Can I enter Romania on a Schengen visa?

Yes, as of January 1, 2025, Romania has officially joined the Schengen Area. This means that travellers holding a valid Schengen visa can enter Romania just like any other Schengen country, without requiring a separate Romanian visa (Romania and Bulgaria will be in the Schengen zone from January. What will change for travellers? | Euronews).

Previously, Romania was part of the European Union (EU) but not fully in the Schengen Zone, meaning border controls still applied. However, with this new Schengen membership, travel to Romania has become seamless for Schengen visa holders, and land, air, and sea border checks have been eliminated for travellers within the zone (Schengen Travel Update: Romania and Bulgaria Join Schengen Zone Starting January 2025 - Wego Travel Blog).

If you already have a short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) from another Schengen country, you can use it to enter Romania without additional paperwork. If you’re coming from outside the Schengen Area, you will need a Schengen visa issued by any Schengen country to visit Romania (Romania and Bulgaria will be in the Schengen zone from January. What will change for travellers? | Euronews).