Bulgaria and Romania are holding ceremonies to mark their full membership in Europe’s Schengen area, the culmination of years of negotiations by the Eastern European countries to join the ID check-free travel zone.

Romania and Bulgaria scrapped land border controls to become full members of the European Union's Schengen free-travel area on Wednesday, joining an expanded bloc of countries whose residents can travel without passport checks.

Romania and Bulgaria have officially joined the Schengen Area as of January 1st, 2025, offering new opportunities for skilled workers

This expansion means that travellers can now move freely between Bulgaria, Romania, and the other 27 EU member states

Romania and Bulgaria fully joined the Schengen Area on Wednesday, allowing their citizens to travel freely within the European Union. The Schengen Area now includes 25 of the 27 EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

Romania and Bulgaria scrapped land border controls to become full members of the European Union's Schengen free-travel area on Wednesday, joining an expanded bloc of countries whose residents can travel without passport checks.

Romania and Bulgaria officially join the Schengen Area on 1 January 2025, removing border controls and ensuring free movement across the EU

After 13 years of negotiations and procedures, Romania and Bulgaria officially joined the Schengen area on January 1, Azernews </strong

Full membership for Romania and Bulgaria made possible after Austria lifted its veto - Both countries expect to benefit economically and their GDP to increase by at least 1%

The Bulgarian border