Quick Summary

  • Primary Update: Following Romania's entry into the Schengen air and maritime zone, Indian passport holders traveling to Romania require a standard Schengen Type C visa issued at the statutory €90 fee, granting border-free transit across all 29 Schengen member states.
  • Transit Impact: Applications require preliminary registration on the Romanian eVisa portal (evisa.mae.ro) followed by physical biometric submission at VFS Global Visa Application Centres across India, adjudicated by the Embassy of Romania in New Delhi or the Consulate General of Romania in Mumbai.
  • Traveler Advice: Applicants must maintain a minimum recommended liquid bank balance of ₹2,50,000 to ₹4,00,000 supported by 6 months of stamped statements, satisfy the statutory subsistence requirement of €50 per day (minimum €500 total), and leverage the EU Cascade regime for multi-year visa validity if eligible.

Romania's accession to the Schengen Area has transformed travel documentation protocols for Indian passport holders. Prior to integration under Council Decision (EU) 2024/210, Romania issued national short-stay visas valid only within Romania, Bulgaria, and Cyprus. Romania now issues standard, uniform Schengen Type C visas. An Indian citizen holding a Romanian short-stay Schengen visa can land in Bucharest and subsequently travel without internal border controls across the 29 Schengen member countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Greece.

Consular operations in India follow a coordinated two-step process: digital pre-validation through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerul Afacerilor Externe - MAE) eVisa portal, followed by an in-person biometric appointment at an authorized VFS Global Visa Application Centre. Adjudication of all applications remains under the strict consular jurisdiction of the Embassy of Romania in New Delhi or the Consulate General of Romania in Mumbai. Navigating the document checklist, the official €90 fee schedule, statutory financial solvency criteria, and the European Union Cascade regime ensures a smooth submission and timely clearance.

Jurisdictions and Consular Processing Structure

Visa applications for Indian passport holders are distributed by consular jurisdiction across two diplomatic missions:

  1. Embassy of Romania in New Delhi (Consular Section): Adjudicates applications from residents of Northern, Eastern, and Central India, including Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and all North Eastern states, as well as concurrent accreditations for Nepal and Bangladesh.
  2. Consulate General of Romania in Mumbai: Adjudicates applications from residents of Western and Southern India, encompassing Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and the Union Territories of Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep.

VFS Global manages front-end document intake, biometric enrollment, and passport logistics through Visa Application Centres located in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Chandigarh, and Pune.

[Applicant: evisa.mae.ro Portal]
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[Digital Document Pre-Validation by MAE Consular Section]
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[Schedule Appointment at VFS Global India]
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[In-Person Biometrics (Fingerprints + Photo) & Physical Dossier Submission]
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[Secure Diplomatic Courier to Embassy in New Delhi / Consulate in Mumbai]
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[Adjudication: Approval & Schengen Type C Visa Vignette Issuance]
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[Passport Collection at VFS / Secure Courier Return]

Mandatory Application Checklist and Documentation Rules

The Romanian consular service enforces a comprehensive verification regime. Incomplete files, unstamped financial records, or non-compliant insurance policies result in formal rejection or administrative processing delays.

1. Primary Travel Documents

  • Passport: Original Indian passport valid for at least three months beyond the intended departure date from the Schengen Area. The document must have been issued within the previous 10 years and contain at least two completely blank visa pages. Previous passports containing valid or expired foreign visas must be submitted to establish travel history.
  • Application Form: Completed and submitted first on the evisa.mae.ro system, printed, and signed by the applicant in all designated fields. Minors require signatures from both legal guardians along with notarized consent affidavits.
  • Photographs: Two identical recent color photographs (35mm × 45mm) taken within the last six months against an off-white or light grey plain background, with 70% to 80% facial coverage from the chin to the top of the head, neutral facial expression, and no digital alteration.

2. Proof of Financial Means and Tax Compliance

Applicants must demonstrate legitimate, liquid financial resources to sustain themselves throughout the proposed stay.

