Key Takeaways:
- Over 52,690 people crossed Romania's external borders in the last 24 hours.
- Land border controls with Hungary and Bulgaria have been abolished since January 1, 2025.
- Random internal checks continue within 30 km of former borders.
- 64 illegal acts were detected, including 19 crimes.
- Over 13.7 million Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania since February 2022.
High Traffic at Romania's External Borders
In the last 24 hours, Romanian border police processed approximately 52,690 people and over 10,610 vehicles at the country's external borders. These include crossings with Serbia, Moldova, Ukraine, and maritime and air routes outside the Schengen Area.
On the entry side alone, formalities were completed for 25,633 people and 4,560 vehicles. The figures highlight Romania's role as a significant transit and entry point into the European Union, particularly given its eastern location.
The New Schengen Reality: Abolished Land Controls
Since January 1, 2025, border control has been officially abolished at Romania's internal borders with Hungary and Bulgaria. This marks a major milestone in the country's full integration into the Schengen Area's passport-free travel zone.
All persons can now travel to or from other Schengen member states without stopping at control booths. This change facilitates smoother trade, tourism, and movement for citizens and businesses across Central and Eastern Europe.
Ongoing Security: Random Internal Checks
Despite the removal of systematic controls, Romanian border police retain the authority to conduct random and unsystematic checks. These can occur on internal border communication routes or at various road junctions within 30 kilometres of the former internal border line.
Officers use mobile terminals connected to relevant databases to verify identities and documents. In the last 24 hours, over 7,460 checks were performed using the eDAC application.
This system represents the Schengen balance—maximizing freedom of movement while maintaining tools for security and law enforcement.
Ukrainian Refugee Statistics and Border Management
Regarding Ukrainian citizens, Border Police conduct controls in accordance with both national and EU regulations. The data reveals a staggering long-term trend:
- From February 10, 2022, to December 25, 2025, a total of 13,713,983 Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania.
This figure underscores Romania's critical role as a frontline EU state receiving refugees since the full-scale invasion began. The management of this flow remains a key aspect of its external border operations.
Law Enforcement and Interceptions
In the last 24 hours, border police detected 64 illegal acts across crossing points and the "green border" (unguarded frontier areas). These included:
- 19 crimes
- 45 minor offenses
Enforcement actions resulted in:
- Fines worth 48,523 Romanian Lei (approximately €9,700)
- Goods worth around 160 Lei (€32) seized to protect consumers
- 16 foreign citizens denied entry for failing to meet legal conditions
- 8 Romanian citizens prevented from leaving the country for various legal reasons
These interceptions demonstrate that, even with relaxed internal borders, Romania's authorities remain vigilant against irregular migration, smuggling, and other border-related offenses.
What This Means for Travelers
For EU citizens and travelers, Romania's Schengen accession simplifies journeys to and from Hungary and Bulgaria. The elimination of systematic stops reduces travel time and bureaucracy.
However, travelers should be aware that:
- Random police checks are possible near former borders.
- They must always carry a valid passport or national ID card.
- External border controls (with non-Schengen countries) remain strict and time-consuming.
For third-country nationals, entry requirements at Romania's external borders are unchanged and align with EU Schengen rules.
Looking Ahead
Romania's first days of full land-border Schengen membership show a system in transition—high external traffic, adapted internal procedures, and continued enforcement. The coming months will test the balance between seamless movement and effective security, setting a precedent for future Schengen enlargements.