Romania and Bulgaria joined the Schengen Area in the New Year after the EU voted on December 12 to lift internal land border controls with them.
There are now only a few days left until the borders between Romania and Bulgaria close as the countries join the Schengen Area — a border-free region that guarantees the free movement of millions of EU citizens.
Both countries’ shared journey to join the passport-free Schengen Area came to an end earlier in December when interior ministers from the EU gave their final approval to their hard-fought candidacy.
Romania and Bulgaria join Schengen Area
Border checks at air and sea points were lifted last year.
The two countries officially joined the Schengen Area as full members on January 1, 2025, closing a chapter that began in 2011, when the European Commission first determined their readiness for accession.
The Schengen Area, one of the most tangible achievements of European integration, currently includes 29 countries and nearly 450m people.
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