Is there a border checkpoint between Romania and Hungary?

Published: October 02 2023

Going straight to the answer, as of the time of writing, there is no border checkpoint between Romania and Hungary. However, it's not that black-and-white. The context changes slightly depending on the current political climate and global situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, let's dive right into the details and the history behind this.

Romania and Hungary are both members of the European Union (EU). Hungary, however, is also a part of a 26-country agreement known as the Schengen Area, which allows its members visa-free and unrestricted travel within the area. Romania, at the time of this writing, is not yet a part of this agreement even though it is pursuing membership.

Under usual circumstances, there would not be a formal border checkpoint between Romania and Hungary. This is primarily because of the European Union principle of free movement. Even though Romania isn't part of the Schengen Area, it still generally enjoys the EU's policy of open borders.

So, travellers should normally be able to move between the two countries quite freely, without being stopped at the border for checks or paperwork.

However, under certain circumstances, the otherwise checkpoint-less border may impose controls. The most recent and familiar instance is in response to situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. In this case, both Hungary and Romania implemented temporary border controls to manage the spread of the virus.

This means that during these periods, travellers might experience checks on both sides of the border, which could include health-screening procedures and travel history checks.

In summary, while there isn't a permanent border checkpoint between Romania and Hungary, transient ones can be implemented in response to special circumstances. It's always a good idea to check the current immigration policies of both countries before planning your travel.