Visiting Romania and Bulgaria on a Schengen visa

I have been granted multiple entry Schengen Visa from 12th Sep to 28th Oct(47 days) with 32 days as duration of stay. Since, Romania and Bulgaria allow visa-free entrance on a valid schengen visa, can I spend my initial 30-32 days in schengen area and the remaining 15 days in Romania and Bulgaria?

Best Answer

Yes, Bulgaria and Romania uniliterally accept holders of Schengen visas to visit their countries without requiring an additional visa:

Visa-free regime for holders of Schengen visas for a stay of up to 90 days

On 25 January 2012 the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria adopted a decision according to which by the date of Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area, our country will unilaterally apply a visa-free system for holders of valid Schengen visas. They will have the right to enter and reside in the Republic of Bulgaria for a period of no more than three months in any six-month period from the date of the first entry, without needing to have a Bulgarian short-stay visa. The decision entered into force on 31.01.2012.

V. Do I need a visa?

?1. YES

...

NO

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?The holders of Schengen visas with two or multiple entries, national visas or residence permits issued by Schengen Member States.

Attention! The number of entries as well as the right of stay established as per the Schengen visas must not have been exhausted. The right of stay on the territory of Romania shall not exceed the right of stay granted as per the visas/residence permits issued by the Schengen Member States. The holders of permanent residence permits issued by the UK or Ireland. The right of stay on the territory of Romania shall not exceed the right of stay granted as per such residence permits.

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Are Bulgaria and Romania part of the Schengen?

The Schengen Area is currently comprised of 4 non-EU states and the majority of European Union countries except for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania.

Can I go Romania with Schengen visa?

Yes, the Romanian government allows the holder of a valid Schengen visa to enter Romania, provided that the Schengen visa is still valid and has at least two more entries. You can only stay in Romania with a Schengen visa for the time that the visa is issued for or the time you have left.

Can I enter Bulgaria with Schengen visa?

Holders of a valid Schengen visa of any type can enter Bulgaria without an additional visa. Bulgaria's entry requirements allow travellers with a Schengen visa to enter the Republic of Bulgaria and remain for up to 90 days in a 6-month period without applying for a short-term Bulgarian visa.

Why Bulgaria and Romania are not in Schengen?

Romania and Bulgaria in 2007 became part of the European Union, but the rules of law concerns have impeded both countries from becoming Schengen Area members up to this point. The same problems are faced by Croatia, which joined the European Union in 2013, but it is still not a member of the borderless area.

Romania and Bulgaria in Schengen and Eurozone now

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Dids, Steve Johnson, Dids, Dids