Can I travel to Greece if I've overstayed my trip in Romania?

Can I travel to Greece if I've overstayed my trip in Romania? - Side view of anonymous male traveler with can of beverage admiring ocean from rough rocks under shiny sky in evening

I am a U.S. citizen that travelled to Romania and overstayed my visit by about 12 days. I filled out paperwork to exit the country and was only given a warning because it was my first time overstaying. I am now back in the states and want to take a short vacation for a few days to Greece with my boyfriend. Will I run into any trouble? I know Romania isn’t a part of the Schengen zone, but will Greece see that I’ve overstayed my trip to Romania and not let me enter? What about if my flight lands in another country first to transfer to Greece?



Best Answer

What could happen is that the border guards see the Romanian stamps in your passport and decide that you are an unreliable traveller because you have previously shown your willingness to skirt the rules. They could then ask you to provide more details about your plans and/or ultimately rule that you were not able to establish you have a valid purpose for the stay (as a valid purpose obviously does not include overstaying and that's what you would be suspected of planning).

Transiting through a third country does not make any difference, legally (but if you transit elsewhere in the Schengen area, you might very well be denied entry then and there and sent back immediately, which would prevent you from even reaching Greece). Spending a longer period of time in your country of usual residence or having some documentation to show what you want to do in Greece and for how long might help. Going to visit your boyfriend (is he a Greek resident?) might theoretically play against you as you might tempted to overstay again to stay with him.

On the other hand, even a previous overstay in the Schengen area does not make it legally mandatory for border guards to deny entry (and technically isn't a motive to deny entry either, border guards have to evaluate your current intent and circumstances and base their decision on that, at least formally). It's also entirely possible that they don't notice or care all that much so it's impossible to predict that you will definitely be denied entry. However, Greek border guards are possibly somewhat more likely to notice Romanian stamps thasn stamps from any random country in the world because as part of its preparation to enter the Schengen area, Romania has to apply the same rules and uses stamps very similar to standard Schengen stamps.




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What happens if you overstay your visa in Romania?

For stays longer than 90 days, you must obtain a temporary residence permit from the Romanian Immigration Office in the area of your residence. Americans who overstay will be subject to heavy fines and will require an exit permit from the Immigration Department in order to leave the country.

Can I leave the country if I overstayed?

Visas allow travelers to stay in another country for a certain period of time before they must leave. Those who overstay their visa and remain in the country will usually face consequences and possibly prosecution by local immigration authorities.

Can I fly with an overstayed visa?

The answer to your question is Yes. You can travel on domestic and the risk is very little although present. Depending on which state you are traveling to and from, you could be at a higher risk of removal.

What happens if you overstay your 90 days in Europe?

The Schengen law states that you can't stay in the Area for more than 90 days. If you do, you're subject to a fine and possibly deportation and being banned from re-entering the Schengen Area.



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