Estate Planning vs. Will Drafting in Dubai: Understanding the Key Differences

What Travelers Should Know: Air & Sea vs Land

Since the changes were phased, there are some nuances:

• From end-March 2024, if you arrive in Romania or Bulgaria by air or sea, you won’t have internal passport controls (for flights/ships within the Schengen countries).
• Before 1 January 2025, land crossings were still controlled. After the date, those land checks are dropped between Romania, Bulgaria, and other Schengen states.
• If you're a non-EU national with a Schengen visa or authorised stay, days spent in Romania or Bulgaria now count fully toward the 90-days in 180 rule after full accession.

What This Means in Practical Terms

Here are some of the changes that many won’t immediately spot but will impact planning, business, tourism, and immigration:

• Less waiting, more fluid travel- If you were travelling by land (bus, car, train) between Romania or Bulgaria and neighbouring Schengen countries, border delays were a big pain. Now that internal land border control is gone, those delays should drop. (Though occasional checks for security, identity or safety may happen, but not routine passport checks.)
• Visas & traveller planning- For travellers from non-EU countries, the Schengen visa regime becomes more uniform. Romania and Bulgaria issuing Schengen type visas valid across the area (for short stays). Also, your stay in these countries counts toward the total permitted days in Schengen. So, planning itineraries will be easier: you don’t need separate calculations or worries for Romania/Bulgaria once in.
• Trade, commuting, tourism boost- Removing land border checks helps freight transport, goods movement, tourism. For businesses operating cross-border (especially in those Balkan regions), the reduced friction can mean lower costs, faster delivery. For tourists, crossing between Romania, Bulgaria, and neighbouring countries becomes more spontaneous and less bureaucratic.
• Security & infrastructure still matter- The Schengen rules require strong passport control systems at external borders, shared information systems, cooperation between law enforcement, etc. Romania and Bulgaria have been assessed and upgraded over time. The EU continues to support them (via tools like Frontex and relevant funds) to ensure external border security remains high.
• Travelers still need their ID/passport- Even though formal passport checks are lifted at internal borders, you’ll still need valid travel documents. Airlines and sea carriers may check ID/passports before boarding. Also, when entering the Schengen Area from non-Schengen countries via external border, normal rules apply. It’s not a free-for-all; the lifted internal checks just make internal movement easier.

Who Benefits Most

• Tourists & leisure travellers will find trips more flexible: multi-country itineraries, road trips, cross-border train or bus rides become simpler.
• Business travellers & freight operators will save time and cost at land crossings.
• Expats, migrants, people with residence permits get clearer status and smoother movement.
• Travel agents, tour operators, and visa consultancy firms (like us at ezee Visa) have new opportunities to advise clients more accurately and help them navigate this updated landscape.

Things to Keep an Eye On

• Even though internal land checks are lifted, random or risk-based security checks may still happen (especially near external borders). So travel times might not always be “no check” situations.
• The 90-days/180-days rule still holds the key and overstaying is not at all allowed. In addition, the rule is valid throughout the entire Schengen area, from 2025 inclusive of Romania and Bulgaria.
• If you’re planning to stay longer - whether for work, study, or to join family - the rules aren’t the same as for short visits. Each situation has its own set of requirements, so it’s important to look up the exact regulations that apply to your case
• External Schengen borders (Romania’s with non-EU nations, Bulgaria’s borders, etc.) remain under scrutiny; border infrastructure improvements are ongoing.

Why This Matters for You (Especially If You’re from Dubai / UAE)

Since ezee Visa helps people with travel, immigration, work visas, here are implications for clients from Dubai or the wider UAE:

• If you plan to travel to Romania or Bulgaria (for tourism or business), knowing the country is fully in Schengen means one visa / one set of border rules for multiple European countries.
• It simplifies route plans: you can fly into Bucharest or Sofia, then travel overland without stopping for document checks (internally in Schengen), saving time and hassle.
• For longer-stay plans (work, study), Schengen rules might still differ, but entry and short-stay processes become more predictable and uniform.

Final Thought

This change isn’t just bureaucratic: it’s about freedom of movement, reducing friction for people, travel businesses, and trade. For Romania and Bulgaria, it’s the payoff of years of reforms. For travellers and visa applicants, it means smarter planning, more options, fewer headaches.

Call to Action

If you’re planning a trip to Romania or Bulgaria soon (or somewhere else in Schengen), or if you need help figuring out which visa works best for your commute, work, or stay - we at ezee Visa are here. Drop us a message, and we’ll walk you through what kind of visa you need, what documents are required, and how to avoid the usual pitfalls. Travel should excite you, not stress you - let us handle the red tape.