These Two Nations Are Set to Enter the European Schengen Zone—What It Means for Travelers

Romania and Bulgaria, both of which became EU members in 2007 and have sought Schengen membership for over a decade, will gradually integrate into the borderless area, starting with air and sea travel on March 31. The pace of this integration will influence when they can open their land borders.

After Romania and Bulgaria fully join the zone, Ireland and Cyprus will be the only EU member states remaining outside it.

In a post on X, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, hailed the decision as "a proud moment for Bulgaria and Romania," emphasizing that removing internal air and sea border controls marks significant progress for both nations and the Schengen Area.

Established in 1995 with ten countries, the Schengen Area now spans over 1.5 million square miles, enabling nearly 420 million people to travel freely among 27 nations. It’s crucial to differentiate the Schengen Area from the European Union—the former allows passport-free movement across borders, while the latter is a political and economic coalition. Currently, the Schengen Area includes Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

As stated by the Council of the European Union, "Approximately million individuals cross internal borders daily for work, study, or to visit loved ones, with nearly 1.7 million residing in one Schengen country while employed in another." Being part of this zone eliminates the need for passport checks, saving citizens time and effort. It also benefits travelers from 59 non-EU countries, including the United States, allowing them to visit the Schengen Area for up to 90 days without a visa for tourism or business. However, this will change in 2025 with the introduction of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which will require travelers to register for ETIAS authorization to enter the 27 member states of Europe’s Schengen zone or risk denial at the border.

A country must meet several criteria before being granted Schengen membership. According to the Council of the European Union, these prerequisites include adhering to Schengen regulations concerning border control, visa management, police collaboration, data protection, and effectively managing external borders, ensuring no one crosses without appropriate documentation.

"Nations aspiring to join the Schengen Area must undergo a series of assessments to verify their compliance with the necessary conditions for applying Schengen rules," notes a statement from the Council of the European Union. Once a state is deemed ready, all existing Schengen members must unanimously approve the application after consulting with the European Parliament.

Croatia was the latest nation to join the Schengen Area, fully opening its borders to other Schengen countries on January 1, 2023.

Although Romania and Bulgaria have long maintained they meet the criteria for membership, their earlier applications have been blocked. Austria has notably played a significant role in hindering their entry, previously expressing concerns about illegal immigration, though its position has since softened.