Can I travel to Romania? Is it safe to visit Transylvania? Update February 1st 2022

”Can I travel to Romania?” – We’re sure this question comes to mind for a lot of you, especially after these hard times for everyone.

Update from February 1st 2022

As of February 1st 2022, the Romanian health authorities completely changed the rules for entering Romania, making them more simple. There are no Red/ Yellow / Green countries, those who are fully vaccinated don’t have to stay in quarantine and those who are not vaccinated have to present a negative PCR test in order to avoid being quarantined.

Therefore, there are 3 situations:

  1. Vaccinated travelers – If you are fully vaccinated, you can enter Romania without restrictions and you don’t need to stay in quarantine, if you present the EU Green Certificate
  2. Unvaccinated travelers – If you present a negative PCR test taken not later than 72 hours before embarking or before entering the country (if you drive with your personal car), you are not required to stay in quarantine.
  3. If you had Covid19 in the last 180 days prior to your arrival in Romania and you can prove it with a valid certificate, you are not required to stay in quarantine.

You still need to fill the Passenger Locator Form not earlier than 24 hours before arrival or not later than 24 hours after arrival in Romania.

Children under 12 are not required to present a negative PCR test.

It doesn’t matter which country you are coming from. The rules are applicable for all countries of origin.

If you don’t have a proof of vaccination, having Covid19 or you don’t present a negative PCR test, you must stay in quarantine for 5 days.

The rules below are not applicable anymore. Please ignore them.

Current situation starting on January 23rd 2022: (see the current restrictions below)

Red countries (if you come to Romania from these countries you need to stay in quarantine for 14 days. After 8 days you can take a PCR test and if it is negative, from the 10th you are free to explore our country): Greenland, Aruba, Bonaire, Saint Eustatius & Saba, Faeroe Islands, Sint Marteen, British Virgin Islands, Andorra, Seychelles, Curacao, San Marino, Ireland, Jersey, Gibraltar, Cyprus, France, Denmark, Montenegro, Iceland, Cayman Islands, Portugal, Israel, Bermuda, Switzerland, Puerto Rico, Monaco, Isle of Man, Greece, Luxembourg, US Virgin Islands, Australia, Guernsey, Spain, Slovenia, Grenada, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Argentina, United States of America, Italy, Belgium, Uruguay, United Kingdom, Anguilla, Sweden, Liechtenstein, Croatia, Netherlands, Guam, Barbados, Norway, Belize, Saint Lucia, Surinam, Austria, Finland, Serbia, Cape Verde, Lithuania, Panama, Canada, Montserrat, Northern Mariana Islands, Bahamas, Guyana, Qatar, Estonia, Malta, Turks & Caicos, Dominica, Georgia, Bahrain, Latvia, Maldives, Lebanon, Czech Republic, Bolivia, Antigua & Barbuda, Kuwait, Turkey, Bulgaria, Peru, Costa Rica, Germany, North Macedonia, Hungary, Botswana, Albania, Slovakia, Palau, Colombia, Bosnia & Hertzegovina, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Tunisia, Fiji, Saint Vincent & Grenadine, Mongolia, Poland, Paraguay, Romania, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, Chile, Philippines, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Jordan, New Caledonia, Gabon, Mexico, Cuba, Moldova.

Yellow countries (if you come to Romania from these countries and you want to avoid the quarantine you need to present a negative PCR test taken no later than 72 hours before entrance in the country or embarking in the plane): Kosovo, Ecuador, Mauritania, Vietnam, French Polynesia, Namibia, Sao Tome & Principe, Laos, Morocco, Zambia, Singapore, Russia, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, India, Belarus.

Green countries (if you come to Romania from these countries you have no restrictions): All the other countries.

