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ETIAS Romania visa for U.S. citizens

The United States will be one of the countries whose citizens have to present an approved ETIAS visa when travelling to Romania. ETIAS visa can be obtained online, by filling out the ETIAS application form online and receiving your ETIAS via e-mail once the application is approved. 

 
This ETIAS visa will allow U.S. citizens to enter Romania for tourism, work, transit, or for medical reasons, as long as the duration of the trip is under 90 days, and it will be valid for multiple entries made by air, sea, or land. Moreover, minors and people over 70 years of age will be able to apply for this visa free of charge.

What is ETIAS Romania for Americans?

ETIAS permit will come into force in November 2023, as part of a European Commission program aimed at strengthening European borders and keeping a digital track on all people entering the territories of the European Schengen Area. This program was already approved in 2016, following the terrorist attacks that affected some European countries.

How does ETIAS Romania permit work for U.S. citizens

Starting from 2023 U.S. citizens must present an ETIAS visa before embarking on a trip to Romania. If the trip has a duration longer than 90 days or has other purposes than those required for ETIAS permit, they will require a full visitor Schengen visa at the embassy or consulate of Romania, respecting timing and requirements for the visa they are applying for. 

 
Once issued, ETIAS permit will be valid for 3 years, and it will allow to travel multiple times in Romania and other Schengen Area countries, as long as each trip is shorter than 90 days. To make sure you get your approved ETIAS in time for the trip, it is recommended to apply for the visa at least 4 days before the departure. If ETIAS permit is denied, you can still apply for a full visitor Schengen permit at the embassy or consulate of Romania or present an appeal to the country that denied ETIAS permit.

ETIAS destinations for Americans

Starting from November 2023 ETIAS visa will come into force for Americans in order to travel to the following countries:

  • Andorra
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • San Marino
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland

At the moment, U.S. citizens are not required to have ETIAS to travel to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania, since these countries are not Schengen Area members yet. However, this may change in the future, so please keep updated with the visa requirements.

ETIAS requirements for Americans and how to apply

In order to apply for ETIAS, you have to be a U.S. citizen and hold a valid electronic passport issued by the United States of America. If you do not have an U.S. passport, you will have to apply for a Schengen visa.

ETIAS visa application can be completed online, entering all required information by following the required steps, and making sure all the data is entered correctly. 


Once the application form is completed, you will also be required to pay a 7 euros fee, applicable to all citizens between 18 and 70 years old, using a credit or debit card. Generally, most ETIAS visas are issued within few minutes, or at most in a few hours, and you will receive the approved visa via e-mail as a PDF file. Other than that, you are not required to print the visa, because your data will already be in the possession of the European Schengen authorities, and those data will be linked to the passport data provided during the application. 

Anyway, in order to avoid delays, it is recommended to apply for the ETIAS visa at least 4 days in advance, to make sure that the permit is approved and to have the necessary time to provide any additional documents should they be required. If an ETIAS permit is not approved, you can apply for a Schengen permit at the embassy or consulate of Romania. In order to avoid mistakes that could lead to delays in the ETIAS approval, it is highly recommended to read and check carefully all the ETIAS requirements.

How much does ETIAS Romania cost for U.S. citizens

At the end of the application procedure, all Americans between 18 and 70 years of age have to pay a 7 euros fee, using a credit or debit card. American citizens under 18 and over 70 years of age can apply for ETIAS free of charge.

About Romania

Romania is a sovereign state located in east-central Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the southeast and shares a maritime border with Turkey.
Romania borders Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine.
Romania has an area of 238, 397 sq. km and a population of almost 20 million inhabitants.

The capital and largest city of Romania is Bucharest. The official language is Romanian, and the currency is the new leu (RON). The major religion is Christianity.

Romania is a popular tourist country for other European citizens, American travelers account for less than 7% of its visitors.

