Romania soon to join Schengen and adopt Euro
Romania is set to become a Schengen area member and adopt the Euro as its official currency.
Once this happens, the visa ETIAS waiver will become necessary to travel to Romania.
Although a member of the European Union since 2007, Romania has yet to join the Schengen area or adopt the Euro. But this could change very soon: the Prime Minister of Romania, Florin Cîţu, has stated that the country plans to join Schengen shortly. Specifically, Cîţu said that Romania would be joining the Schengen area within months if the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) report is favorable.
ETIAS Visa Waiver will improve traveler experience
ETIAS will speed up border checks and ensure traveler experience is faster and more secure.
Research shows passengers are willing to share their personal information if it means shorter queues and less headache.
At a time when data protection is paramount, the European Union will launch its European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) by the end of the year. The visa ETIAS waiver will pre-screen foreign travelers and allow for faster and more secure processing for business, tourism, and other short-term purposes.
Do you need an ETIAS to travel to Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is a member of the European Union and, therefore, is set to join the Schengen area at the earliest.
If Bulgaria becomes a member of Schengen in the next years, travelers will require an ETIAS to enter the country.
Bulgaria joined the European Union along with Romania back in 2007. As a member of the EU, the country will eventually join the Schengen area at the earliest possible date once it fulfills the entrance criteria. According to the Bulgarian government, entering Schengen remains a high priority. Once Bulgaria joins Schengen, travelers will require an ETIAS visa waiver to access the territory.
Is ETIAS a traditional visa for Europe?
The new ETIAS visa waiver system will be mandatory from 2025, meaning hundreds of millions of travelers will require an ETIAS before entering Europe.
There has been confusion regarding whether ETIAS is a visa in the traditional sense, but the European institutions recently clarified this inquiry.
The European Travel Authorization and Information System, also known as ETIAS, is a new program by the European Union to enhance traveler experience and strengthen the security of Schengen borders.
In short, travelers from 60 visa-exempt countries (including America, Argentina, Canada, Japan, and many more) will need to apply for ETIAS and receive the authorization in their email before traveling to a European port of entry.
Nonetheless, the question remains for many travelers: does ETIAS constitute a traditional visa per se? Not technically.