Restrictions for 30 days, starting from Monday, October 25th 2021:

  • Curfew between 10pm-5am for unvaccinated people. Vaccinated people have no restrictions.
  • Shops, restaurants, cafes, cinemas are open until 9pm.
  • Bars, clubs are closed.
  • You need to present a valid EU Digital Covid Certificate whenever you enter malls, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, hotels, public institutions
  • No weddings, celebrations or any other private events. No shows, concerts are possible and sports events can happen without audience.
  • Wearing a mask is required for all public places, indoor or outdoor, even in offices.
  • You don’t have to present a certificate in small grocery shops or at church.

If you are vaccinated, you can enter Romania without any restrictions (at least 10 days after the second shot or from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine)

Old updates (ignore them):

Update May 11th 2021: We wish we had better news but it’s not possible. Although the number of cases continues to go down significantly in Romania, the list of yellow countries gets bigger. After the latest update, new countries were added to this list: Spain, Belarus, Denmark, Monaco, UAE, Irak, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Bahamas, Curacao, Trinidad-Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador, Bolivia, Tunisia.

If you are vaccinated with both shots against Covid19 (after at least 10 days from the second jab), if you had Covid19 during the last 90 days, if you are a professional freight driver or carry passengers, medical staff, or professional athlete etc, you are not required to stay in quarantine for 10 days and the PCR test is not needed. Also, if you have proof that you will stay in Romania for less than 72 hours (flight ticket), you only have to present a negative PCR test.

Update April 23rd 2021: After a one week delay, the yellow list has been updated. And the changes are quite significant.

First, the good news. Isle Man, Moldova, Monaco and Palestine are green again, so if you’re coming to Romania from these countries you are not required to stay in quarantine.

And not the … not so good news. New countries were added to the yellow list: Argentina, Azerbaidjan, Cape Verde, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iran, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Maldives, Mongolia, Oman, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Switzerland and United States. If you come to Romania from one of these countries you are required to stay in quarantine. Unless you are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and at least 10 days have passed after the second shot. Or if you had Covid-19 in the last 90 days.

We hope the next updates will be better…

Update April 8th 2021: After the latest yellow list update, there aren’t major changes. The only one is the addition of Puerto Rico and the Isle of Man in the yellow list. So if you’re coming from these two, you are required to stay in quarantine at your arrival in Romania.

All the other restrictions are the same and we remind you that if you are vaccinated with both jabs, you are free to visit Romania without any restrictions.

Update April 5th 2021: Good news for travelers coming to Romania from Slovakia, Malta and Latvia! These countries are out of the yellow list and people arriving to our country from them are not required to isolate.

Not so good news for people arriving from Turkey, Croatia, Armenia, Bermuda and Ukraine… these countries have entered the yellow list and travelers coming to Romania must stay in quarantine upon arrival.

South Africa, despite having a lower number of cases than Romania, is still in the yellow list, due to the presence of the South African Covid-19 variant.

Friendly reminder: Romania is one of the few countries that accepts entry of people who have been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Update March 26th 2021: Yesterday, a new yellow list has been issued and fortunately for travelers, there are good news for people coming from the following states: United Kingdom, UAE, Maldives, Israel, Albania and Liechtenstein. These countries are now green and people entering Romania from them are not required to stay in quarantine or present a negative PCR test.

Update March 22nd 2021: According to the last update on the yellow list, if you are coming from Spain, Peru or Lithuania, you are not required to stay in quarantine at your arrival in Romania. And you don’t need a negative PCR test either.

If you had been vaccinated against Covid19 and after at least 10 days from the second jab, you are not required to self-quarantine and you don’t need to present a negative PCR test, even if you come from a “yellow” country.

Update March 15th 2021: After the last yellow list update, the United States are not longer on the list, therefore if you are coming to Romania from the States, you are not required to stay in quarantine. Canada is also green.

Update March 8th 2021: According to the last update on the yellow list, there are a few changes. Bulgaria is again on the yellow list, so people coming from this country are required to self isolate after their arrival in Romania. Same applies for Paraguay.

On the other hand, there are some good news. Portugal, Ireland, Switzerland, Georgia, Belarus, Gibraltar, Panama, Columbia are “green” and people travelling to Romania from these countries are free to explore Romania, without the need for a quarantine.

