schengen zone in 2025
After 17 years as European Union members, Romania and Bulgaria will officially join the EU’s border-free Schengen travel zone on January 1, 2025. The decision allows citizens from both countries to travel to other Schengen countries like France, Spain, or Norway without requiring a passport.
This milestone has been met with celebration by the 25 million residents of Romania and Bulgaria, marking a step toward full integration into the EU. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the development as a “day of joy.”
Air and sea border checks for Romania and Bulgaria were removed in March, but land border checks faced prolonged opposition, notably from Austria, which only recently lifted its objections.
However, challenges remain for freight transport and border bureaucracy. Hungary plans to continue inspecting trucks and their documents at the Nadlac border crossing for at least six more months. Similarly, Bulgaria has implemented a €25 truck fee at Ruse, near the Danube Bridge connecting it to Romania.
Temporary border controls have also been imposed across several European countries, citing concerns over illegal migration, which could limit the full benefits of Schengen membership for some travellers.
The Schengen Zone, established in 1985, now includes most EU countries and a few non-EU states like Norway and Switzerland. While the UK has never been a part of Schengen, British visitors can still travel within the zone visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
