Romanian citizens planning to travel to the United States in 2026 face a situation that changed twice in a single year: the Department of Homeland Security designated Romania into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) in January 2025, then paused implementation before any Romanian traveler could actually use ESTA under that designation, and ultimately rescinded the designation entirely on May 2, 2025. As a result, Romanian passport holders currently cannot use ESTA and must apply for a B-1/B-2 visa at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest. This guide covers the current ESTA/VWP status and every U.S. visa option available to Romanian citizens in 2026.
Romania and the Visa Waiver Program: What Happened, in Order
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of designated countries to travel to the United States for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a visa, using ESTA authorization instead. Romania’s relationship with the VWP moved through three distinct stages:
- January 2025 — Designation announced. DHS announced Romania’s designation into the Visa Waiver Program.
- March 2025 — Implementation paused. Before Romanian nationals began traveling to the U.S. under the new VWP designation, DHS paused implementation to conduct a further review. Romanian citizens did not travel under normal VWP/ESTA access during this period — the designation had been announced but never became operational for travelers.
- May 2, 2025 — Designation rescinded. DHS, in consultation with the Department of State, formally rescinded Romania’s VWP designation. DHS cited the need to protect the integrity of the program and uphold its security and border-integrity standards; it did not publicly detail the specific security concerns behind the decision.
Current status: Romania is not currently a Visa Waiver Program country, and ESTA is not available to Romanian passport holders based on Romanian nationality. Romanian citizens require a B-1/B-2 visa for all tourism and business travel to the United States as of this review. DHS has stated Romania may be reconsidered for VWP designation in the future if it meets the statutory eligibility criteria; no redesignation has occurred as of this review. Always confirm current status at the official DHS Visa Waiver Program page or by starting an application at esta.cbp.dhs.gov before assuming Romania’s status has not changed again.
B-1/B-2 Tourist and Business Visa for Romanian Citizens
The B-1/B-2 visa is the standard nonimmigrant visa for tourism, vacation, medical treatment (B-2) and short-term business activities such as meetings, conferences, and negotiations (B-1). For Romanian citizens in 2026:
- Application process: Complete Form DS-160 online, pay the current $185 MRV application fee, and schedule an interview at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest via the official appointment system.
- Interview wait times: Appointment wait times vary by season and embassy workload. Check current wait times directly at the official Department of State appointment scheduling system before planning travel — do not rely on a fixed number, as posted wait times change frequently.
- Key documents: Valid passport (generally recommended 6+ months beyond intended stay), DS-160 confirmation, photo, fee receipt, and evidence of ties to Romania such as employment, property, family, or financial circumstances that support an intent to return.
- Approval consideration: There is no guaranteed approval outcome. A consular officer evaluates each application individually against the applicable legal standard; no specific combination of documents guarantees a visa.
- Validity: B-1/B-2 visas for Romanian citizens are commonly issued as long-validity, multiple-entry visas, though validity and the length of each authorized stay are determined case by case — the CBP officer at the port of entry determines the authorized stay at each entry, not the visa’s validity period.
Work Visas for Romanian Citizens
H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa
Romanian professionals in specialty occupations (technology, engineering, finance, architecture, healthcare) are eligible for H-1B sponsorship, subject to the annual H-1B cap and registration/lottery process administered by USCIS. Registration windows and cap numbers are set annually — check current USCIS guidance for the applicable fiscal year’s registration period rather than relying on a specific past-year date.
E-2 Investor Visa
Romania and the United States have a bilateral investment treaty, and Romania appears on the Department of State’s current E-2 treaty country list, making Romanian nationals eligible for the E-2 investor visa. Requirements include a substantial at-risk investment in a U.S. business, intent to develop and direct the enterprise, and an investment sufficient to support successful operation of the business. There is no fixed statutory minimum investment amount; the appropriate amount depends on the nature and cost of the specific business. Confirm current treaty-country status at the official Department of State treaty countries list before applying, since treaty lists can change.
O-1 Visa for Extraordinary Ability
Romanian citizens with extraordinary ability or achievement in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics — or extraordinary achievement in motion picture or television production — may qualify for the O-1 visa. This is a potential option for Romanian professionals, artists, academics, and athletes who can document sustained national or international recognition under USCIS’s evidentiary criteria.
Student Visa (F-1) for Romanian Citizens
Romanian students accepted to a SEVP-certified U.S. institution can apply for an F-1 student visa. With Romania currently outside the VWP, Romanian students apply for the F-1 visa at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest like any other nonimmigrant visa applicant. The F-1 visa is generally valid for the duration of the academic program, with Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization available afterward under current USCIS rules. Confirm current OPT/STEM OPT rules directly with USCIS or your school’s international student office, since program rules are subject to change.
Green Card Options for Romanian Citizens
Romanian citizens are not currently subject to the per-country green card backlogs that affect applicants born in India and China, meaning wait times in most employment-based categories tend to be shorter. Key pathways:
- EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability): No employer sponsor needed. A potential option for Romanian researchers, executives, and artists who meet USCIS’s extraordinary-ability evidentiary criteria.
- EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver): No employer sponsor required. Available to professionals whose work meets the National Interest Waiver criteria.
- EB-2/EB-3 (Employment-Based): Requires employer sponsorship and PERM labor certification. Check the current Visa Bulletin for Romania’s category-by-category priority dates rather than assuming dates are always current.
- DV Lottery: Romanians are generally eligible for the annual Diversity Visa lottery, which is free to enter and requires specific education or work-experience qualifications. Confirm current eligibility and registration dates directly at travel.state.gov each year, since eligible-country lists and registration windows can change annually.
- Family-based: Romanian citizens with U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relatives can be petitioned through the applicable family preference category.
Official Sources
- DHS Announces the Rescission of Romania’s Designation into the Visa Waiver Program
- Visa Waiver Program — U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Treaty Countries — U.S. Department of State
- ESTA Application — U.S. Customs and Border Protection
