Embassy
Embassy of Romania in South Africa
877 Justice Mahomed Street
Romania visa requirements for South African citizens
South African citizens need a visa for Romania, from its embassy or consulate.
Passport
ZAF
South Africa
Going to
ROU
Romania
Visa needed
A visa for tourists who need a visa to visit Romania.
- Visa
- Required
- Fee
- €90
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Find Romania's embassy or consulate that covers where you live.
Prepare the application form, photos, bank statements and travel bookings.
Book an appointment early; processing can take several weeks.
Get your Romania visa sorted
A visa expert checks the rules and helps you apply. No payment now.
Ways into Romania
Your passport and current visas decide how you can visit.
Visa not requiredKosovo passport visitA visa-free visit for people with a Kosovo biometric passport meeting international standards.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your Kosovo passport is biometric.
- Carry your passport and proof of your visit.
Documents required
- Kosovo biometric passport meeting international standards
- Proof of visit, if asked
- Proof of money
- Fingerprints
- All Schengen visits share a 90-day limit in any 180 days.
Visa not requiredSchengen resident visitVisit with a current Schengen residence permit or long-stay visa.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your permit or long-stay visa is still valid.
- Carry it with your passport and proof of your visit.
Documents required
- Passport
- Schengen residence permit or long-stay visa
- Proof of visit and money
- Your short visit is limited to 90 days in any 180 days.
- A normal Cyprus visa or residence permit does not give Schengen entry.
Visa on arrivalEmergency border visaBorder Police may give a visa for listed emergencies and other special cases.
How to apply
- Show Border Police proof of your emergency or special reason.
- Follow the border visa process if they agree.
Documents required
- Travel document
- Proof of emergency or special reason
- Border Police decide whether your case allows a visa.
- Do not plan a normal holiday expecting a visa on arrival.
Visa requiredTourist visaA visa for tourists who need a visa to visit Romania.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- €90
- Processing
- 15–45 days
How to apply
- Complete E-VIZA and upload your documents.
- Wait for checks, then book your embassy appointment.
- Bring originals and copies; give fingerprints if needed.
- Pay the fee and collect your passport after the decision.
Documents required
- Signed form, passport and photo
- Passport with 2 blank pages
- Proof of where you’ll stay
- Travel plans and return booking
- Proof of money
- Schengen medical insurance: 30,000 EUR cover
- Approved invitation, if needed
- Hotel booking
- Fingerprints
- Interview
- Conditional polio certificate requirement published for people from Afghanistan, Madagascar, Pakistan and Yemen. vaccine
- Stay within your visa’s days and Schengen’s 90-day limit in any 180 days.
- Apply through Romania when it is your only or main destination.
Other routeUse your Schengen visaUse your current Schengen visa if it covers your trip to Romania.
How to apply
- Check that your visa covers Romania.
- Check its dates, unused days and entries.
- Carry your passport, visa and proof of your visit.
Documents required
- Passport with current Schengen visa
- Proof of visit and money
- Fingerprints
- Use only your remaining visa days, within 90 days in any 180 days.
- A single entry covers a continuous Schengen trip; leaving Schengen uses that entry.
Sources (26)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs — official visa information gateway
- Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs — official E-VIZA application portal
- Entry conditions
- Visa types and purposes
- Supporting documents for visa applications
- Visa processing fees, including the April 2026 national-visa change
- How to apply
- Visa-exempt nationalities and passport conditions
- Visa-required nationalities, invitation requirements and airport-transit markers
- Schengen questions and answers
- Special rules for qualifying European family members
- Visa application and interview FAQ; older entry provisions require cross-checking
- Latest information, including the conditional polio notice
- Entry/Exit System information
- Romanian Border Police — visas and exceptional border issuance
- General Inspectorate for Immigration — family reunification
- General Inspectorate for Immigration — residence and study FAQ; older fees were not used
- Romanian government — study visa and academic mobility routes
- European Commission — Schengen applications, processing and transit exemptions
- European Commission — common visa policy and current suspensions
- European Commission — common airport transit nationality list
- European Commission — additional national airport transit requirements
- European Union — travel documents for European Union citizens
- European Union — non-European Union entry documents and Schengen travel
- Council of the European Union — revocation of Vanuatu’s visa exemption
- Official ETIAS operational status
Embassies for this trip
Book an appointment before you go.
Coming from South Africa
- Plugs C FAdapter for some
- MoneyRON lei
- TimeSame timeSame as home
- DrivingOn the rightLook left first
- LanguageRomanian
- Emergency112 police
Planning your Romania trip
- Bran CastleOne of Romania's main landmarks.
- Painted monasteries of Southern BukovinaVisit for their painted decoration, beauty and religious history.
- Danube DeltaExplore waterways with colonies of pelicans, cranes and migratory birds.
- Carpathian MountainsSee mountain landscapes, forests and valleys.
Scams to watch for in Romania
- Taxi touts and inflated faresDrivers approach visitors, quote inflated fixed fares or refuse to start the meter. Some cars lack proper company or licence markings. In Cluj-Napoca, these drivers are called “shark” drivers and may display only TAXI on the car.
- Pickpocketing and wallet theftThieves take wallets or other valuables from pockets and bags. A stolen wallet may later turn up without its cash and cards.
- Poor exchange rates and misleading rate boardsAn exchange office offers a poor rate or draws attention to a rate that does not apply to your cash transaction. In Mamaia, offices may show separate rates for travellers' cheques and cash.
About Romania
Romania is a republic in southeastern Europe on the Black Sea, crossed by the Carpathian range.
- Capital
- Bucharest
- Money
- Romanian leu (lei)
- Languages
- Romanian
- Time zone
- UTC+02:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +40
Other Africa passports
Going to Romania
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Romania with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do south african citizens need a visa for Romania?
South African citizens need a visa for Romania, from its embassy or consulate.
Where do I apply for a Romania visa?
At Romania's embassy or consulate that covers where you live. Book an appointment early, as it can take several weeks.
Does a US, UK or Schengen visa help south african citizens enter Romania?
We have no record of Romania relaxing its rules for south african citizens who hold another country's visa. Check with the embassy before you rely on one.
Do romanian citizens need a visa for South Africa?
Romanian citizens do not need a visa for South Africa. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
Do other Africa passports get easier entry to Romania?
Mauritius and Seychelles can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Romania are easier for south african citizens?
Kosovo, Russia, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, and 3 more let south african citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Romania?
Find Romania's embassy or consulate that covers where you live. Prepare the application form, photos, bank statements and travel bookings.
What money is used in Romania?
Romanian leu (lei). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Romania?
Romanian.
How strong is the South Africa passport?
It ranks #51 and reaches 91 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck