FAQ sul confine con Румунія

To cross the Ukraine-Romania border you need:

Basic documents:

• Biometric passport (valid at least 3 months after entry, issued no more than 10 years ago)
• Visa-free entry — Ukrainian citizens have the right to visa-free entry to Schengen (including Romania from January 1, 2025) for up to 90 days within 180 days

Additional documents:

• Proof of purpose of travel — invitation from Romanians, hotel booking, travel voucher
• Proof of financial means — cash, bank statement, ATM receipt (minimum 45 USD per day)
• Health insurance (recommended) — international policy with coverage of at least 30,000 EUR
• Return or onward ticket (desirable) — proof of exit plan

For drivers additionally:

• Vehicle registration certificate and technical passport
• Driver's license (international or national recognized in Romania)
• International insurance (Green Card) — mandatory
• Road vignette (Rovinieta) — electronic road access for Romania
• Country sticker (UA) on the car
• First aid kit, fire extinguisher, warning triangle

For children:

• Biometric passport for each child
• Notarized consent from parents — if the child is traveling with relatives or other persons
• Children under 12 won't need fingerprints for EES, but a photo is required

Important for December 2025:

• Romania in Schengen from January 1, 2025 — fully open borders
• EES launched from October 12, 2025 — biometric registration on first entry

Yes, Ukrainian citizens can cross the Romanian border with a biometric passport without a visa.

Visa-free conditions:

• Stay period: maximum 90 days within any 180 days
• Purpose: tourism, visiting relatives, short work, study
• Passport validity: at least 3 months after entry date and issued no more than 10 years ago
• Clean record: no marks about non-compliance with previous stay conditions

Important: From January 1, 2025, Romania fully joined Schengen, so the rules are identical to other Schengen countries.

EES (Entry/Exit System) — automated EU system for registering biometric data of foreigners.

At the Romanian border:

• EES launched from October 12, 2025 at all points from Ukraine
• Registration is FREE
• First time requires more time (10–20 minutes)
• Repeat entries are faster — automatic recognition

What is recorded:

• Facial photograph
• Fingerprints of all 10 fingers
• Passport data
• Date and time of entry/exit

Important to know:

• Children under 12: Photo, but no fingerprints
• Children 12+: Full registration like adults
• No pre-registration required — everything at the border
• Data stored for 3 years — updated on each entry

EES benefits:

• Faster repeat crossings
• Automatic tracking of days in Schengen
• Increased security

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) — electronic travel authorization for Schengen.

When will it launch:

• Expected start: end of 2026 (delay from original plan)
• Currently ETIAS is NOT required — You can travel with simple visa-free status

Who will need it:

• Citizens of visa-free countries for Schengen (including Ukraine after launch)
• Stays up to 90 days within 180 days

Cost and validity:

• Price: €7 (for all categories after final approval)
• Validity: 3 years or until passport expires
• Application: online before travel

Reminder for December 2025: ETIAS is not yet launched.

Green Card — international third-party liability insurance for entering Romania by car (mandatory).

When required:

• When entering Romania by car (mandatory, fine without it: 200–2000 EUR)

How to get:

• In Ukraine: Contact an insurance company (Ukrgazbank Insurance, PJSC «INGO», UNIXInsurance and others)
• Online: Can order through insurers' websites
• Issue time: 1–2 hours, online — same day
• Validity: depends on term (15–365 days)
• Cost: 70–500 UAH depending on vehicle type and term

Rovinieta — electronic sticker / road access permit in Romania.

Mandatory:

• Required for all foreign vehicles
• Without vignette — fine up to 850 RON (~$190 USD)

Vignette options:

• 7 days: 28 RON (~$6 USD)
• 30 days: 56 RON (~$12 USD)
• 90 days: 96 RON (~$21 USD)
• 365 days: 340 RON (~$74 USD)

Where to buy:

• At the border: At crossing points (there are cashiers)
• Online: At https://www.roviniete.ro
• At gas stations: In Romania at most gas stations

Important: The vignette is issued for a specific license plate. Keep the purchase confirmation.

Short answer: Yes, if the car is registered to another person.

If the car is registered to a Ukrainian:

• You need a notarized power of attorney
• Cost: ~200–400 UAH

If the car is registered to a company:

• You need an order-certified power of attorney with director's stamp

If the car is foreign:

• Letter from owner in English + notarized translation

Insurance: Must be in the name of the driver crossing the border.

