COVID-19 – Information to the attention of third-state nationals and stateless persons who are required to hold an entry visa for Romania
- LATEST UPDATE on October 1st 2021 -
INFORMATION OF INTEREST!
Third-state nationals are informed that as of June 1st 2021 the temporary restrictions on non-essential travels from third-states to Romania are lifted, in line with the provisions of Decision Nº580/2021 of the Romanian Government regarding the amendment and suplementation of Annexes 2 and 3 to Decision Nº531/2021 of the Romanian Government on the extension of the state of alert on the territory of Romania starting May 13th 2021, as well as on the establishment of measures applicable throughout this state for the prevention and combatting of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as amended and supplemented. Please note, therefore, that third-state nationals can apply for entry visas for Romania, irrespective of the purpose of their journey, as well as that third-state nationals who wish to travel to Romania are subject to a 14-day quarantine, with the exception of the categories of persons established by Decisions of the National Emergency Situations Committee - https://www.cnscbt.ro/index.php/legislatie_cov
I. Rules relative to the measure of quarantine and the exemption from this measure, applicable to third-state nationals and stateless persons who wish to travel to Romania (please note that the information below may be subject to changes, depending on the dynamics of the pandemic situation; we thereby recommend you also consult the updated information available at https://www.cnscbt.ro/index.php/legislatie_cov):
In line with the rules established at national level and with the provisions of Decision Nº43/01.07.2021 of the National Emergency Situations Committee regarding the approval of the list of states/territories subject to high epidemiological risk, of the criteria on the grounds of which they are established, as well as of the rules of putting into effect of the measure of quarantine on persons who travel to Romania from said states/territories, amended and supplemented:
The list and classification of states/territories subject to high epidemiological risk is approved for Romania, in order to establish the categories of persons subject to the measure of quarantine for 14 days upon entering Romania from said states/territories. Therefore:
„Article 2 - (1) The classification of states/territories depending on the epidemiological risk, based on the incidence cumulated throughout 14 days, is established under 3 categories as follows:
a) The Green Zone – the cumulated incidence of new infected cases throughout the latest 14 days/1000 residents is lower than or equal to 1,5;
b) The Yellow Zone – the cumulated incidence of new infected cases throughout the latest 14 days/1000 residents is between 1,5 - 3;
c) The Red Zone – the cumulated incidence of new infected cases throughout the latest 14 days/1000 residents is higher than or equal to 3.
[…]
Article 3 – (1) Depending on the classification of states/territories subject to epidemiological risk provided for under Article 2, upon entry into Romania the following measures are applicable:
a) For persons who travel to Romania from the Green Zone – quarantine is not applicable;
b) For persons who travel to Romania from the Yellow Zone and from the Red Zone – 14-day quarantine is applicable, at home, at the declared location, or in a dedicated space.
(2) By exception from the provisions of Article 3(1), third-state nationals and stateless persons who travel to Romania from third-states (other than member states of the European Union, of the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation) are subject to the measure of the 14-day quarantine, irrespective of the zone where they travel from (irrespective of whether they travel from the Green Zone, the Yellow Zone or from the Red Zone), with the following exceptions:
a) persons who are vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and from whom 10 days have passed from the date of finalisation of the full vaccination scheme up to the date of entry into Romania;
b) persons who remain in Romania for less than 3 days (72 hours) and present the negative result of an RT-PCR test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, performed at most 72 hours before boarding (for those who travel by public transport) or before entry into Romania (for those who travel on their own). If the persons in question do not leave Romania within 3 days (72 hours), they must inform the Public Health Directorate from the county where they live or where the address declared upon entry into Romania is located and they will be quarantined for a period of 14 days, starting with the fourth day following entry into Romania;
c) persons who have been confirmed positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in the last 180 days prior to entry into Romania, for whom at least 14 days have elapsed from the date of confirmation, to the date of entry into the country;
d) children with ages of 12 years or under, without the obligation of presenting the negative result of an RT-PCR test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection;
e) children with ages over 12 years and less than 16 years, provided they submit an RT-PCR test negative result for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, issued at least 72 hours before boarding (for those who travel with public means of transport) or before entering Romania (for those who travel with own means of transport);
f) persons in transit, provided they leave Romania no more than 24 hours from the date of entry into Romania;
g) cross-border workers who enter Romania from Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine or from the Republic of Moldova […];
h) pupils / students with domicile or residence outside Romania, who attend the courses of educational establishments from Romania or outside Romania, who commute daily to these establishments and are able to present supporting documents thereby, or who have to take admission exams or exams to complete their studies or who start their studies in educational establishments in Romania or travel in view of activities related to the beginning, organisation, attendance or completion of studies, as well as their companions in the situation when the pupils/students are minors.
i) persons handed over to Romanian authorities on the basis of Readmission Agreements, returned under an accelerated procedure.
