Although Romania is a member of the European Union, it does not participate in the E.U.’s Schengen Area. The Schengen Area is comprised of 26 European countries which have abolished passport and any other type of border control at their common borders. Once a traveler has entered a country that is part of the Schengen Area, they are granted freedom of movement within the 26 member states of the area.
United States citizens do not require a visa to visit the European Union or Romania, but Romania does have a closed border with other E.U. member states. This means that all travelers entering or leaving Romania will be required to go through passport control in both their origin and destination countries, even if both states are members of the European Union.
The visa exception for U.S. passport holders allows stays of up to a total of 90 days within a 180 day period. Stays of longer than 90 days will require a residence permit from Romania. Entry into Romania using the visa exception for United States citizens requires the following:
- A valid passport with at least three months validity beyond the planned departure date from the Schengen area.
- Two blank passport visa pages.
- Documents showing a travel itinerary (i.e.: airfare receipt showing entry to/from the EU) and proof of a confirmed hotel reservation.
For more information on the Schengen area, of which Romania is not a part, read
“Understanding European Visa requirements and the Schengen Area”.
Travel Safety & Advisories
For the most up to date and detailed information on the safety of travel to Romania, read the country report authored and released by the United States Department of State at
travel.state.gov.
Resources In An Emergency
If you encounter a medical emergency or are a victim of a crime in Bucharest, contact the local authorities immediately. Although 9-1-1 is the emergency number in the United States, that is not true in the majority of other countries. Read this FAQ article I wrote to locate the appropriate emergency contact numbers: What Are The Emergency Response Telephone Numbers In Other Countries?
The U.S. Embassy in Bucharest can also be a resource to American Citizens. It is located at:
B-dul Dr. Liviu Librescu Nr. 4-6,
Sector 1, Bucharest
015118 Romania
Contact information is listed below:
Phone: +40 (21) 200-3300
Phone (24-hours/Emergency): +40 (21) 200-3433
E-mail: ACSBucharest@state.gov
Website: http://romania.usembassy.gov/
The nearest city bus stop is within one city block of the Embassy, and it is served by bus route #301. The Embassy is unfortunately far away from the major tourist centers in the city.
