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Nearly 14 years of waiting: this is how Romania and Bulgaria have been until they finally received the green light from the European Commission (EC) to become part of the Schengen Area, the transnational bloc where European citizens can travel without restrictions.
The first approval from the EC for these countries to enter this space dates back to 2011, but since then, other member states have imposed obstacles, claiming that Bucharest and Sofia did not fully guarantee governance and immigration conditions.
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Negotiations in the European club
Years of negotiations led to major opponents, such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands, gradually lifting their blockades. The last holdout was Austria, which lifted its veto in November.
However, anticipating Vienna's wishes, the EC removed controls at airports and maritime terminals in these Balkan countries for European citizens as of March 31.
What it means for Spanish travelers
For Spaniards and other EU citizens, the new status means that a passport will not be needed to enter Romanian or Bulgarian territory if arriving by ferry, cruise, or plane. However, for at least another six months, that document will still be necessary if arriving by land (car, bus, or train), because the EC decided to maintain "temporary" border controls between Hungary and Romania, and between Romania and Bulgaria. This measure will be in effect "at least" until mid-year, a concession that arose from negotiations with Austria.
As for non-EU citizens, they must present their passport when entering any Schengen country for the first time. Once there, they no longer need to show it again because flights and maritime connections are considered domestic. It's important to remember that their stays in Bulgaria and Romania - as in any other country in this space - cannot exceed 90 days.
What the Schengen Area is like
Excluding the new members, the Schengen Area consists of 27 EU member states, plus four countries that are not part of the community club but have agreements for free movement of people, which are Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein.
Every day, 3.5 million people cross the internal borders of the EU without needing to stop to verify their identity. In total, 1.25 billion trips are recorded each year in this European free movement zone.
The Schengen Area was agreed upon in 1985 among the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Belgium, and Germany; but when it was launched ten years later, Spain and Portugal were already members. A few years later, Italy, Greece, Austria, Denmark, and Finland joined (in addition to Iceland and Norway, but as non-EU members).
One of the most significant expansions was in 2007, when several Eastern European states, such as the Baltic States, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia, were welcomed. Switzerland and Liechtenstein (both outside the EU) joined in 2008 and 2011, respectively; and Croatia did so in 2023 (though its air integration is still pending).
Advantages for tourism
In addition to not having to waste time at passport control upon arrival at the port or airport, the entry of Bulgaria and Romania offers several advantages for tourism, as agencies will be able to offer more combined itineraries with other countries in the region such as Greece or Croatia.
Additionally, the extremely competitive prices of these two Balkan states are a magnet for those looking for budget-friendly travel. Moreover, as flights will be considered domestic, it's possible that associated costs with international flights will decrease, making tickets potentially cheaper.