Border Crossings Romania Bulgaria

The border is mainly formed by the Danube and stretches over a length of 605 kilometers. Therefore, only two road bridges cross the Danube (Giurgiu–Ruse and Calafat–Vidin), in addition to several ferry connections and road crossings in the east, where the border runs overland. Thus, these crossings play a particularly important role for trade, tourism, and general mobility between Romania and Bulgaria. Since January 1, 2025, Romania and Bulgaria have been fully part of the Schengen Area, and regular border controls no longer take place.

Border Controls

Since January 1, 2025, Romania and Bulgaria have been full members of the Schengen Area. There are no longer any regular checks on persons at the land border.

Romania has closed the former border crossing points to Bulgaria; the roads, bridges, and ferries remain accessible. Random police checks in the border area are possible, so please carry your ID card or passport with you.

Entry Requirements

To enter Romania or Bulgaria, EU citizens only need a valid ID card or passport. There is no visa requirement for EU citizens, which makes entry easier. Nevertheless, travelers should inform themselves about the current entry requirements, as these can change at short notice depending on the situation, particularly with regard to health regulations or security policy measures for the respective country.

Border Crossings Between Romania and Bulgaria

Below you can see the most significant border crossings between Romania and Bulgaria. It is important to note that a special toll applies at the Calafat-Vidin Danube bridge. The Romanian bridge toll at the Giurgiu-Ruse Friendship Bridge no longer applies in the direction of Bulgaria as of October 1, 2026.

• Ruse - Giurgiu: This border crossing is known as the busiest road border crossing between Bulgaria and Romania. The E85 (one of the main roads of the European Union) crosses the Danube and connects the city of Ruse (Bulgaria) with Giurgiu (Romania). This border crossing therefore plays a crucial role for international trade and transit in the region. The Romanian bridge toll in the direction of Bulgaria no longer applies as of October 1, 2026. In the opposite direction (Ruse → Giurgiu), the Bulgarian toll remains in place.

• Vidin - Calafat: In the west, crossing the Danube, this border crossing connects Vidin (Bulgaria) with Calafat (Romania). The road starts in Bulgaria as Route 11 and is called DN56 on the Romanian side. This connection is also important for European transport traffic. A special toll is also levied at this border crossing, as the bridge serves as a Danube crossing. Please note that you must therefore budget for additional costs (in addition to the vignette or distance-based toll).

• Silistra - Calarasi: In the northeast lies the border crossing between Silistra (Bulgaria) and Calarasi (Romania), which is crucial for cross-border trade as well as for economic cooperation in general. The road starts in Bulgaria as Route 7 and is called DN21 in Romania.

• Kardam - Negru Voda: Also in the northeast is the border crossing between Kardam (a village in Bulgaria) and Negru Voda (Romania). This border crossing is comparatively small but crucial for the regional connection and exchange between the communities. On the Bulgarian side, road II-29 leads from Varna via Dobrich to the border, while on the Romanian side it continues toward Constanța.

In addition to the border crossings mentioned, there are other possibilities for crossing the border. However, these connections represent the most frequently used border crossings. Feel free to use our route planner to plan your trip and thus also the use of the border crossings.

Romania

The following section gives you an overview of whether you need a vignette and whether there are certain toll-liable sections of road.

Romania: Vignette Requirement (or Not?)

In Romania, there is an electronic vignette called "Rovinieta," which you need for the Romanian national road network. It is important to know that trailers (combinations) do not need their own vignette, and motorhomes must have a car vignette regardless of their weight. It is common for the electronic vignette that the vehicle data and the validity period of the vignette are recorded in a database, so the consumer only receives a receipt for the amount paid, which should be kept. The price depends on the vehicle category and, since October 1, 2026, also on the Euro emission class, with electric cars paying the lowest rate. You can find more information about the digital vignette here. Order your digital vignette conveniently and easily from home with us.

Distance-Based Toll

For cars and motorhomes (regardless of weight), there is no distance-based toll in Romania; you only need the vignette (Rovinieta). The distance-based toll TollRo applies, as of October 1, 2026, only to freight vehicles over 3.5 t. An additional special toll applies at the Calafat-Vidin Danube bridge.

Danube Crossing: Bridge Toll (Special Toll)

A special toll applies at the Calafat-Vidin Danube bridge. The bridge toll at the Romanian Danube bridges Fetești-Cernavodă and Giurgeni-Vadu Oii, as well as at Giurgiu-Ruse in the direction of Bulgaria, no longer applies as of October 1, 2026. For ferries, you pay the usual ferry fare. That is not a toll.

Bulgaria

The following section gives you an overview of whether you need a vignette and whether there are certain toll-liable sections of road.

Bulgaria: Vignette Requirement (or Not?)

There is a vignette requirement on Bulgarian national roads. This vignette requirement applies to all vehicles up to 3.5 t GVW as well as motorhomes registered as class M1 (regardless of their weight). In addition, vehicles with combinations (e.g., car + trailer) that exceed the permitted total weight of 3.5 t GVW require an additional vignette for their trailer.

Motorcycles are exempt from the vignette requirement. In addition, vehicles with a weight over 3.5 t GVW must pay a distance-based toll, so the vignette requirement does not apply to these vehicles.

Distance-Based Toll

(Commercial) vehicles with a total weight over 3.5 t GVW must pay a distance-based toll, meaning the length of the route used by the vehicles is calculated. The amount of the toll also depends on the Euro emission class (pollutant load), the number of axles, and the type of road. Payment of the toll is made through a pre-purchased route card (route pass), for which the driving route must be specified. As an alternative to the route pass, a contract can be concluded with a national toll service provider, whereby the toll is recorded using an electronic transmission device (on-board unit) or a GPS tracker.

Danube Crossing: Bridge Toll (Special Toll)

A special toll applies at the Calafat-Vidin Danube bridge (cars €6 per direction). At the Ruse-Giurgiu Danube bridge, the Bulgarian side levies its own fee in the direction of Romania (cars €2). Neither bridge fee is included in the vignette. The bridge toll at the Romanian Danube bridges Fetești-Cernavodă and Giurgeni-Vadu Oii, as well as at Giurgiu-Ruse in the direction of Bulgaria, no longer applies as of October 1, 2026. For ferries, you pay the usual ferry fare. That is not a toll.

The Europamaut Team Wishes You a Pleasant Journey!

We wish you a pleasant journey and lots of enjoyment on your trip. Get your digital vignette for Romania now. If you have any questions, we are happy to help. Contact us anytime by email.