Romania travel guide

Overview

Travel tip

It's advisable to check the public transport routes in advance and have some cash ready.

Before you go

Romania is in the Schengen Area, so most tourist short stays are generally allowed for up to 90 days in any 180-day period under Schengen rules. Visa requirements still depend on your nationality, so check the rules for your passport in advance. Romania normally does not require a separate pre-travel authorization such as ESTA, K-ETA, UK ETA, or eTA, and it also does not generally use a pre-arrival online entry declaration for tourists. Paper arrival cards are usually not needed, but non-EU/Schengen travelers should carry their passport, accommodation details, and onward or return ticket information.

Entry procedure

1. Check passport and stay eligibility

   At border control, your passport must be valid and your trip must fit the Schengen short-stay rules for tourism. If your nationality requires a visa, obtain it in advance, and keep your accommodation details and return ticket ready.

2. Pass Schengen border control

   Because Romania is in Schengen, you will present your passport and briefly explain the purpose of your trip at the airport or land border. For first-time or eligible entries, biometrics such as facial image and fingerprints may be recorded.

3. Use e-Gates only if eligible

   At some airports, eligible passport holders may use automated border gates, but they are not available to every traveler. Availability depends on the airport guidance and your passport type, and you may be directed to a staffed booth if needed.

4. Check restricted items

   Meat, dairy, fruit, plants, and other plant-based products may be subject to quarantine rules and could be restricted or require declaration. This is especially important when entering from outside the EU, where food and animal/plant products may be checked strictly.

Exit procedure

1. Check what must be declared

   When leaving, high-value goods, commercial items, or cash above the reporting threshold may need to be declared. Duty-free limits and export restrictions can vary depending on what you bought and your travel route, so check before departure.

2. Pass departure checks

   When traveling from Romania to another Schengen country, there is usually no internal border control, but flights or land exits to non-Schengen destinations may involve passport checks. Keep your passport and boarding pass ready for inspection before departure.

3. Claim VAT refund at the airport

   If you are a non-EU resident and meet the conditions, VAT refunds are usually processed at the departure airport through customs validation and a refund counter or kiosk. Keep the receipts, tax-refund forms, and unused goods together, since you may need to present all of them.

Cities in Romania