Some people are excepted from quarantine: travelers who have been vaccinated with both jabs against covid19 (at least 10 days after the second shot), people who had covid19 during the last 90 days (but not in the last 14 days), drivers transporting goods and passengers, airline crew, people who are working abroad, professional athletes etc. and children under the age of 3.

Update February 19th 2021: After the latest yellow list update, there is one significant change. Travelers from Germany are not required to stay in quarantine after arriving in Romania. Also, Lichtenstein, Malaysia, Bolivia, Botswana, French Polynesia are green as well.

However, travelers from Palestine, Jordan and Antigua & Barbuda are back on the yellow list. If you’re coming from these areas, you are required to stay in quarantine.

Moreover, people who received their second jab of Covid19 vaccine, after at least 10 days after the second shot, are excepted from these measures (quarantine & negative PCR test)

Update February 12th 2021: After yesterday’s update of the yellow list, the following countries are not in the yellow list anymore: Dominican Republic, Tunisia, Cape Verde, Canada and Russia. So if you’re coming from these countries you don’t need to present a negative PCR test and you are not required to quarantine.

However, there are new countries in the yellow list: Moldova, Hungary, Qatar, French Polynesia.

Travelers coming from countries in the yellow list but present a negative PCR test must stay in quarantine for 10 days. If they don’t have a test, then it’s 14 days of quarantine. The test must be both in English and the language of the issuing country. Travelers from the UK must present a negative PCR test and stay in quarantine for 14 days. The test must be done 72 hours before boarding (if you’re using public transport – plane, bus etc) and before entering the country (if you’re coming with your own car).

If you are staying in Romania just for 72 hours, then you only have to present a negative PCR test, without the need for quarantine.

You are not required to present a negative PCR test or to quarantine if you are vaccinated with both jabs (10 days after the second dose), if you had Covid19 in the last 90 days (but not in the last 14 days) and you can prove it with a positive test.

Update February 5th 2021: After a looong time, the Romanian authorities decided to issue another statement. According to it, all travelers entering Romania from countries on the yellow list mush stay in self-isolation for two weeks and present a negative PCR test for Covid19 (this is the most important update).

However, travelers who are vaccinated against Covid19 can enter Romania without the need for quarantine or any restrictions.

New countries which are now on the yellow list: Albania, Belgium, Kosovo, Belarus, Russia, North Macedonia, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuweit, Maldives, Malaysia, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, Falkland, Peru, Dominican Republic, Tunisia, Cape Verde.

New countries which are not on the yellow list: Iceland, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Armenia.

Update January 19th 2021: Great news! Romania is one of the three countries in Europe (Poland and Moldova are the other two) which eliminates the restrictions for travelers coming from the yellow countries who had been vaccinated. So basically, 10 days after the second shot of vaccine, you are free to come to Romania with no restrictions.

Another update is for those coming from the United Kingdom, who don’t need to present a negative PCR test on their arrival in Romania and also, those who are vaccinated can enter our country after 10 days from the second vaccine shot.

Countries entering the yellow list (if you arrive from these countries you need to self isolate for 14 days): United Arab Emirates, Canada, Argentina, Brazil.

Countries who leave the yellow list (you don’t have to self isolate on arrival in Romania): Turkey, Moldova, Russian Federation, Belarus.

Update January 11th 2021: Unfortunately, the list with the yellow countries (if you are coming from these countries you are required to self-isolate for 14 days at your arrival in Romania) was updated and France, Spain, Russia, Malta, Ireland were added. It seems that these countries have reported a significant increase in the number of Covid19 cases.

However, if you are coming from Hungary and Azerbaijan you are not required to self-isolate at your arrival in Romania. Please keep in mind that Hungary has a high chance of re-entering the yellow list on the next update, which will be in a week.

So here’s the updated yellow list:

Europe: Spain, France, Ireland, Malta, Germany, Gibraltar, United Kingdon, Poland, Italy, Austria, Montenegro, Croatia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovakia, Moldova, Slovenia, Sweden, Denmark, North Macedonia, Portugal, Switzerland, Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Monaco, San Marino, Serbia. 