Optimal days and times:

Day of week:

• Best: Tuesday–Thursday (low traffic)
• Medium: Monday, Friday morning
• Avoid: Friday evening, Saturday, Sunday

Time of day:

• Best: 10:00–15:00 (daytime activity)
• Acceptable: 7:00–9:00 (morning)
• Avoid: 17:00–20:00 (evening), night hours

Crossing points on UA-RO border (queue rating):

• Dyakove-Halmeu — popular, medium queues (30–120 min)
• Porubne-Siret — most popular, long queues (60–180 min)
• Solotvyno-Sighetu Marmației — medium queues (45–150 min)
• Dyakivtsi-Racovăț — fewer tourists (30–90 min)
• Krasnoilsk-Vicovu de Sus — least loaded (20–60 min)
• Orlivka-Isaccea (ferry) — specialized (depends on schedule)

Important for 2025: EES adds 5–15 minutes on first entry.

Practical tips:

• Check live queues 1–2 hours before departure
• Fill up the tank before the border
• Prepare documents (passport, Green Card, vignette)
• Allow extra time — minimum 30%

Average waiting time (December 2025):

EES impact:

• First entry: +10–15 minutes for biometric registration
• Repeat entries: -5–10 minutes (faster)

Factors that affect:

• Weather: snow slows down the process
• Day of week: weekends have twice longer queues
• Transport type: trucks take longer
• Inspections: customs inspection can add 30–120 min

Important: The Romanian border usually has medium queues — less than Poland, but more than Moldova.

eQueue — electronic pre-registration system for crossing at some checkpoints.

As of December 2025, eQueue is mandatory for:

• Buses at all points with Moldova and Romania in Odesa region
• Trucks at some points (depending on direction)
• Passenger cars — do not require eQueue at most points

Points with mandatory eQueue:

• Maloyaroslavets — Ceadir-Lunga 1
• Serpneve — Basarabeasca
• Novi Troyany — Ceadir-Lunga
• Starokozache — Tudora
• Orlivka — Isaccea (ferry)

How to register:

• Visit DPSU website: https://equeue.dpsu.gov.ua
• Select direction and crossing point
• Specify date and time of desired crossing
• Receive confirmation by email

Important: Without eQueue at these points, entry may be prohibited for buses and trucks.

Routes to Porubne:

Option 1: Passenger car

• Distance:
• From Lviv: ~150 km
• From Ivano-Frankivsk: ~80 km
• From Chernivtsi: ~40 km
• Travel time: 1.5–3 hours depending on location
• Cost: 200–400 UAH for fuel

Option 2: Bus

• Cost: 150–300 UAH
• Time: 2–4 hours
• Companies: Autolux, KART, local carriers
• Where to buy: Bus stations in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi

Option 3: Taxi

• Cost: 500–1200 UAH depending on city
• Time: 1.5–2.5 hours

Speed limits in Romania:

Fines for speeding:

• 1–10 km/h: 200 RON (~$44 USD)
• 11–20 km/h: 400 RON (~$88 USD)
• 21–40 km/h: 800 RON (~$175 USD)
• 40+ km/h: 1200+ RON (~$260+ USD) + license confiscation

Mandatory rules:

• Seat belts — mandatory
• Headlights on outside cities and in bad conditions
• Warning triangle
• Fire extinguisher (mandatory)
• Phone — prohibited while driving
• Alcohol: 0.00% (complete ban!)

Cost and travel time to Bucharest:

Option 1: Taxi / Ride-sharing

• Cost: 500–900 RON (~$110–200 USD)
• Time: 4–6 hours depending on crossing point

Option 2: Bus (Flixbus, Ecolines)

• Cost: 150–300 RON (~$33–66 USD)
• Time: 5–7 hours
• Companies: Flixbus, Ecolines, Autogari

Option 3: Train (if available)

• Cost: 100–250 RON (~$22–55 USD)
• Time: 5–8 hours
• Stations: Depends on city (Suceava, Rădăuți)

Orlivka-Isaccea Ferry — the only ferry crossing between Ukraine and Romania across the Danube.

Technical details:

• Type: Ferry vessel
• Crossing time: 15–30 minutes
• Restrictions: Weight up to 40 tons, length up to 18 m
• Cost: depends on transport type (50–200 EUR)

Schedule:

• Operation: Daily (weather dependent)
• Frequency: Every 1–2 hours (depending on load)
• Note: Bad weather may delay or cancel trips

eQueue mandatory:

• For buses and trucks
• Passenger cars can go without registration, but better to register

Important:

• Call before the trip to confirm schedule
• Check weather — storms cancel trips
• Arrive 30–60 min before desired departure

Required documents:

• Veterinary passport (Pet Passport)
• Microchip (ISO 11784/11785)
• Rabies vaccination (at least 21 days before travel)
• Veterinary certificate (inspection 10 days before)
• Health declaration (in some cases)

Approximate cost: 450–900 UAH total

Short answer: Allowed at some points.

