Romania, Bulgaria to Join Schengen Border-Free Zone

Wednesday, 12 March 2025

Romania, Bulgaria to Join Schengen Border-Free Zone

Author: Andree Nizar
January 2, 2024

Romania, Bulgaria to Join Schengen Border-Free Zone. Photo : Schengen Visa

SEAToday.com, Jakarta - Romania and Bulgaria are set to join Europe’s Schengen border-free zone by air and sea in March 2024, announced the countries’ officials on Wednesday (12/27).

The countries had reached an agreement with Austria, which had previously objected to expanding the zone, fearing more illegal immigration, despite both Romania and Bulgaria having joined the European Union (EU) since 2007. Both countries have been trying to enter Schengen for more than 10 years.

Currently, there are 27 countries in the Schengen area. The full entry of Romania and Bulgaria into the zone would leave Ireland and Cyprus as the only EU countries outside it.