Bulgaria Joins Schengen Fully by Land: What Changes on January 1, 2025?

The European Union has officially approved Bulgaria and Romania as full members of the Schengen area. The decision, announced on Thursday at a meeting of EU interior ministers in Brussels, comes after the two countries partially joined Schengen by air and sea in March. Starting January 1, 2025, Bulgaria and Romania will join Schengen by land, completing their integration into the EU's free movement zone.

What Changes for Bulgaria and Romania

With this decision, border checks between Bulgaria and Greece will be entirely eliminated, allowing unrestricted movement across all points along the southern border. Sporadic checks may still occur, but travelers will no longer need to present documents regularly. However, the situation at the Bulgarian-Romanian border will differ slightly. For at least the first half of 2025, a light border control regime will remain in place due to an additional agreement with Austria. This measure will primarily affect select travelers and is part of Austria's request to maintain limited checks during the initial months of Bulgaria and Romania's full Schengen membership.

Austria had long opposed Bulgaria and Romania's accession to Schengen, citing concerns about increased migration flows. Vienna's opposition eased following significant reductions in the number of migrants entering Austria via the two countries. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner stated earlier this week that the decrease in migration played a key role in Austria's decision to lift its veto. Similarly, the Netherlands had expressed reservations over issues related to corruption and organized crime but eventually dropped its objections.

Historical Milestone and Economic Impact

The decision has been hailed as historic. The...