  • Bank Statements: Original personal bank statements covering the previous 6 consecutive months on official bank stationery, carrying an original bank ink stamp and authorized signature on every single page. Computer printouts without official bank certification are unacceptable.
  • Recommended Balance Benchmark: While Romanian statutory regulations require a baseline minimum of €50 per day (with an absolute trip baseline minimum of €500), consular officers expect salaried or self-employed applicants to maintain a clear liquid closing balance of ₹2,50,000 to ₹4,00,000. Sudden unexplainable lump-sum deposits made immediately before the application trigger scrutiny.
  • Tax Records: Income Tax Returns (ITR-V) along with detailed computation of income statements for the last three assessment years.
  • Employment Verification:
    • Salaried Employees: Original stamped payslips for the previous three to six months, formal employment contract, and an official No Objection Certificate (NOC) on company letterhead signed by Human Resources or executive management specifying salary, date of joining, approved leave dates, and confirmation of position upon return.
    • Self-Employed / Business Owners: Certificate of Incorporation, GST registration certificate, Memorandum and Articles of Association (MOA/AOA), company bank account statements for the last 6 months (stamped and signed), and personal ITR filings.
    • Students: Bonafide student certificate from the educational institution, student identity card copy, and a notarized sponsorship affidavit from parents accompanied by their financial records.

3. Accommodation, Flight Itinerary, and Medical Insurance

  • Round-Trip Travel Itinerary: Verifiable return flight booking reservations showing airline PNR, travel dates, and flight numbers entering Romania (e.g., Bucharest Otopeni OTP) and leaving the Schengen Area. Fully paid tickets are not mandatory at initial submission, but confirmed itinerary reservations with valid airline locator codes are strictly required.
  • Proof of Accommodation: Confirmed hotel reservations or prepaid vouchers covering every calendar night spent in Romania and any other Schengen state. If hosted by a Romanian citizen or legal resident, an official invitation letter legalized by a Romanian public notary (declarație de primire / invitație notarială) must be submitted.
  • Travel Medical Insurance: Mandatory policy issued by an approved insurance provider with minimum medical coverage of €30,000 (or equivalent in USD/INR). The policy must explicitly cover all 29 Schengen member states, emergency medical treatment, hospital care, urgent dental relief, and repatriation of mortal remains. The coverage period must span the entire travel dates plus a recommended 15-day buffer.

Romania Schengen Visa Fee Structure (2026)

All Schengen visa processing fees are statutory and non-refundable, payable in Indian Rupees (INR) at the prevailing consular exchange rate during the VFS appointment.

Fee Component Category / Description Official Fee (EUR) Approximate Cost (INR)
Standard Adult Visa Fee Uniform Schengen Type C (Short Stay) €90 ₹8,100
Child Visa Fee (Ages 6–12) Reduced Schengen Statutory Tariff €45 ₹4,050
Infant Visa Fee (Under 6) Statutory Exemption Free (€0) ₹0
VFS Logistics Service Fee Mandatory Application Centre Handling — ₹1,650–₹2,200
Courier Return (Optional) Secure Passport Delivery to Residence — ₹650–₹850
SMS Notification (Optional) Status Updates via SMS and Email — ₹250–₹350
Premium Lounge (Optional) Dedicated Submission Assistance & Lounge — ₹2,800–₹3,500

Note: Consular euro-to-rupee exchange rates are revised periodically by the Embassy of Romania. Payment at VFS centers is accepted via UPI, debit/credit cards, or demand draft depending on the center.

The European Union Cascade Regime for Indian Nationals

Under European Commission Implementing Decision C(2024) 2712, Indian passport holders benefit from the harmonized "Cascade" visa regime across all Schengen diplomatic missions, including Romania. This framework grants access to multi-entry visas with extended validity periods for established travelers:

[First-Time / Infrequent Schengen Traveler]
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Standard Single or Double-Entry Visa (Matched to specific trip itinerary)
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[Tier 1: Two Lawfully Used Schengen Visas within Last 3 Years]
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2-Year Multi-Entry Schengen Visa (90 days per 180-day rolling window)
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[Tier 2: Lawfully Used 2-Year Multi-Entry Visa within Last 2 Years]
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5-Year Multi-Entry Schengen Visa (Subject to passport remaining valid)

Cascade Eligibility Standards

  • Condition for 2-Year Multi-Entry Visa: The applicant must have acquired and lawfully used two standard Schengen visas within the preceding three years. "Lawful use" implies adherence to the 90/180-day limitation, no unauthorized overstays, and entry through the designated main destination state.
  • Condition for 5-Year Multi-Entry Visa: The applicant must have lawfully obtained and utilized a previous two-year multi-entry Schengen visa within the preceding two years.
  • Passport Validity Constraint: A Schengen visa cannot be issued with a validity extending beyond three months prior to the expiration date of the applicant's Indian passport. To maximize multi-year visas, applicants should ensure their passport has at least 3 to 5 years of remaining validity before requesting Cascade consideration.

