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Following a European trend of relaxing entry requirements for incoming foreigners, Romania is the latest in the European Union (EU) to remove all internal Covid restrictions while also relaxing measures at the border. As reported by local media, holding an active ‘Green Pass‘ will no longer be a prerequisite for entering the country.
The Eastern European nation is becoming an increasingly popular destination lately, with millions headed to Transylvania every year to visit medieval citadels, UNESCO-listed fortified churches, and fairytale castles. It is also famous for being the homeland of Vlad the Impaler, one of the main inspirations behind the myth of Count Dracula.
What Is Changing At Romanian Borders As Of This Week
With the lifting of the Green Pass requirement, entry into Romania has just got a lot easier. As stated on March 9 by Dan Cărbunaru, a government spokesman, holding valid Covid documentation upon crossing the state border will no longer be a requirement for foreign visitors, including American tourists.
Specifically, those who travel to Romania, and who are not in possession of either an updated vaccination certificate, as established by the European Union, a negative test, or a recovery letter attesting to a recent infection are no longer subject to additional restrictions, including the need to quarantine.
The new simplified entry guidelines were enacted on March 9, 2022, on the same day Romania lifted its two-year-long State of Alert. Prior to that date, non-immunized individuals were still allowed to enter but were required to isolate for five days at their preferred address, unless presenting a negative PCR test dated no earlier than 72 hours.
Entering Romania After March 9, 2022:
- No pre-flight test
- No on-arrival or after-arrival test
- No proof of vaccination
- No quarantines
- No countries are banned due to varients or case numbers
Travelers, no matter which country they are coming from or their vaccination status, are now welcome to enter Romania under pre-pandemic rules.
Now, the Green Pass has been officially abolished, meaning all categories of travelers, vaccinated or unvaccinated (without holding a negative test), will be treated the same. While Cărbunaru maintains that completing the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) is still mandatory, “testing will not be included among the conditions that those who enter Romania will have to meet in order to avoid quarantine.”
As for the PLF, it will continue being enforced until the GEO 129/2021 normative act is repealed. The form can be accessed via this link, and non-compliance may result in hefty fines of up to USD 669.57. As reported by HotNews Romania, travelers will now be able to submit their information up to 72 hours before entering the country, as opposed to the previous 24 hours. The PLF does not ask any Covid-related questions.
What Is Changing Inside Romania As The State Of Alert Is Lifted
Besides the relaxation of its once-strict border management, Romania also seems to be shifting its Covid strategy from a more confrontational approach to one where living with the disease is accepted as a reality. This means there will no longer be any regulations aimed at curbing its spread, as the nation returns to a pre-pandemic level of normality.
As listed by local news outlet Antena 3, these are the main changes travelers can expect inside Romania as the State of Alert is lifted:
- The wearing of facial coverings will no longer be mandatory either outdoors or indoors
- Vaccine certificates or other valid Green Passes are no longer required for accessing public institutions, bars and clubs, restaurants, shopping centers, cultural venues, museums, etc
- Indoor events, concerts, demonstrations, and rallies can now happen without any epidemiological restrictions
- The hospitality sector will no longer need to observe a nightly curfew
- All border crossing points that had been temporarily or totally closed while the country was under the State of Alert can now reopen
In removing virtually all of its Covid restrictions and opening the doors for the unvaccinated to visit without any restrictions, Romania aligns itself with some of its European partners, which have been moving away from strict travel rules lately. Similarly to Romania, Hungary, Ireland, and Norway have all removed their Covid entry requirements recently.
Now The Omicron Is No Longer An Impediment, Could The War In Ukraine Affect Travel In Europe?
As the Omicron wave recedes and Europe lowers its guard, there may be other concerns for Americans visiting the Old Continent that are not strictly health-related.
Recently, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought war back to Europe's shores, and as one of Ukraine's neighbors, Romania is also being affected by the wave of refugees and heightened tensions in the region.
In fact, travel to Eastern Europe, in general, could come with its own set of challenges soon enough, as Cold War-era travel bans are enacted and the West seals itself off to discourage further Russian aggression, especially along the Eastern NATO border.
