Bulgaria and Romania Join the Schengen Area from January 2025

Effective January 1, 2025, Bulgaria and Romania have fully joined Europe’s Schengen Area.  The previously in place border checks at the internal land borders between the countries and member states have ended.

The Schengen area now covers 29 countries (25 of the 27 member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and 420 million people. Controls at the internal borders with Cyprus have not yet been lifted, and Ireland is not part of the Schengen area.

Erickson Insights & Analysis

Since joining the EU, Bulgaria and Romania have applied parts of the Schengen legal framework (the Schengen acquis), including those relating to external border controls, police cooperation and the use of the Schengen Information System. Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.