Travellers on Schengen visas can add two more countries to their Europe itinerary starting Jan 2025

Celina Ali

Brussels: Romania and Bulgaria are poised to gain full Schengen Area membership by early 2025, following Austria’s decision to lift its opposition. This agreement, reached during ministerial discussions, paves the way for unrestricted travel across land borders, complementing their existing air and maritime access.

Romania and Bulgaria are on track to become full members of the Schengen Area by as early as January 2025, according to Hungarian officials. This milestone follows years of partial inclusion, with the two Balkan countries having joined the European Union in 2007 but not gaining full access to the Schengen Area until March 2023.

While border checks were removed for air and maritime travel, land borders remained restricted due to concerns over illegal migration, primarily from Austria, which had blocked their entry into the zone.

However, after recent discussions in Budapest between Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania’s interior ministers, Austria lifted its opposition. This paves the way for a final decision on the matter by EU interior ministers in December 2024.

Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pintér confirmed that the two countries are now “one step closer” to full membership, and a significant step will be the deployment of at least 100 border guards to the border between Bulgaria and Turkey.

This agreement marks a significant turning point in the Schengen expansion process. EU officials, including Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, welcomed the development, stating that Romania and Bulgaria now “fully belong” to the Schengen Area. Johansson expressed her satisfaction with the progress, describing it as a step toward full freedom for the citizens of both countries.

For travelers holding Schengen visas, Romania and Bulgaria’s accession will expand the zone to include two more countries. This will allow visitors to seamlessly cross into these new Schengen members without additional border checks. Romania and Bulgaria’s entry will enhance travel opportunities across Europe, simplifying cross-border movement and boosting tourism and trade within the region.

The Schengen Area, which currently includes 23 of the 27 EU member states, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, enables free movement for millions of travelers daily. With Romania and Bulgaria’s full integration, the Schengen Area will become even more accessible to travelers starting in January 2025.