Traveler Logistics Guide

Navigating the application lifecycle and border entry requires attention to specific operational steps:

1. Step-by-Step Submission Procedure

  1. Access the Romanian eVisa Portal: Navigate to evisa.mae.ro and create an individual account.
  2. Complete the Online File: Select Schengen Visa Type C (Tourism, Business, or Private Visit) and fill in all personal, professional, and travel details exactly matching your passport.
  3. Upload Clear Digital Scans: Upload PDF or JPG files of your passport bio-data pages, photograph, bank statements, ITR receipts, employment letters, insurance, flight bookings, and hotel vouchers. Ensure document sizes conform to portal constraints.
  4. Await Preliminary Verification: The Consular Section of the relevant Romanian diplomatic mission reviews the uploaded files. Once validated, the system issues an electronic confirmation code and authorization to book an appointment.
  5. Book VFS Global Appointment: Log in to the VFS Global Romania India scheduling portal using your reference number and select an available appointment slot at your nearest center.
  6. Attend the In-Person Biometrics Session: Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment with your printed application form, eVisa confirmation slip, original passport, two compliant photos, and the complete physical dossier of originals and copies. If you have not undergone Schengen biometric fingerprinting within the previous 59 months, ten digital fingerprints and a digital facial scan will be recorded.
  7. Track Application Status: Track passport movement through the VFS reference portal. Standard processing times range between 15 and 30 calendar days from the date of physical receipt by the Embassy or Consulate General.

2. Arrival and Border Control Clearance in Bucharest

Upon landing at Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP) or other Romanian international airports (such as Cluj-Napoca CLJ or Timișoara TSR):

  • Non-Schengen Direct Arrivals: Flights arriving from non-Schengen departure hubs (e.g., Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, London) arrive at the Non-Schengen concourse. Passengers must proceed through border control booths operated by the Romanian Border Police (Poliția de Frontieră Română).
  • Mandatory Documents at Border Control: In addition to presenting your passport with the valid Schengen visa vignette, border officers frequently ask for:
    • Printed travel medical insurance policy covering €30,000 across Schengen.
    • Return air ticket confirmation.
    • Proof of hotel reservation or host invitation.
    • Proof of daily subsistence (international credit cards, forex cards, or EUR/RON currency).
  • Intra-Schengen Connecting Flights: If your flight from India transited through another Schengen airport (such as Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Warsaw, or Paris), you will clear external Schengen immigration at that first port of entry. Your flight into Bucharest will then arrive at the domestic/internal Schengen gates without border passport inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an Indian national enter Romania using an existing Schengen visa issued by another member state?

Yes. Indian passport holders possessing a valid, double-entry or multiple-entry Schengen Type C visa issued by any other Schengen member country (such as France, Germany, Switzerland, or Italy) can enter Romania without applying for a separate Romanian visa, provided the visa has sufficient validity and remaining days under the 90/180-day rule. However, if Romania is your primary travel destination or where you will spend the greatest number of days, Schengen regulations mandate that you submit your application directly through Romania.

Is an appointment at VFS Global required if I have already uploaded everything to the Romanian eVisa portal?

Yes. The Romanian eVisa portal (evisa.mae.ro) is strictly a preliminary document pre-validation system. Once consular officers validate your uploaded documentation online, you must book an appointment through VFS Global to submit your physical passport, present original stamped paperwork, pay statutory fees, and complete mandatory biometric enrollment.

What is the minimum bank balance required for a Romania Schengen visa from India?

Statutory Romanian immigration law sets the subsistence benchmark at €50 per day of stay, with a mandatory minimum of €500 for the entire trip duration. Consular officers in New Delhi and Mumbai assess total financial stability. In practical adjudication, Indian applicants should demonstrate a liquid, stable bank balance between ₹2,50,000 and ₹4,00,000 over the past 6 months with official bank branch stamps and signatures on every page, supported by three years of Income Tax Returns (ITR-V).

How long does it take for the Embassy of Romania in India to process a Schengen visa?

Standard processing takes approximately 15 calendar days from the date the physical file reaches the Embassy of Romania in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai. During peak summer travel periods (April to July) or if additional administrative documentation is requested under Article 23 of the Schengen Visa Code, processing may extend up to 30 or 45 calendar days. Applicants are advised to submit applications at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to their planned departure date.