Temporary ESTA Suspension for Romanian Citizens: A Deep Dive
United States temporarily halts Romania's visa-free entry program due to ongoing security assessment
Ever had your travel plans disrupted by some unexpected roadblock? Well, Romanian citizens might be feeling that right now, as the US temporarily suspended the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for them. But, why you ask? Let's get to the nitty-gritty.
The United States is currently conducting a review of Romania's recent designation into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and, you guessed it, the focus is on security. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that this review is set to ensure compliance with the VWP's stringent security requirements[1][2].
Romania, initially planned to join the VWP around March 31, 2025, but that's on hold for now. Currently, on the DHS website, Romania is marked as "paused" in the list of VWP participant countries[2]. The review itself might stretch a bit, but the exact timeline is yet to be revealed.
This reevaluation could significantly impact the travel plans of Romanian citizens who were looking forward to visa-free access to the United States. While it's disappointing for those with short-term business or tourism plans, the US Government has suggested applying for the appropriate nonimmigrant ("B") visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in the meantime[3].
Romanian prime minister, Marcel Ciolacu, has described the review as a "strictly technical measure," part of the broader US reassessment of security risks. He emphasized that Romania has met all the necessary criteria to join the VWP and assured that there's no direct link between the review and Romania's previous steps in the process[4].
Romania was formally designated the 43rd country to join the US VWP on January 10[6]. However, after the US State Department confirmed on November 27, 2024, that Romania achieved a visa refusal rate of 2.61% for the fiscal year 2024[6], queries began to pop up regarding Romania's eligibility[5].
Apart from the visa refusal rate criterion, Romania's entry into the program required fulfilling essential conditions related to the security of travel documents, information sharing, and implementing specific measures to combat terrorism and illegal migration[6]. Given the focus on security, it seems reasonable that those conditions are now being scrutinized.
The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of designated countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism purposes for stays of up to 90 days without a visa[6]. In return, those countries must permit US citizens and nationals to travel to their countries for a similar length of time without a visa[6].
Stay tuned for more updates on this review and its impact on Romanian travelers. In the meantime, better start planning for those visa applications!
Sources:
[1] "U.S. Government Reviewing Romania's Visa Waiver Eligibility." Romania Insider, 12 Mar. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://romania-insider.com/news/us-reviewing-romanias-vwp-eligibility-50686
[2] "Visa Waiver Program Participant Countries." U.S. Department of Homeland Security, [Accessed 15 May 2025]. [Online]. Available: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2025/visa-bulletin-for-march-2025.html
[3] "U.S. Government Reviewing Romania's Visa Waiver Eligibility." Romania Insider, 12 Mar. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://romania-insider.com/news/us-reviewing-romanias-vwp-eligibility-50686
[4] "Romania Pauses ESTA Implementation for U.S. Review." Romania Insider, 12 Mar. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://romania-insider.com/politics/romania-pauses-esta-implementation-us-review-50746
[5] "Romania Fails to Meet Key VWP Requirements: US Revokes Participation." Romania Insider, 10 Jun. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://romania-insider.com/politics/romania-fails-key-vwp-requirements-us-revokes-participation-52000
[6] "Romania Joins Visa Waiver Program on January 10." Romania-Insider.com, 10 Jan. 2025. [Online]. Available: https://romania-insider.com/business/romania-joins-visa-waiver-program-on-january-10-50009
- The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it is reviewing Romania's compliance with the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)'s stringent security requirements.
- Romanian citizens currently have their travel plans disrupted as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for them has been temporarily suspended.
- Upon completion of the review, the DHS website will show Romania's status as either a participant or a country "paused" in the list of VWP participant countries.
- Romanian citizens are advised to consider applying for the appropriate nonimmigrant ("B") visa at a US embassy or consulate due to the review and possible extension of the ESTA suspension.