When visiting Romania or other Eastern European destinations, Americans should follow official CDC guidance and keep up to date with the relevant news.
Read More:
Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022
How The Invasion in Ukraine Could Affect Americans Traveling In Europe
U.S. Travelers Will Require Authorization Traveling To Europe Starting In 2023
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
jenny
Sunday 13th of March 2022
Any nonvaccinated but recovered person:
a) can't spread the virus for sure - unlike vaccinated one b) is better protected by obtained immunity - unlike vaccinated one
Most vaccinated are too busy watching TV, mainstream news and writting comments about their superiority to even try to comprehend that.
garrytravel
Thursday 10th of March 2022
Montenegro too just announced, yay!
Kashlee Kucheran
Friday 11th of March 2022
Yes publishing today!
covidvaxinfo
Thursday 10th of March 2022
prob did this to ease entry for ukrainians.
Maga patriots vs lefty traitors
Thursday 10th of March 2022
Let's go Romania! When will Poland do the same?
Michael Z, NYC USA
Thursday 10th of March 2022
I think it is a little too early to rescind COVID-19 restrictions. Also, traveling while Putin is invading Ukraine killing innocents (women, families & children), millions leaving their homes and fleeing to safe-havan nations isn't wise to book a flight and go to. There are too many anti vaxxers traveling and as long as there are hosts for the killer coronavirus I'm not risking traveling to any nation that drops its restrictions.
Jack
Saturday 12th of March 2022
@Michael Z, NYC USA, Right, so in the United States you don't have any covid? Magical place where everyone's healthy and they're all vaccinated? There's no more danger in flying across the Atlantic than domestically within the USA, get a grip.
Wind Up
Friday 11th of March 2022
@Michael Z, NYC USA, "There are too many anti vaxxers traveling and as long as there are hosts for the killer coronavirus I’m not risking traveling to any nation that drops its restrictions."
Do you not realise that there are a large number of unvaccinated in your own location? It doesn't matter where you go, there will always be unvaccinated people so there is no increased "risk" for you based on flying to another country.
Besides, maybe it is better for you to stay at home with your blanket over your head because if you have spoken to anybody at all during this pandemic, won't they be an unnecessary threat to you? Try asking yourself why ~30% of all western countries are unvaccinated yet still alive after 2 years of a "killer" disease.
carson willis
Thursday 10th of March 2022
@Michael Z, NYC USA, Michael came out from under his bed, saw his shadow, and now its 6 more months of fear. On a serious note though, the "vaccine" does not prevent infection so, so called vaxxers are just as much hosts. Furthermore if Russians are so scary there are 4 other continents. But again if you can figure out the difference between Italy and Ukraine on a map a trip to Europe really isn't scary either.
ericgoeseverywhere
Thursday 10th of March 2022
@Michael Z, NYC USA,
The use of the term "anti-vaxxers" is discriminatory and a word people love to throw around. Being anti-mandate is not the same as "anti-vax" although some people may be both (insert Venn diagram here).
I get it mate, people are scared. While Covid was sadly a death sentence for millions of individuals, there is no doubt the media has played into the massive division within our country, and the world.
There's so much hatred and disdain for people with opposing views, and enough scientific data on both sides to cancel everything out.
At the end of the day, when it comes to travel, we all have to make the decision we feel is right for us. Personally, I'm in the process of booking award mileage on Air France for a week in Budapest. My best friends, on the other hand, have decided they want to wait. Good for me, and good for them.
Forums are a great place for collaboration and expressing one's opinion and free speech should never be silenced, a bit of kindness and empathy can go a long way.
Best wishes for you and your future travels.
Cheers.
Christian
Thursday 10th of March 2022
@Michael Z, NYC USA, Although Putin isn’t an anti-waxxer, I bet many unvaccinated and untested Russian travelers were able to cross the border into Ukraine while unvaccinated Ukrainians can’t enter Poland. I think this type of discrimination among travelers based on their country of origine is unfair.