What are the entry requirements for all travellers?

COVID-19 restrictions were lifted on 9 March. There is no requirement to submit the PLF (Passenger Locator Form) or to go through quarantine.

Before you travel, be sure to verify your passport and travel documents.

Passport validity

You must comply with the Schengen area rules for anyone who plans to travel within the EU (except Ireland), Switzerland and Norway, Iceland Liechtenstein.

There are 2 requirements for your passport to be valid. It must satisfy the following requirements

• It is less than 10 year old when you enter the program (check the date of issue’).
• It’s valid for at the very least three months after the day of your departure (check the expiry date’).

We are asking for clarification from the European Commission on the 10-year rule. Their guidance for Schengen frontier guards may not get updated until 2022. You may not be able to use your passport for Schengen countries until then. Your passport must also be less than ten years old.

Double-check the expiry date as well as the issue date of the passport. An extra month may have been added to your passport’s expiry if you renewed your passport before it expired. This could result in your passport needing to be less then 10 years old.

If you think your passport doesn’t comply with these requirements, you can contact your travel provider or diplomatic representative of the country that you are visiting. Renewal of your passport is possible if necessary.

Visas

Romania is not part of the Schengen space. Visitors to Romania do NOT count towards your 90-day visa exemption limit in Schengen.

Romanian visa-free travel to the EU and Schengen states does not include visits to Romania.

Romania allows you to travel up to 90-days in any 180 day period without the need for a visa. This applies if your purpose is to travel to Romania as a tourist.

The Romanian government has specific entry requirements that you must meet in order to stay longer or to study, work or travel for any reason. Check with the Romanian Embassy which type of visa or work permit may be required.

Read the Guidance on Visas and Permits for those who are going to Romania to work.

Romanian residency permits and long-stay Visas do not apply to your 90-day visa-free limit.

Passport stamping

You may have your passport stamped by border guards when you enter or leave Romania as a foreign visitor. Check your passport for any stamps by border guards.

When you travel to or from the Schengen Area through Romania as a tourist, make sure your passport is stamped. This will demonstrate to border guards your compliance with the Romanian visa-free limit of 90 days and the Schengen visa-free area limit of 90 days.

Border guards can assume that you have gone beyond your visa-free time limit if the relevant stamp for entry or departure is missing from your passport. If you provide proof (e.g. transport tickets) that proves you have entered or exited Romanian, border guards may ask for your passport to include this date as well as the location.

You might also want to:

• Show a Return or Onward ticket
• Show you have sufficient money to pay for your stay

If you hold a Withdrawal Agreement residency documentation for another country, it might still stamp your passport if you are visiting Romania.

For information on passport stamping, visit our Living and Working in Romania guide.

Travelling with children

British nationals can’t travel to Romania with minors holding Romanian citizenship. This applies regardless of whether the minor holds citizenship from another country. Although this law is not always enforced at borders, British nationals who travel to Romania with minors holding Romanian citizenship should have their parental consent notarized before they leave.

You can access a list of all public notaries from Romania on the website of National Union of Public Notaries.

Customs regulations

Information regarding customs regulations can be found at the National Customs Authority of Romania website.

UK Emergency Travel Documents

UK Emergency travel documents can be accepted to allow entry, transfer, and departure from Romania.

Romania’s Top 10 Places to Visit

Romania, situated on the Balkan Peninsula in Romania, is a country of contrasts. The former Eastern Bloc state has been a part of the Romans for many years. It is full of charming old towns, mountains that offer excellent skiing, and a burgeoning arts community. Its most famous citizen is Dracula, a mythical character from Transylvania.

Romanian history is a treasure trove. The country is home to numerous mediaeval castles, most notably Sighișoara, which is full of historical buildings and Gothic-era cobblestoned neighbourhoods.

Brasov will have even more history. You can find Bran Castle, built in the 14th-century to reveal more than just legends. Bucharest? The charm of the mediaeval architecture will make you fall in love with it as well as the bizarre buildings of the Communist era. Here are the top Romanian tourist attractions:

Sighișoara

Sighisoara can be found in Transylvania and is one of Europe’s most beautiful mediaeval towns. It is home to Vlad Dracula, who inspired Bram Stoker’s novel, Count Dracula. Other attractions include the Church on the Hill with its stunning murals, the Venetian House from the 13th century, and the Church of the Dominican Monastery. For those who love romantic and classical history, there is plenty to see!

Sibiu

Many tourists travel from all around the country to view the exquisite architecture in Upper Town and Lower Town, Sibiu. It is home to colourful homes, cobblestone streets, and defensive towers that look out on the Cibin river. Attractions include:

• Three 15th-century towers.
• Multiple historical squares.
• Roman-Catholic Churches (the Biserica Romano-Catolica being the most famous).
• The Brukenthal Palace.

Poenari̇ Castle

Peonari is a Romanian landmark that requires you to climb nearly 1,500 concrete steps in order to reach a charming castle. Poenari Castle offers adventure and ancient architecture. However, it has a very bloody history. Poenari Castle is found on the right of the Transfagarasan Highway. This castle is on a mountain face near the Carpathian Mountains. It was part of the castle that was destroyed in an 1800s landslide, but it has been restored to its original glory and is now open for visitors.

Bucharest

Bucharest is a city where the old meets the new. In the same block, visitors might see a century-old building, modern high rises, and a Communist building.

This modernising European capital boasts a staggering 3,100-square-metre Parliament building, which is 12 stories tall. This magnificent building, built-in 1984 by the British, is available for tours all day. You can also enjoy the old city centre with its narrow cobblestone streets. There are even mediaeval churches.

Danube Delta

Romania has the largest part of Europe’s second-largest river Delta, the Danube Delta. The Danube Delta was formed originally as part of Europe’s the Black Sea.

It is home to many different species of plants, animals, and ecosystems. 23 ecosystems are found here, including some large wetlands. It’s a great place to take a boat ride along the river, with its stunning sunsets.

Returning to the UK

Changes to travel to England since 18 March.

You don’t have to do this if your arrival in England is after 4 am (Friday 18 March)

• Any COVID-19 exams you may need to take before you travel or once you have arrived
• Before you travel, be sure to complete a UK passenger locator.

It doesn’t matter if you are vaccinated.

Conforming to current rules, there is no need for you to quarantine upon your arrival.

COVID-19 is still applicable to certain countries. Before you travel, it is important to consult travel advice.