→ For third-state nationals and stateless persons who travel to Romania from Great Britain, Brazil, Nepal, South Africa and India, the quarantine measure is established for a period of 14 days, with the following exceptions:
a) persons vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and for whom 10 days have elapsed from the completion of the complete vaccination scheme until their entry into Romania;
b) persons who have been confirmed positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in the last 180 days prior to entry into the country, and for whom at least 14 days have elapsed from the date of confirmation, to the date of entry into the country;
c) children with ages of 12 years or under, without the obligation of presenting the negative result of an RT-PCR test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection;
d) children with ages over 12 years and less than 16 years, provided they submit an RT-PCR test negative result for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, issued at least 72 hours before boarding (for those who travel with public means of transport) or before entering Romania (for those who travel with own means of transport);
→ For third-state nationals and stateless persons […] who travel to Romania from Member States of the European Union, of the European Economic Area or from the Swiss Confederation, the measure of quarantine is established under the conditions of Para (1) ”- as follows:
a) For those who arrive in Romania from the area provided for in Art.2 let. a) - (GREEN) quarantine is not established;
b) For those who arrive in Romania from the areas provided for in Art.2 let.b) and c) - (RED, YELLOW) quarantine is established at home, at the declared location or in a dedicated space, for a period of 14 days.
→ The following categories of third-state nationals and stateless persons who arrive in Romania from Member States of the European Union, of the European Economic Area or from the Swiss Confederation - if those states are in the yellow zone, are exempt from quarantine, provided they do not show symptoms associated with COVID -19, in compliance with the legal provisions in force regarding the use of individual protection materials against COVID-19:
a) persons vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and for whom 10 days have elapsed from the completion of the complete vaccination scheme until their entry into Romania;
b) persons who have a negative RT-PCR test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, performed no more than 72 hours before boarding (for those who travel by public transport) or before entering Romania ( for those who travel by own means);
c) persons who have been confirmed positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in the last 180 days prior to entry into the country, for whom at least 14 days have elapsed from the date of confirmation, to the date of entry into the country;
d) children with ages of 12 years or under, without the obligation of presenting the negative result of an RT-PCR test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection;
e) children with ages over 12 years and less than 16 years, provided they submit an RT-PCR test negative result for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, issued at least 72 hours before boarding (for those who travel with public means of transport) or before entering Romania (for those who travel with own means of transport);
f) persons in transit, provided they leave Romania no more than 24 hours from the date of entry into Romania;
g) cross-border workers who enter Romania from Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine or from the Republic of Moldova […];
h) pupils / students with domicile or residence outside Romania, who attend the courses of educational establishments from Romania or outside Romania, who commute daily to these establishments and are able to present supporting documents thereby, or who have to take admission exams or exams to complete their studies or who start their studies in educational establishments in Romania or travel in view of activities related to the beginning, organisation, attendance or completion of studies, as well as their companions in the situation when the pupils/students are minors.
i) persons handed over to Romanian authorities on the basis of Readmission Agreements, returned under an accelerated procedure.
→ The following categories of third-state nationals and stateless persons who arrive in Romania from Member States of the European Union, of the European Economic Area or from the Swiss Confederation - if those states are in the red zone, are exempt from quarantine, provided they do not show symptoms associated with COVID -19, in compliance with the legal provisions in force regarding the use of individual protection materials against COVID-19:
a) persons vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and for whom 10 days have elapsed from the completion of the complete vaccination scheme until their entry into Romania;
b) persons who have a negative RT-PCR test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, performed no more than 72 hours before boarding (for those who travel by public transport) or before entering Romania ( for those who travel by own means);
c) persons who have been confirmed positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in the last 180 days prior to entry into the country, for whom at least 14 days have elapsed from the date of confirmation, to the date of entry into the country;
d) children with ages of 12 years or under, without the obligation of presenting the negative result of an RT-PCR test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection;
e) children with ages over 12 years and less than 16 years, provided they submit an RT-PCR test negative result for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, issued at least 72 hours before boarding (for those who travel with public means of transport) or before entering Romania (for those who travel with own means of transport);
f) persons in transit, provided they leave Romania no more than 24 hours from the date of entry into Romania;
g) cross-border workers who enter Romania from Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine or from the Republic of Moldova […];
h) pupils / students with domicile or residence outside Romania, who attend the courses of educational establishments from Romania or outside Romania, who commute daily to these establishments and are able to present supporting documents thereby, or who have to take admission exams or exams to complete their studies or who start their studies in educational establishments in Romania or travel in view of activities related to the beginning, organisation, attendance or completion of studies, as well as their companions in the situation when the pupils/students are minors.
i) persons handed over to Romanian authorities on the basis of Readmission Agreements, returned under an accelerated procedure.
