What travel insurance do I need when visiting Romania ?

How to prepare for your trip to Romania ?

Romania may seem off the beaten track for some travelers, but this Eastern European nation is a beautiful country with many sights to see, including the capital, Bucharest, its well preserved medieval towns, the forested region of Transylvania, and its own spooky past, as well as the Carpathian Mountains and Black Sea coast. During your trip, AXA is here to help you by providing comprehensive travel insurance, plenty of advice on important information, like visa requirements, as well as the weather, safety, and Romania’s must-see attractions.

The first thing you need to know is that although Romania is in the process of joining the Schengen Area, and adheres to the Schengen acquis (rules) to a large extent, it is not currently inside the border-free zone, despite the country being an EU member. This means that Romania cannot currently issue Schengen Visas. However, Schengen Visa holders can enter, stay or travel through Romania, for up to 90 days, without the need for an additional visa.

As a result, those wishing to visit Romania while traveling to another European country may want to apply for a visa from one of the Schengen Area countries you wish to travel to, and then use this for your visit to Romania. Those who do not require a visa to travel to the Schengen Area, such as the U.K., will not need to apply for a visa to enter Romania. If this does not apply to you and you only wish to travel to Romania, you will require a national Romanian visa.

RECOMMENDED ARTICLE : Which countries are not part of Schengen Visa area ?

What travel insurance do I need when visiting Romania ?

If you are applying for a Schengen or a Romanian short-stay national visa then as a minimum compulsory requirement you need insurance that covers you for medical expenses up to €30,000.

Although AXA’s Low Cost Schengen insurance meets this requirement, it currently only covers you in Schengen Area countries, not Romania. AXA Europe Travel and AXA Multi Trip insurance covers all European Union member states - including Romania - and provides you with additional coverage of medical costs up to €100,000, help recovering lost vital items, and other assistance. All our products come with a free, easily available online certificate and assistance 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Which insurance plans to consider?

Advice on health, vaccinations, and Covid-19

America’s CDC recommends travelers visiting Romania get routine vaccinations against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.

Information on Covid-19

Romania adopts its own national classification of risk areas, rather than the common EU criteria, but does operate a similar system. It has green, yellow and red countries. Green areas are those countries where the incidence rate of new Covid-19 cases in the last 14 days is less than or equal to 1.5 per 1000 inhabitants, and visitors have no travel or testing restrictions. Yellow areas are countries where the incidence rate of new Covid-19 cases in the last 14 days is between 1.5 and 3 per 1000 inhabitants; travelers from these countries who do not provide a pre-departure negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival are subject to a 14-day quarantine. Children under four years old are exempt from the testing requirement. Your quarantine period may be shortened by taking a PCR test no less than eight days after arrival. If the result of this test is negative, the period of quarantine can end after 10 days. Red areas are countries where the incidence rate of new Covid-19 cases in the last 14 days is greater than or equal to 3 per 1000 inhabitants. Those traveling from these areas must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at their home (if a resident) or a location designated by Romanian authorities. The quarantine may be shortened by taking a PCR test after eight days.

Those who can provide proof they have received their final vaccination for Covid-19 more than 10 days before traveling are exempt from quarantine.

You should check to see if these rules and categories have been updated before you book your trip, and before traveling.

Will I be covered on my insurance for Covid-19 related issues ?

AXA will cover your medical costs related to coronavirus provided you haven't traveled against the advice of the World Health Organization, your government or the Romanian government, or the medical advice of your doctor.

AXA Travel Insurance policies cover medical costs related to Covid-19 within the limits, conditions, and exclusions defined in each insurance policy. Our policies will cover your medical costs if you are the victim of an accident or fall ill, including suffering from Covid-19 and related illnesses.

The certificates of insurance provided on our website include the statement: "Medical expenses related to Covid-19 are covered within the limits, conditions, and exclusions defined in the insurance policy.

Our policies are available to purchase whatever your age and nationality, at no extra cost, and meet the standards required by the European Union countries in order to obtain a Schengen or national visa. They also take care of medical repatriation expenses, including when its causes are linked to Covid-19.

How to get to Romania

By plane: The busiest airports in Romania are Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca. These take in flights from many major European hubs. Other international airports include Timisoara, Iasi, Sibiu, and Craiova.

By car: Romania has an extensive network of motorways connecting its major cities.

By train: Trains in Romania service every town and city and the country’s rail network is the fourth largest and most dense in Europe - meaning trains are one of the easiest and most comfortable ways of seeing the country.

Discover Romania

Romania’s remarkable history means there’s plenty to see in the country, including its famous castles - one of which, Bran Castle, is known as Dracula’s Castle, as part of the vampire legend. Other stunning sites include Peles and Corvin castles, and its medieval citadels and monasteries. Meanwhile, Bucharest contains a number of monuments to Romania’s more turbulent recent history, including Communist President Nicolae Ceausescu’s huge palace of parliament - still unfinished after he was deposed in 1989.

Practical information

The Romanian capital is Bucharest, where most countries will have their embassy. Check to see where the embassy of your home nation is before leaving in case you need to visit in an emergency. The official language is Romanian. The currency is the Romanian leu. Cars drive on the right.

Related pages on other non-Schengen countries

• What travel insurance do I need for visiting Bulgaria ?
• What travel insurance do I need for visiting Cyprus ?
• What travel insurance do I need for visiting Croatia ?
• What travel insurance do I need for visiting Ireland ?

Frequently asked questions about travel insurance to Romania