The first place most visitors go to is the capital city of Bucharest, which was once called ‘Little Paris’ thanks to its sophisticated nature.
Bucharest is well known for its stunning architecture. The Ceausescu’s Palace of Parliament has a reputation for looking like a gigantic wedding cake. It is the second largest building in the world, second only to the Pentagon, and is one of Romania’s most popular tourist attractions.

Another popular tourist attraction is Transylvania and the castle that supposedly inspired Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. Bran Castle is the legendary home of the medieval King, Vlad the Impaler, who was a great inspiration for the novel’s main character.
There are many fascinating towns in Transylvania where the visitor can see a more traditional way of life.

Romania at a glance

Capital: Bucharest

Timezone: UTC/GMT +2 hours

Languages: Romanian 85.4%, Hungarian 6.3%, Romany(Gypsy) 1.2%, Other 1%, Unspecified 6.1%

Area: 237,500 KM2

Currency: Leu (RON)

Population: 21,959,278

Calling Code: +40

Travel in Romania

Romania enjoys both cultural and natural diversity. There are scenic mountain landscapes, rolling countryside areas and also historical cities and a bustling, ancient but increasingly contemporary capital.

The Black Sea Coast is a very popular tourist spot, attracting more than 1 million visitors per year. Legend has it that it is here that Jason and the Argonauts landed after finding the Golden Fleece. There are many small resort towns along the coast where you can sunbathe, swim or try some of the popular watersports.

Lake Techirghiol is one of Romania’s exclusive spa destinations. Here you will find salt waters, healing mud, and curative thermal springs. Bathing in the lake is believed to be very curative of ailments from arthritis to heart disease.

The nearby town of Sibiu offers a wide range of spa treatments. Home also to some of Romania’s best museums, including the Brukenthal National Museum, forty historic towers, and brightly painted houses.

Romania has an area of almost 10,000 kilometers (3,900 sq. mi) of protected areas, which includes thirteen National Parks and three Biosphere Reserves.

Hiking on the Carpathian Mountains, a densely forested area, is popular, and some of the best skiing in Western Europe is on offer in season. There is also a growing interest in mountain biking in Romania, and you will find many upland tracks to explore here.

The US and Romania

The United States and Romania are bound together through ties in business, scholarships and the arts. They are also strong military allies.

The U.S. and Romania are mutually committed to supporting human rights, the rule of law and peace and freedom for everyone. Romania’s promotion of shared ideals with its Black Sea neighbors complements the U.S. goal of enhancing stability in this important region.

The U.S. and Romania both belong to the following organizations:

  • The United Nations
  • NATO
  • Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
  • Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
  • International Monetary Fund
  • World Bank
  • World Trade Organization

There are no direct flights to Romania from the United States. There are many flights to Romania from other European cities.

English, German and French are spoken in business circles; however, the older generation may prefer French or German. There is an aura of formality about business meetings, although the Romanians are a very friendly people, punctuality and smart dress are expected. Mobile phone coverage is good in large towns and cities but can be variable in upland areas.

U.S. travelers to Romania will find a land of beautiful scenery, wild animals and charming towns and cities. The ETIAS scheme will not make visiting Romania difficult; in fact, once the ETIAS scheme is in place, travelers should feel a greater sense of safety on all of their European travel.

FAQ about ETIAS Romania visa

List of US diplomatic offices in Romania

The Embassy of USA in Bucharest, Romania

Address: 4-6, Dr. Liviu Librescu Blvd., District 1, Bucharest 015118 Romania
Phone: (+40) 21 200-3300
Fax: (+40) 21 200-3442
Facts: Hans Klemm – Ambassador

The Embassy of Romania in Washington, USA

Address: 1607 23rd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Phone: +1 (202) 332-4829
Fax: +1 (202) 232-4748
Email: washington@mae.ro

Who we are

ETIAS Schengen is your source of important information and updates about ETIAS, including the latest news and reports you should know regarding its introduction, enforcement, as well as ETIAS Visa application.

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