→ Other categories:
Art.91 from Decision Nº43/01.07.2021 of the National Emergency Situations Committee regarding the approval of the list of states/territories subject to high epidemiological risk, of the criteria on the grounds of which they are established, as well as of the rules of putting into effect of the measure of quarantine on persons who travel to Romania from said states/territories (introduced by Decision Nº51/26.07.2021 of the National Emergency Situations Committee for the amendment and supplementation of Decision Nº43/01.07.2021 of the National Emergency Situations Committee regarding the approval of the list of states/territories subject to high epidemiological risk, of the criteria on the grounds of which they are established, as well as of the rules of putting into effect of the measure of quarantine on persons who travel to Romania from said states/territories)
(1) Members of sports delegations who attend sports competitions in Romania, from countries located in the red zone are exempt from the measure of quarantine, provided they submit an RT-PCR test negative result for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, taken at least 72 hours before entry into Romania and provided they only participate in the aforementioned competitions.
(2) The exemption mentioned in paragraph (1) also applies to third-state nationals and stateless persons defined in line with the provisions of GEO Nº194/2002 who are part of sports delegations that travel to Romania for attending sports competitions in Romania, irrespective of the epidemiological risk zone they travel from, provided they submit an RT-PCR test negative result for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, taken at least 72 hours before entry into Romania and provided they only participate in the aforementioned competitions.
II. Taking into account the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2021/953 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2021 on a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate) to facilitate free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as of Regulation (EU) 2021/954 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2021 on a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate) with regard to third-country nationals legally staying or residing in the territories of Member States during the COVID-19 pandemic, please also note the following:
Member States shall apply the rules laid down in Regulation (EU) 2021/953 to third-country nationals who do not fall within the scope of that Regulation, but who are legally staying or residing in their territory and who are entitled to travel to other Member States in accordance with Union law.
In line with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2021/953, please take into account the following information of interest for third-state nationals and stateless persons who travel to Romania from EU Member States:
- ‘EU Digital COVID Certificate’ means interoperable certificates containing information about the vaccination, test result or recovery of the holder issued in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic;
- ‘holder’ means a person to whom an interoperable certificate containing information about that person’s COVID-19 vaccination, test result or recovery has been issued in accordance with this Regulation;
- Member States, or designated bodies acting on behalf of Member States, shall issue the certificates referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article in a digital or paper-based format, or both. The prospective holders shall be entitled to receive the certificates in the format of their choice.
- The EU Digital COVID Certificate framework shall allow for the issuance, cross-border verification and acceptance of any of the following certificates:
a) a certificate confirming that the holder has received a COVID-19 vaccine in the Member State issuing the certificate (vaccination certificate);
b) a certificate confirming that the holder has been subject to a NAAT test or a rapid antigen test listed in the common and updated list of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests established on the basis of the Council Recommendation of 21 January 2021 carried out by health professionals or by skilled testing personnel in the Member State issuing the certificate and indicating the type of test, the date on which it was carried out and the result of the test (test certificate);
c) a certificate confirming that, following a positive result of a NAAT test carried out by health professionals or by skilled testing personnel the holder has recovered from a SARS-CoV-2 infection (certificate of recovery).
III. → Proof vaccination, including the date of completion of the complete vaccination scheme, required for the application of the exemptions from quarantine, shall be provided by the EU digital certificate on COVID or the document issued by the health unit that administered it, in Romania or abroad, presented in the language of the country where the vaccine was administered and in English.
→ Proof of positive confirmation for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, required for the application of the exemptions from quarantine, shall be obtained by means of the EU digital certificate on COVID, or the positive RT-PCR test at the date of diagnosis issued by the competent authority from Romania or abroad, presented in the language of the country where the test was performed and in English.
→ Proof of testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, required for the application of the exemptions from quarantine, is provided by means of the EU digital certificate on COVID, or by the negative result of an RT-PCR test for the SARS CoV-2 virus, performed no more than 72 hours before boarding (for those who travel by public means of transport) or before entering Romania (for those who travel by own means), presented in the language of the country where the test was performed and in English.
In the context of the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, with the effect of the COVID-19 illness outbreak, as well as for the implementation of other measures of prevention and combat of risks inherent to the ongoing pandemic, the state of alert is declared and successively extended in Romania.
Taking into account the preventive measures introduced at European level and by Romanian authorities in the efforts undertaken in order to combat the effects of the pandemic, it is recommended that third-state nationals/stateless persons who wish to travel to Romania / apply for entry visas for Romania, as well as third-state nationals/stateless persons who are not required to hold Romanian entry visas carefully consider the necessity of their trip to Romania throughout this period.
It is hereby highlighted that holding a visa does not automatically guarantee entry into Romania. In addition, it is stressed that visa processing fees are not refundable, should the boarding of visa holders towards Romania, or the entry of visa holders into Romania not be permitted, or should they be placed under compulsory quarantine.
