Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen area starting with air and sea borders
On 31 March 2024, Bulgaria and Romania become Schengen members: the Schengen rules will apply in both Member States including on issuing Schengen visas and controls at the internal air and sea borders will be lifted. Discussions on a date for a possible lifting of the checks on persons at internal land borders will continue in 2024.
In December 2023, EU Member States reached an agreement on removing air and maritime internal border controls with Bulgaria and Romania. According to Council Decision on the full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania dated from 30 December 2023, checks on persons at internal air and sea borders with and between Bulgaria and Romania shall be lifted and the provisions of the Schengen acquis shall apply to Bulgaria and Romania between themselves and in their relations with other Schengen countries from 31 March 2024.
After a 13-year wait, Bulgaria and Romania have thus partially joined the Schengen area of free movement. But Schengen rules are not yet applicable to land borders. The Council will need to take a decision to establish a date for the lifting of checks at internal land borders between Bulgaria, Romania and the other Schengen countries.
For further information, please read the press release from the European Commission.