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Last December, the interior ministries of Romania and Bulgaria declared that they will become part of the Schengen Area of the European Union.
The borderless region promotes unrestricted travel among EU countries, granting approximately 400 million individuals the privilege of seamless transit between member nations.
In 2022, Croatia became the most recent country to join the EU, following the previous acceptance of Romania and Bulgaria in 2007. This has expanded the EU’s reach into eastern Europe.
Popular travel spots such as Bucharest, Sofia, and Bansko will soon become more accessible for numerous tourists.
Austria previously objected to the inclusion of these two countries due to concerns about excessive illegal immigration. However, the three parties came to an agreement in late last year.
By March 2024, both nations will have unrestricted travel options for those entering by air or sea. The decision to open land borders has not yet been made.
What implications does this have for individuals traveling to and from these nations?
What does the term “Schengen Area” refer to?
The Schengen Area is a region in Europe where citizens of the 27 member countries can freely travel between borders without any checks or restrictions.
According to the European Commission, the region ensures unrestricted mobility for over 400 million individuals who are citizens of the EU, as well as non-EU citizens residing in or traveling to the EU for tourism, student exchanges, or business.
The principle of free movement within the EU allows all citizens to freely travel, work, and reside in any EU country without needing special procedures. The Schengen Agreement supports this freedom by allowing individuals to move within the Schengen Area without undergoing border inspections.
The region was established in 1995, following the ratification of the Schengen Agreement a decade prior by the initial 10 participating countries.
Furthermore, the absence of border controls promotes consistency in entry and visa regulations among its member nations, a dynamic that is being altered with the implementation of the Etias system.
What countries are currently a part of the Schengen Zone?
At present, the area includes a large portion of Western and Central Europe.
The current count of countries in the Area is 27, but the inclusion of Romania and Bulgaria will bring it up to 29.
Currently, the listed countries are part of the membership: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Romania and Bulgaria joining will leave Ireland and Cyprus as the only EU countries not included in the agreement. Additionally, there are four non-EU countries (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein) that are currently part of the agreement.
What countries are becoming part of the Schengen Area and when?
Bulgaria and Romania are set to become part of the Schengen Area by March 31st through both air and sea entry points. This entails their air and sea borders being incorporated into the agreement.
A specific date for the inclusion of land borders has not been determined, and discussions are expected to continue until 2024.
There are specific requirements for becoming a member of the area. These include assuming responsibility for managing the outer borders on behalf of other Schengen countries and effectively collaborating with law enforcement agencies in other Schengen countries to ensure a high level of security once border controls between Schengen countries are eliminated.
What implications will this have for tourists?
EU residents and travelers entering Bulgaria and Romania from other countries within the Schengen Area will not undergo passport checks when arriving via flights, ferries, or cruises.
There will continue to be screenings for those entering through land borders, including on buses, trains, and in vehicles.
There will be minimal impact for British tourists planning to travel to these two nations. Tourists heading to cities like Bucharest and Sofia will have to go through standard passport screenings, similar to those in other parts of Europe. However, this does not apply if they are coming from a Schengen Area country.
Please keep in mind that the regulation stating that individuals who are not residents can only be in the EU for a total of 90 days within a 180 day timeframe without a visa will now include Romania and Bulgaria. This means that visits to these countries will contribute to the 90-day maximum.
The passport validity requirements for these countries are consistent with those in the EU. Upon entry, your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and have an expiration date of at least three months after your planned departure.
This source is from the “Independent” website at independent.co.uk.
The source is from the “Independent” website, located at independent.co.uk.