It is equally highlighted that in case upon lodging visa applications, third-state nationals/stateless persons subject to the visa requirement do not have the possibility of submitting the proof of means of transport – whenever required, their visa applications will not be received or, depending on the case, the decision with regard to such incomplete visa applications will be correspondingly taken, having regard to the fact that said applications do not fulfil the applicable legal conditions in force.
We thank you for your understanding of this exceptional situation with a high degree of exposure for all nationals.
OTHER INFORMATION OF INTEREST TO THIRD-STATE NATIONALS AND STATELESS PERSONS, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic:
The following measures of interest to aliens are introduced in line with the provisions of Point X (Articles 47 through 49) of Emergency Ordinance of the Romanian Government nº70 of May 14th 2020:
“X. Measures in the field of alien management in the context of the epidemiological situation generated by the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus
Article 47
(1) The validity of documents issued by the Inspectorate General for Immigration is maintained throughout the entire duration of the state of emergency introduced by Decree nº195/2020 regarding the introduction of the state of emergency on the territory of Romania, extended by Decree nº240/2020 regarding the extension of the state of emergency on the territory of Romania, as well as for a period of 90 days from the date of termination of this state.
(2) The approvals issued by the Inspectorate General for Immigration on invitations regulated by Articles (37)-(39) of Emergency Ordinance of the Romanian Government nº194/2002 regarding the regime of aliens in Romania, republished, amended and completed, are not considered valid over the term indicated in Article 38(6) of Emergency Ordinance of the Romanian Government nº194/2002 regarding the regime of aliens in Romania, republished, amended and completed.
Article 48
(1) The authorised stay of third-state nationals who are present in Romania, as granted through entry visas issued by Romania, is maintained for 90 days from the date of termination of the state of emergency introduced by Decree nº195/2020 regarding the introduction of the state of emergency on the territory of Romania and extended by Decree nº240/2020 regarding the extension of the state of emergency on the territory of Romania, without them being subject to any sanctions or restrictive measures as established by Emergency Ordinance of the Romanian Government nº194/2002 regarding the regime of aliens in Romania, republished, amended and completed.
(2) The authorised stay of third-state nationals who are present in Romania, as granted through international conventions, through legal instruments by means of which the visa requirement is unilaterally waved or by European legal instruments that establish the waiving of the visa requirement, is maintained for 90 days from the date of termination of the state of emergency introduced by Decree nº195/2020 regarding the introduction of the state of emergency on the territory of Romania and extended by Decree nº240/2020 regarding the extension of the state of emergency on the territory of Romania, without them being subject to any sanctions or restrictive measures as established by Emergency Ordinance of the Romanian Government nº194/2002 regarding the regime of aliens in Romania, republished, amended and completed.
(3) For subsequent entries and stays, the authorised stay established by Paragraphs (1) or (2) shall not be counted upon calculation of the period of stay of maximum 90 days in any 180-day period that precedes each day of stay in the territory of Romania.
Article 49
(1) The validity of entry visas issued by Romania that have expired without having been used by their holders because of the temporary restrictions of travel to the European Union is not maintained.
(2) Upon lifting of the temporary restrictions of travel to the member states of the European Union, should it still be deemed necessary, third-state nationals who held Romanian entry visas that expired under the conditions provided for in Paragraph (1), can apply for other entry visas for Romania, in line with the provisions of Emergency Ordinance of the Romanian Government nº194/2002 regarding the regime of aliens in Romania, republished, amended and completed.
(3) Endorsements for employment, endorsements for secondment and approvals for family reunification issued by the Inspectorate General for Immigration, the validity of which is extended in line with the provisions of Article[47] (1) can be used for the lodging of Romanian entry visa applications in line with the provisions of Emergency Ordinance of the Romanian Government nº194/2002 regarding the regime of aliens in Romania, republished, amended and completed, when the temporary restrictions of travel to the member states of the European Union will have been lifted, only if they have not been previously used for obtaining such entry visas for Romania.”.
Furthermore, whenever the above cited provisions are not applicable, regarding the validity visas issued by Romania and expired throughout the introduced and extended state of alert, please note that their situation is regulated by means of the provisions of Article 4(5) of Law nº55 of May 15th 2020 regarding certain measures for the prevention and containment of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as follows: „ARTICLE 4 (5) The validity of documents issued by public authorities and institutions, as well as by authorised private entities established by Law, is maintained throughout the state of alert, as well as for a period of 90 days from the date of termination of this state.”
It is hereby highlighted that the above cited legal provisions are put into effect in a complementary manner. Therefore, it must be noted that entry into Romania is not allowed for third-state nationals and stateless persons who have obtained Romanian visas that expired without having been used after the introductions of the state of emergency, given the temporary restrictions on non-essential travels.
Information of interest to British nationals, starting with January 1st2021
