Romania Off US Visa-Free List

Charlie Visa Waiver Programs 6 May 2025 | Updated On May 7, 2025 | 0

The Trump administration has removed Romania from the list of countries whose citizens can travel to the US without a visa.

This decision was made by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the State Department. DHS said the change was necessary to protect the visa waiver program and strengthen US border and immigration security.

The announcement came just two days before the first round of Romania’s repeat presidential election. Earlier this year, US Vice President JD Vance criticized Romania for canceling last year’s election over claims of illegal campaigning and Russian interference. That election saw little-known far-right candidate Călin Georgescu win the first round.

Although the DHS didn’t officially link Romania’s removal to the canceled election, some believe it’s related. George Simion, a hard-right candidate expected to do well in Sunday’s vote, said he believes visa-free travel will be restored “as soon as we go back to democracy.” He recently met with U.S. officials in Washington.

DHS noted that Romania could be reconsidered for the program in the future if it meets the required conditions.

Romania’s foreign ministry said it regrets the US decision. It stressed that the country already meets the key criteria for visa-free travel, such as low visa refusal rates, secure electronic passports, and strong cooperation with US authorities on security issues.

However, the ministry acknowledged that the decision is ultimately political and reflects the US administration’s priorities.

Romania’s government said it hopes to continue working with the Trump administration to rejoin the visa waiver program soon. It believes the election of a new president could be a key moment to renew that effort.

The Biden administration had added Romania to the visa-free list in January, just before Donald Trump started his second term. Romanians were set to start traveling visa-free in late March, but the Trump administration paused the process for review, saying it was part of a broader focus on national security.

Now that Romania has been officially removed, its citizens will still need to apply for a visa to visit the US, a process that can take months.

For assistance with your visa application, contact IaM.

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