Update — July 2, 2026: The visa-free travel described in this article never took effect. On March 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) paused Romania's Visa Waiver Program (VWP) designation — before the planned March 31, 2025 ESTA launch — and on May 2, 2025, DHS rescinded the designation entirely. As a result, Romanian citizens still need a B-1/B-2 visitor visa to travel to the United States, and ESTA is not available to Romanian passport holders. The sections below explain what was announced, what changed, and what Romanian travellers need to do now.
In January 2025, there was welcome news for Romanian travellers: the United States announced that Romania would be designated into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which would have allowed Romanian citizens to visit the U.S. for tourism or business for up to 90 days using an ESTA travel authorization instead of a B-1/B-2 visa. That designation, however, was paused and then rescinded before it ever took effect. As of today, Romanian citizens still require a B-1/B-2 visitor visa to enter the United States.
What happened: a timeline
- January 9–10, 2025: DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Romania's designation into the Visa Waiver Program, with ESTA travel expected to become available on or around March 31, 2025.
- March 25, 2025: DHS paused implementation of Romania's VWP designation to conduct a security review — before the planned March 31 start date — so ESTA never actually opened to Romanian travellers.
- May 2, 2025: DHS rescinded Romania's VWP designation entirely, effective immediately, citing border and immigration security and the integrity of the Visa Waiver Program.
What this means for Romanian travellers now
Romania is not part of the Visa Waiver Program, and ESTA is not available to Romanian passport holders. To visit the United States for tourism or business, Romanian citizens must apply for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
- Tourism or family visits: Apply for a B-2 visitor visa.
- Business visits such as meetings, conferences, or contract negotiations: Apply for a B-1 business visitor visa.
- Already hold a valid B-1/B-2 visa? It remains valid and can be used as normal — the rescission does not affect visas that were already issued.
Why was the designation rescinded?
DHS framed the reversal around protecting "border and immigration security" and the "integrity of the Visa Waiver Program," following a security review of the January 2025 designation. The announcement did not point to a single published statistic as the cause; it was presented as a policy and security decision rather than a specific benchmark failure.
Could Romania rejoin the Visa Waiver Program?
Possibly — DHS indicated Romania may be reconsidered in the future if it meets the statutory eligibility criteria. Those requirements include a nonimmigrant visitor (B-visa) refusal rate below 3%, issuance of secure biometric ("e-passport") travel documents, robust information-sharing with the United States, and passing DHS security evaluations. Until Romania is formally designated and ESTA is actually made available, however, a B-1/B-2 visa is required.
Need help with a U.S. visitor visa?
If you are a Romanian citizen planning to travel to the United States, our immigration lawyers can help you determine the right visa for your trip and prepare a strong application. Book a consultation to discuss your specific circumstances.