Romania Pre-Trip Briefing for UAE Residents — Quick Brief

Schengen visa requirements for UAE residents on non-Emirati passports depend on passport nationality, not on UAE residency. (Emirati passport holders enter Romania visa-free under the EU 2014 visa exemption — see the main briefing above for details.) The following guidance covers the top UAE expat demographics; passport nationalities not listed should verify their category with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at https://www.mae.ro/ or the Romanian Embassy in Abu Dhabi before travel. Visa REQUIRED — apply before travel: Holders of Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Egyptian, Jordanian and Nepalese passports require a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa to enter Romania under EU Regulation 2018/1806 Annex I. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs operates an e-Visa portal at https://evisa.mae.ro/ that lets applicants prepare and submit the visa file electronically; the file is then transmitted to the chosen Romanian diplomatic mission for in-person presentation and biometric capture. UAE residents should verify directly with the Romanian Embassy in Abu Dhabi or VFS Global UAE whether the submission is handled at the embassy or routed through a VFS Global UAE application centre before booking travel. The standard Schengen adult visa fee is EUR 90 (approximately AED 363; raised from EUR 80 on 11 June 2024) plus any applicable service charge. Requirements include: passport valid at least 3 months beyond the intended Schengen exit date with at least 2 blank pages, travel medical insurance covering 30,000 EUR across the Schengen area, proof of UAE residency (Emirates ID + residence visa), confirmed travel itinerary, hotel bookings and proof of financial means. Apply no earlier than 6 months before travel; standard processing is 15 calendar days under the Schengen Visa Code but may extend during peak season. Visa-FREE — 90 days in any 180-day period: Holders of British (post-Brexit), American, Canadian and Australian passports travel visa-free to Romania and the wider Schengen area under EU Regulation 2018/1806 Annex II, on the same 90/180 terms as Emirati nationals. Carry both passport and UAE Emirates ID at the border. The EU ETIAS pre-travel authorisation (a short online form with a small fee, separate from a visa) is being phased in for all Annex II nationals — check etias.europa.eu for the current effective date before travel. Note that since 1 January 2025 Romania operates as a full Schengen member, so UAE travelers entering by land from Hungary, Bulgaria or other Schengen neighbours cross under standard Schengen rules; the previous air/sea-only Schengen arrangement (31 March 2024 to 31 December 2024) no longer applies. Other passport nationalities not listed above (including Iranian, Lebanese, Syrian, Sudanese, Yemeni, Nigerian, Ghanaian, Kenyan and others) generally require a Schengen visa under Annex I — verify your specific passport requirement at https://evisa.mae.ro/ or with the Romanian Embassy in Abu Dhabi before booking travel.