Outside Europe: Turkey, USA, Israel, South Africa, Russia, Georgia.

If you wish to travel to Romania, please search for official information about entering our country.

Update January 4th 2021: As of January 3rd 2021, if you are coming to Romania from Belize or Bulgaria, you are not required to self-isolate for 14 days at arrival. However, a few countries are on the yellow list again: Germany, Austria, Poland, Italy, Monaco, Israel, Columbia, Lebanon and passengers arriving from these countries have to stay in quarantine for two weeks.

Update December 28th 2020: As of December 24th 2020, if you are coming to Romania from Austria, Jordan of French Polynesia, you are not required to self-isolate for two weeks at arrival.

Update December 17th 2020: As of December 14th 2020, if you are coming from Belgium or Italy you are not required to self-isolate for two weeks at arrival. However, if you are coming from the Netherlands, you will need to stay in quarantine for 14 days.

Update December 11th 2020: As of December 6th 2020, if you’re coming to Romania from Poland, you’re not required to self-isolate in Romania for 14 days. On the next update, it’s possible that Italy will be out of the yellow list, hopefully.

Update December 7th 2020: As of December 4th 2020, if you are coming to Romania from France, Spain or the United Kingdom you’re not required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Update November 23rd 2020: As of November 20th 2020, people travelling from Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Slovakia and Monaco are not required to stay in self-isolation when arriving in Romania.

Update November 13th 2020: As of today (November 13th 2020), people travelling from the United Kingdom are not required to stay in self-isolation when arriving in Romania. So, dear travelers from the UK, we are waiting for you 🙂

We have updated the initial post and at the time we’re writing this (May 28th 2020), everything seems to slowly return to normal.

The state of alert issued by the Romanian authorities will be over in June 16th 2020 and the international flights will be resumed. This means you can travel again to Romania! Hooray!

However, this doesn’t mean that you need to forget about social distancing and wearing a mask. Having a protective mask in closed spaces, public institutions, public transport and shops is still mandatory. Also, walking in groups larger than three is still under discussion. If you’re travelling with a big family, don’t worry, this rule is only applicable for those not living in the same house.

These lovely swans and their chicks can enjoy freedom in a slightly bigger group 🙂 we captured this shot in one of our bird watching tours near Brasov.

Can I travel to Romania - swans with chicks sitting together

Restaurants and open terraces will be open starting from June 1st, with some social distancing between the customers sitting inside. This means you’ll have to make reservations for a free table in most places.

How about visiting the main tourist attractions? Museums, castles, churches? Well, these will probably allow people inside, but keeping the same rules regarding distance between visitors. This means one things: no more overcrowded castles and more time and space for you to take those amazing Instagram travel shots 🙂

Our suggestion for safe travelling in Romania are our nature & wildlife tours. Being in nature and breathing fresh air will surely boost up your immune system.

So what are you waiting for? Book a flight to Romania and travel safely. We will provide masks and disinfectant for any of our tours.

Below is the initial article, posted on March 3rd 2020.

Are you worried about the coronavirus in Romania? There is no doubt that this pandemic had affected the global tourism industry. But if you come to Romania, should you be afraid and cancel your bookings?

coronavirus

Well, no. At the time of this post (March 3rd 2020), there are only three confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Romania, of which one is recovered. Compared to other countries in Europe, Romania is pretty safe, let’s say.

Of course, there are extra-precautions that you need to take, everywhere you go, not only in Romania. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly and avoid being in big crowds.

Regarding us, we need to inform you that we are not cancelling any of our tours because of the Coronavirus. We are specialized in wildlife and active tours, therefore spending most of the time in nature, in small groups, makes our services appealing for outdoor enthusiasts.

Should you need to cancel any booking due to the Coronavirus, we’d like to inform you that you can do it without any cancellation fees until 24 hours before the start of the activity.

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