Last Updated:November 23, 2024, 17:21 IST

Romania and Bulgaria are set to become full members of the Schengen Area as early as January 2025

Travellers on Schengen visas

Romania and Bulgaria are set to become full members of the Schengen Area as early as January 2025, according to Hungarian officials. This follows years of partial inclusion, with the two Balkan nations joining the European Union in 2007 but only gaining limited access to the Schengen Area until March 2023.

While air and maritime border checks were removed, land borders remained restricted due to concerns over illegal migration, mainly from Austria, which had blocked their full entry into the zone. However, after recent talks between the interior ministers of Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania in Budapest, Austria lifted its opposition, clearing the path for a final decision by EU interior ministers in December 2024.

Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pintér confirmed that Romania and Bulgaria are now “one step closer” to full membership, with a key milestone being the deployment of at least 100 border guards along the Bulgaria-Turkey border.

This development marks a major turning point in Schengen expansion, with EU officials, including Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, welcoming the progress. They emphasized that Romania and Bulgaria now “fully belong” to the Schengen Area, with Johansson noting that this is a step toward greater freedom for the citizens of both nations.

For travelers with Schengen visas, Romania and Bulgaria’s full inclusion will expand the zone, allowing seamless access to two more countries without additional border checks. This integration will simplify travel across Europe, enhancing tourism and trade in the region.

With Romania and Bulgaria joining, the Schengen Area—currently comprising 23 EU member states plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein—will become even more accessible to travelers starting in January 2025.