TL;DR
Romania is now a full Schengen member (air/sea borders from 31 March 2024, land borders from 1 January 2025), so from the UK you apply for a standard Schengen visa. There is no visa centre: you apply on Romania's own eViza portal, and once the file is validated you lodge it in person at the Consulate General of Romania in London. Allow 15 calendar days from the day you attend.
| Romania Schengen visa (from the UK) | 2026 |
|---|---|
| UK visa application centre | Consulate General of Romania, London (eViza) |
| Application cities | London |
| Visa fee (adult) | €90 |
| Standard processing | 15 calendar days (up to 45) |
| Official portal | Romania visa info ↗ |
How to apply
- Fill in the application on the eViza portal and attach your documents.
- Send the file for validation, and answer any request for additional information until staff mark it Valid.
- Book the appointment at the Consulate General of Romania in London, which the portal allows only for a validated file, and prepare the full Schengen document set in original and in copy.
- Lodge in person: fingerprints, the signature on the form in front of the consular officer, and the €90 fee paid at the counter.
- Wait for the decision, 15 calendar days from the day you attend and up to 45 in some cases, then collect the passport in person.
Romania is now in Schengen
This is the key change for UK applicants. Romania joined the Schengen area in two steps: air and sea border controls were lifted on 31 March 2024, and internal land border controls on 1 January 2025 (confirmed by the European Commission and the Council of the EU). As of 2026 Romania is a full Schengen member, so you no longer apply for a separate Romanian national visa, you apply for a standard Type C Schengen visa, and it lets you travel across the entire area. What has not changed is who takes the application: the Romanian consulate in London does, directly, through the eViza portal, with no outsourced visa centre and no centre fee anywhere in the process.
When to apply to Romania
Apply to Romania only if it's your main destination, where you'll spend the most nights, or your first point of entry if your trip is split evenly (see which country to apply to). A Bucharest city break or a Transylvania tour makes Romania the country to apply to. If you'll spend more nights elsewhere in Schengen, including neighbouring Bulgaria or Hungary, apply there instead.
Timing is tighter than on other Schengen routes. Lodge at least 2 weeks before your estimated departure and not more than 3 months before it, rather than the 6 months you can use elsewhere. Details of the decision period are in the Romania processing time guide.
What you'll need
The standard Schengen document set: a passport issued within the last 10 years and valid at least 3 months beyond your trip, the completed application, a recent photo, proof of UK residence (UK immigration status share code), confirmed travel and accommodation bookings, an itinerary, recent bank statements, €30,000+ travel insurance, and strong evidence you'll return to the UK, the leading reason these applications are refused for UK-resident non-EU nationals. Bring everything in original and in copy on the day, and note that the portal caps each upload at 2 MB and the photo at 0.5 MB. Start the file early: the appointment only opens once it has been validated, as the Romania appointment guide explains.
Assemble it cleanly
- Checklist generator, your tailored document list
- Bundler and Compressor, assemble your file and size it to the portal's limits
Want a human to check it before you lodge? See the done-for-you Schengen service. For the overview, see the Schengen visa from the UK hub.
Sources
Common questions
- 01
Is Romania in the Schengen area in 2026?
Yes. Romania became a full Schengen member in two phases, air and sea borders on 31 March 2024, and land borders on 1 January 2025. As of 2026 you apply for a standard Schengen visa, and that visa lets you travel across the whole Schengen area, not just Romania.
- 02
How do I apply for a Romania Schengen visa from the UK?
On Romania's own eViza portal, not through a visa application centre. You complete the form online, attach your documents and send the file for validation. Once staff mark it Valid, the portal lets you book an appointment at the Consulate General of Romania in London, where you lodge the file in person. You must legally reside in the UK to apply here.
- 03
How much is a Romania Schengen visa from the UK?
€90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12, the standard Schengen fee now that Romania is a full member. There is no visa centre fee, because no outsourced centre is involved. You pay at the consulate counter when you lodge, and you will also need travel insurance with at least €30,000 of cover.
- 04
How long does a Romania visa take and when should I apply?
Standard processing is 15 calendar days from the day you attend the consulate, up to 45 in complex cases. Lodge at least 2 weeks before your estimated departure and not more than 3 months before it, which is tighter than the 6 month window that applies on most Schengen routes.
- 05
Should I apply to Romania if I'm visiting several countries?
Apply to Romania only if it's your main destination (most nights), or your first point of entry if your time is split evenly. For a Bucharest or Transylvania trip Romania is the country to apply to; otherwise apply where you'll spend the most time.
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