Fulfilling a dream for generations of Romanians, the U.S. announced on Friday that starting this Spring, Romanian nationals will no longer need visas to travel to the United States.
The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas together with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, on Friday formally designated Romania as a participating country in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) beginning March 31.
U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec called it “an historic moment” during a meeting wth Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
The move will “significantly enhance the security interests of the United States in addition to encouraging legitimate travel and commerce between the two nations,” a statement said.
Romania becomes the 43rd member of the VWP and the fourth country added under Secretary Mayorkas’s tenure. Croatia joined in 2021, Israel in 2023 and Qatar last years.
Secretary Mayorkas and Secretary Blinken praised Romania “for meeting the stringent security requirements to join” the program.
“Romania is an exceptional U.S. partner, and our strategic relationship has only grown stronger over the past several years,” the statement said.
The success is “evidence of our strategic partnership and our shared commitment to security and economic prosperity.”
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said it was “the achievement of a strategic goal” that would help develop ‘more dynamic relations” with the U.S.
The VWP is a culmination of comprehensive security partnerships between the United States and designated countries that meet strict requirements related to counterterrorism, law enforcement, immigration enforcement, document security, and border management.
Program requirements include that the country have a rate of nonimmigrant visitor visa refusals below 3 percent during the previous fiscal year; issues secure travel documents; extends reciprocal travel privileges to all U.S. citizens and nationals without regard to national origin, religion, ethnicity, or gender; and works closely with U.S. law enforcement and counterterrorism authorities.
U.S. citizens already enjoy visa-free travel to Romania and are eligible to stay in Romania for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes if they have a passport that is valid for at least three months from the date of arrival.
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