Examined: How The Recent Changes To The Schengen Zone Have Impacted Air Travelers

Examined: How The Recent Changes To The Schengen Zone Have Impacted Air Travelers

• Bulgaria and Romania have eliminated border checks with Schengen countries, easing air and sea entry requirements.
• For trips by train, bus, or car, valid identification is required; EU national identity cards are acceptable.
• Despite entering the Schengen zone, Bulgaria and Romania maintain border control when entering by road or rail.

Starting March 31, 2024, there have no longer been any border checks in Bulgaria and Romania when arriving to or from a Schengen area country. The time of the change in European Union policy deliberately coincides with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) change in schedule from winter to summer.

Following 12 years of negotiations, the European Union has finally decided to welcome Bulgaria and Romania into Schengen. Before the agreement and despite Bulgaria and Romania being members of the European Union since 2007, citizens of the two countries were required to go through passport control when entering another European country.

From March 31, 2024, Bulgarian and Romanian citizens entering a Schengen country by air or at a maritime port are no longer required to show their passports upon arrival. However, if you are arriving by train, bus or driving into Bulgaria or Romania by car, you must show some form of valid identification. If you are a European Union citizen, an accepted form of identification would be the EU standard national identity card. Compulsory in 15 member states, semi-ccompulsory in five, and voluntary in 11, EU-issued national identity cards are alternatives to having a passport when traveling between European Union member states.

Road or rail

When arriving by road or rail in the EU from Bulgaria or Romania, you need an ID

You will need to have a government-issued ID when entering the EU from Bulgaria or Romania by road because the idea of complete freedom of travel between the two Eastern European nations and the rest of the EU was vetoed by Austria. The reason Austria vetoed it was a fear that it would make it easier for illegal migrants to enter Europe via the Turkish and Western Balkan land routes.

Despite the European Union Commission saying Bulgaria and Romania were ready to enter the Schengen area in 2011, many EU states blocked the move over fears of illegal immigration. The Netherlands and Austria argued that the EU lacked the resources to patrol its external borders effectively. In early December 2023, while negotiations took place, Spanish mediators convinced Austria to compromise and allow partial non-passport entry through air and sea routes. Austria argued that more money was needed to protect the European Union border with Turkey and Serbia.

When speaking about entering the Schengen area of nations, euronews quotes Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu as saying:

“After thirteen years, Romania will finally join Schengen – we have a political agreement… As of next March, Romanians can benefit from the advantages of the Schengen area by air and sea,” he added. “I am also convinced that in 2024, we will close negotiations on land borders.”

In the same euronews article, when speaking about joining the Schengen area, Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said:

“After 12 years without much progress on Schengen, today we can congratulate ourselves on this indisputable success of Bulgaria.”

Not counting Bulgaria and Romania, 1.25 billion trips occur within the Schengen area each year, with 3.5 million people crossing member states’ borders daily.

The 90-day rule

Suppose you are not from a European Union member state or a citizen of a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country when entering the Schengen area. In that case, you are subject to the 90-day rule. The 90-day rule allows you to move freely within the Schengen zone for 90 days in any 180 days. Once your 90 days are up, you must leave the Schengen area for 90 days before being eligible to return.

Related

Air Travel In The Schengen Area: Everything You Need To Know

Traveling to Europe is a dream for many. However, before setting off for your trip, you should get familiar with the rules of the Schengen area.

In case you were wondering why it is called the Schengen area, it is because the original 1985 agreement for border-free travel was signed in the small wine-making village of Schengen in the southeast of Luxembourg.

Air and sea entry points to the EU from Bulgaria and Romania

Bulgaria air entry points:

• Sofia Airport (SOF)
• Burgas Airport (BOJ)
• Varna Airport (VAR)
• Plovdiv Airport (PDV)

Serving the capital, Sofia Airport (SOF) is the main international entry point to or from Bulgaria by air, with over seven million people passing through it each year. Second and third on the list are Burgas Airport (BOJ) and Varna Airport (VAR), both located on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast. Due to Bulgaria’s Black Sea resorts’ popularity, each airport handles around 1.8 million visitors annually. Serving Bulgaria’s second-largest city, Plovdiv Airport (PDV) is also the airport to use if you are flying to Bulgaria for a skiing vacation.

Bulgaria sea entry points

If you arrive at a cruise ship in Bulgaria, you will use the Black Sea terminal in Burgas. There used to be a ferry between Bulgaria and Turkey, but this has been discontinued.

Romania air entry points

• Bucharest Henri Coand International Airport (OTP)
• Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport (CLJ)
• Iai International Airport (IAS)
• Traian Vuia International Airport (TSR)

Located in Otopeni, ten miles north of Bucharest city center, Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP) is the busiest airport in Romania, serving over 14 million passengers a year. Serving the city of Cluj-Napoca, CLJ is the gateway to the Transylvania region of Romania, handling over two million passengers a year.

Related

Wizz Air Plans Romania Expansion As Blue Air Suspends Flights

The airline has added over 2.5 million seats and three new routes.

Mainly used by Romanian national flag carrier TARROM and low-cost carriers, Wizz Air and Ryanair Iași International Airport (IAS) serves northeastern Romania and the Republic of Moldova, handling over two million passengers a year. Serving the city of Timișoara in the historical region of Banat, Timișoara Traian Vuia International Airport (TSR) is the primary air transport hub for Western Romania, handling over a million passengers a year.

Romania sea entry points

While Romania has several ports on its Black Sea coast, Constanta is the only one large enough to handle a small cruise liner. Currently, there are no ferries operating between Romania and its Black Sea neighbors.