Government initiates negotiations on Agreement with Romania on visa exemption for diplomatic and service passport holders

Diplomatic and service passport holders will be exempt from visas for travel to Romania. On 26 November, the government approved the initiation of negotiations on the Intergovernmental Agreement in this regard.

The initiative to sign the Agreement belongs to the Romanian side, considering that starting March 31, 2024, Romania is obliged to comply with the Schengen Acquis. Through this Agreement, the bilateral legal framework will be harmonized with the requirements of the Schengen regime regarding visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic and service passports.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Agreement does not affect the general travel regime for citizens but represents a necessary technical adjustment for diplomatic personnel's activities and bilateral cooperation to proceed without interruptions.


“This project is more of a technical one. It aims to update the bilateral legal framework in the visa field, considering Romania's accession to the Schengen area and the need to fully comply with the Schengen Acquis. For us, in principle, things do not change,” Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popșoi said.


According to the draft Agreement, diplomatic and service passport holders from both states will be able to enter, transit, and stay visa-free in the territory of the other Party for a period of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The duration of stay in Romania will be calculated cumulatively, including any stays in other states applying the Schengen Agreement Implementation Convention.

The Agreement also provides for visa exemption, for the entire mission duration, for members of the diplomatic missions and consular offices of both states, provided their appointment is notified through diplomatic channels at least 30 days before the mission begins.