The Romanian passport, stronger than those issued by the USA, Great Britain and Australia. In which countries can Romanians travel without a visa
Romania ranks 6th in the global ranking of passports for 2026, with a mobility score of 171 points, placing the Romanian travel document above those issued by the USA, Great Britain, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.
Romanian passport. PHOTO: Shutterstock
Data published by Passport Index show that holders of a Romanian passport can enter 120 countries without any prior formalities, while another 42 destinations offer visas on arrival. Nine countries grant an electronic travel authorization (eTA) and 27 require a visa. Global coverage amounts to 86% of the total number of states in the world.
What does 6th place in the world mean?
The ranking is dominated by the United Arab Emirates, with a mobility score of 181, the highest in the world, reflecting an aggressive diplomatic policy pursued by Abu Dhabi over the past decade. Singapore follows with 175 points, while Spain and Malaysia share 3rd place with 174 points each. Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Portugal, Austria, Norway, Ireland, South Korea and Japan are grouped at 173 points. Malta, Poland and Hungary follow with 172.
Romania, with 171 points, surpasses Cyprus (170), Lithuania (170), New Zealand (170), the United Kingdom (169), Canada (169) and the United States of America (167). In other words, a Romanian citizen theoretically has more visa-free travel options than an American or British citizen, a situation that would have seemed unthinkable two decades ago.
Where you can go without hassle
Europe and the Schengen area are obviously completely open. Beyond the European continent, the picture is surprisingly generous.
In Asia, Japan and South Korea do not require a visa for Romanians, who can stay up to 90 days in each of the two countries. Thailand grants 60 days without a visa, Vietnam – 45 days, Malaysia and Singapore 90 days each, Philippines – 30 days. China recently introduced a 30-day visa-free regime, a first for Romanian citizens. Also, according to Passport Index, East Timor allows Romanians to stay without a visa for a period of 90 days. The information was also confirmed by a vlogger who recently traveled to this state located in the Indian Ocean, between Australia and Indonesia. Instead, the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs incorrectly states that the visa is mandatory.
In Latin America, freedom of movement is even more extensive. Mexico and Costa Rica receive Romanians for 180 days each, without any formalities. Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Ecuador, Paraguay, Bolivia, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama – all visa-free, with stays between 90 and 180 days allowed. Practically, the entire continent is accessible with the Romanian passport.
Africa offers some pleasant surprises for holders of a Romanian passport. Morocco and Tunisia are accessible without a visa for up to 90 days. Starting from September 2025, South Africa also allows Romanians to enter and stay without a visa for 90 days. The same is true in Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Gambia and Senegal, which allow a visa-free stay of 90 days. Mauritius and Seychelles, two of the continent's most sought-after island destinations, are also fully open, as are the Cape Verde Islands. Rwanda grants 30 days, Angola 30 days, Eswatini 30 days and Lesotho – 14 days.
The US indefinitely suspends all visa processing for 75 countries, including the Republic of Moldova, Russia, Iran
Georgia grants the most generous visa-free period of stay in the world for Romanian citizens: 360 days a year. Armenia offers 180 days, Turkey – 90 days, Ukraine 90 days, Republic of Moldova – 90 days, Kazakhstan – 30 days, Uzbekistan – 30 days, Kyrgyzstan – 60 days.
Destinations that remain closed or complicated
Significant restrictions remain in the Anglo-Saxon area. The United States imposes a mandatory visa on Romanian citizens. Romania was supposed to enter the Visa Waiver program on March 31, 2025, the date from which travel to the US for Romanians would have taken place without visas, but the decision was suspended by the Trump administration in the context of the presidential elections. Since then, Romanian officials have been trying to put this topic back on the bilateral agenda, especially since our country has managed to formally meet the conditions of the American legislation, according to which the refusal rate of visa requests must be below 3%.
Canada and Australia apply the same regime, although Canberra and Ottawa use the eTA (electronic authorization) system, which is less burdensome than a classic visa. India, with over one and a half billion inhabitants, remains inaccessible without a visa. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, although the Doha authorities recently opened visa-free access for Romanians, are still territories that require prior consular training for some categories of travelers.
In Africa, Nigeria, the continent's most populous country, requires a visa, as does Ghana. Ethiopia, the continent's second most populous state, does not grant visa-free access, nor does Cameroon or Ivory Coast. Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo are also on the list of those requesting visas from Romanians. So do Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Madagascar, Mozambique and Malawi. Libya, Sudan and Eritrea close the list. Kenya requires the eTA, which can only be obtained through the etakenya.go.ke platform operated by the authorities in Nairobi. Likewise, North Korea, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and Eritrea remain inaccessible to travelers with a Romanian passport without a valid visa.
In Latin America, Guyana requires visas for Romanian citizens. This can also be obtained upon entering the country, against the amount of 25 dollars, being valid for 30 days.
