The U.S. has paused the enforcement of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for citizens from Romania while it reviews their recent inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This temporary suspension comes from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). announced The purpose of the review is to ensure adherence to the VWP’s security standards.

In the Visa Waiver Program participant countries list featured on the DHS website, Romania initially appeared noted as "to be announced." At present, within the country listings, Romania is designated as "paused."

US authorities have not outlined a specific schedule for finishing the review process; however, their choice might affect the travel arrangements of Romanian citizens who anticipated taking advantage ofvisa-free entry into the United States starting at the close of March.

"The U.S. government is currently evaluating Romania's recent inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to confirm compliance with the program's strict security criteria. As part of this assessment, the implementation of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for Romanian nationals has been temporarily halted," states the announcement released by the DHS.

This suspension will be maintained until the United States finishes its assessment. Romanian citizens planning to visit the United States for brief business trips or tourist visits should keep applying for the relevant nonimmigrant ('B') visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

The Romanian Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, responded to the decision by characterizing the review as merely a “technical procedure” and an element of the United States’ wider evaluation of security threats. He clarified that Romania has fulfilled all requirements needed for inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program and stated that this assessment does not have any immediate connection with Romania’s prior actions during the application phase.

"I recognize the wider change in U.S. policy under the Trump administration, which emphasizes tackling immigration and bolstering border security. We will support these efforts as genuine partners," said Ciolacu.

He voiced his optimism that the postponement would be brief and committed to collaborating closely with their American counterparts to resolve any issues flagged by the U.S. government. Additionally, he reiterated Romania’s dedication as both a security contributor and a key strategic partner to the United States.

Romania officially became the 43rd nation to be included in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP). on January 10 The Romanian envoy to Washington, Andrei Muraru, stated back then that beginning March 31, 2025, Romanians would have the ability to visit the United States without needing a visa.

On November 27, 2024, the U.S. State Department announced that Romania had attained a visa rejection rate of 2.61% during the fiscal year 2024 (from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024). This met one of the primary requirements necessary for inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program.

Along with meeting the visa refusal rate criteria, Romania had to satisfy key requirements concerning the safety of travel documents, data exchange practices, and enacting particular actions aimed at preventing terrorism and unauthorized immigration for admission into the program.

The Visa Waiver Program allows residents from selected nations to enter the U.S. for work or leisure trips lasting up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. As part of this arrangement, these same countries have to grant American citizens and nationals permission to visit their territories for an equivalent duration without needing a visa for business or tourist activities.

irina.marica@romania-insider.com

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