Points with pedestrian crossings:

• Porubne-Siret — Allowed
• Solotvyno-Sighetu Marmației — Allowed
• Dyakove-Halmeu — Allowed
• Other points — Cars only

Documents for pedestrians:

• Biometric passport
• Proof of purpose (invitation, hotel booking)
• Proof of funds (cash or card)

Waiting time: 15–60 minutes (usually faster than cars)

In short:

• Special DPSU permit required to leave
• Exceptions: foreigners, refugees, people with disabilities, parents with 3+ children, etc.
• Without permit — exit prohibited

Contact DPSU for permit: https://dpsu.gov.ua

Temporary protection — special status for Ukrainian refugees in Romania.

Validity period:

• Extended until March 2026
• Automatically granted to Ukrainian citizens who arrived after February 24, 2022

Benefits:

• Right to stay without visa
• Access to work and education
• Healthcare
• Social assistance

How to get:

• Contact a migration center in Romania
• Prepare passport and proof of residence in Ukraine before February 24, 2022
• Receive temporary protection certificate

No! The entire route is toll-free.

• DJ226 (coastal road) - no tolls
• DN22 (national highway) - no tolls
• No bridge fees

Note: You need a Romanian vignette (Rovinieta) to drive on national roads. Check at roviniete.ro

Recommended packing list:

• 💧 Water and snacks - to stay energized
• 📱 Phone charger - for navigation
• 🧴 Sunscreen - especially in summer
• 🩹 Basic first aid kit - just in case
• 📄 Documents - driver's license, vehicle registration, insurance
• 💰 Cash - for small villages without ATMs

Yes, you can, but we recommend daytime travel if you're unfamiliar with the route.

• The highway is well-lit in some areas
• Visibility can be limited in rural sections
• Use high beams where safe to do so
• Watch for pedestrians and livestock
• Winter travel: stick to daylight hours

Don't panic! Continue on DJ226 and follow signs for DN22 or Tulcea.

• Road signs are posted regularly
• GPS will help you reroute
• Locals are usually helpful if you need directions
• There are several alternative ways to reach DN22

Yes! This is one of the safest routes in Romania. Millions of people use it annually.

• Well-lit highway with regular traffic
• Emergency services available throughout the route
• Gas stations and rest areas at regular intervals
• Follow traffic rules and stay aware of your surroundings

Emergency number: 112

Mamaia → Isaccea Route (150-160 km, 2.5-3 hours):

• Phase 1: Exit Mamaia north, cross bridge to Năvodari, follow DJ226 (coastal highway) through Corbu villages
• Phase 2: After Corbu (~3 km), turn right onto DN22 at railway crossing, pass through Baia
• Phase 3: Continue north on DN22 to Isaccea

Road conditions: Well-maintained, clearly marked, toll-free. Fuel cost: ~€12-15.

Official requirements (Schengen):

• Minimum per day: 45 USD (~1600 UAH)
• Per week: 315 USD (~11200 UAH)
• Per month: 1350 USD (~48000 UAH)

How to prove:

• Cash
• Bank card with balance
• Bank statement
• ATM receipt

In practice: Romanians rarely ask about money, but better to have documents.

Practically: For a short trip, 100–200 USD is sufficient.

Allowed to export:

• Personal belongings
• Alcohol: up to 1 liter of spirits
• Tobacco products: up to 200 cigarettes
• Food products: non-living, packaged
• Cash: up to 10,000 EUR without declaration

Prohibited:

• Jewelry without certificates
• Antiques without permission
• Fresh meat/dairy products
• Plants without phytosanitary certificate

State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (DPSU):

• Website: https://dpsu.gov.ua
• Hotline: +38 (440) 2000
• Telegram: @official_dpsu

Romanian Border Police:

• Website: https://www.politiadefrontiera.ro
• Phone: +40 (21) 3178000
• English: Available on the website

Consulate of Ukraine in Bucharest:

• Website: https://romania.mfa.gov.ua/
• Phone: +40 (21) 2301622

Nakordoni service for live queues:

• Live queues: /en/stat/1/4 — updates every 15 minutes

On January 1, 2025, Romania fully joined Schengen:

What changed:

• Open borders — no internal control with EU
• EES active — biometric registration on first entry
• Full Schengen rights — 90 days per 180 days in all of Schengen
• Free movement — can travel from Romania to any Schengen country without additional checks

What did not change:

• Visa-free status remains — 90 days per 180 days
• Green Card mandatory — for cars
• Rovinieta mandatory — road vignette