Romania and Bulgaria have officially become part of the Schengen area. As a result, some of the rules for passing through airport and seaport controls will change. Find out what innovations are being implemented in these countries

An insurance policy is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside of Ukraine

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As of 31 March 2024, Bulgaria and Romania have officially become part of the Schengen area. Currently, the changes only affect the airports and seaports of these countries, while the rules for crossing land borders remain the same for the time being. With reference to Avianews, we tell you what changes passengers can expect in these countries.

With the entry of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen zone, passengers travelling from the airports of these countries to other Schengen countries are now exempt from passport control. The same rule applies to travellers arriving at airports in Bulgaria and Romania from Schengen countries.

This means that passengers travelling between Bulgaria, Romania and other Schengen countries now experience a process similar to domestic flights. On departure, only a security check awaits them, and on arrival they can immediately collect their luggage and head into the city without delay.

The abolition of passport control has necessitated the redesign of Bulgarian and Romanian airports. While previously most of their passengers had to go through passport control, now a significant proportion of travellers are exempted from this formality.

If you are planning to visit one of the Schengen countries or any other country, remember that your safety can be taken care of by an insurance policy, which will come in handy in case of unforeseen health situations. This document will also allow you to have access to hospital treatment and other paid services absolutely free of charge. You can take out an insurance policy here.

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Which countries are already part of the Schengen zone?

As you know, the Schengen zone was created in 1985, when Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed an agreement in the Schengen village in Luxembourg that effectively removed the borders between the countries.

At the moment Schengen consists of 29 states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

We remind you! Travelling to Ukraine for citizens of some countries requires a transit visa through the Schengen zone. How and in what cases it is necessary to issue a short-term visa and what nuances to pay attention to, we tell you here.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

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