Romania and Bulgaria have become full members of the European Union’s border-free Schengen area after scrapping land border controls in the bloc.

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.

Identification checks at Bulgaria and Romania’s land borders have ceased, opening free travel to the rest of the EU.

Romania and Bulgaria joined the Schengen Area on January 1, 2025, ending land border checks with other Schengen countries — but it means one rule has to now be followed by Brits

Romania and Bulgaria have joined the Schengen zone on January 1, a space that now consists of 29 European countries that have abolished border controls between

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

Ceremonies were held at Romania and Bulgaria's borders to celebrate becoming fully fledged members of the Schengen Area. #EuropeNews

Romania and Bulgaria became part of the Schengen Zone by air and sea on March 31, 2024, but not also through land borders. In spite of meeting the technical criteria since 2012, Austria continuously opposed the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area citing irregular migration concerns.

Identification checks at the land borders between Bulgaria and Romania and their neighboring European Union-member countries were officially ceased at midnight, providing travelers free access to the rest of the 27-member EU bloc.

Romania and Bulgaria have become full members of the Schengen zone, expanding the borderless area to 29 members and ending a 13-year wait for the two eastern European countries.