Access to the territory and push backs

Author

JRS Romania

According to a report of the Romanian Border Police from 2022, asylum applicants arrive in Romania mainly by land through the south-western border with Serbia,^[1] through the southern border with Bulgaria,^[2] and through the northern border with Ukraine.^[3] In 2024, Romanian authorities intercepted multiple cases of attempted irregular border crossings through the Danube river, including a group of 19 Syrian migrants crossing by boat, while dismantling a large smuggling network facilitating irregular transit via the river; no casualties were reported.^[4]  According to information published by the Romanian Border Police, the main methods used for irregular border crossing in 2025 continued to include concealment in means of transport, irregular crossing through green border areas, and the use of false or falsified documents. These practices were identified in various regions of the country, reflecting a diversification of routes and modalities depending on the border segment.[5]

The Border Police have reported that persons who are detected by border guards in connection with an unauthorised crossing of the state border and who do not make an asylum claim are returned to the neighbouring state, either on the basis of readmission agreements concluded by the European Union with third countries (Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia), or on the basis of bilateral treaties (Bulgaria, Hungary). They receive an entry ban for 5 years which is communicated and includes information on the reason and possibility to challenge the measure. This information is provided with the help of an authorised interpreter.^[6]

In 2024, CNRR established a daily presence at Border Crossing Points (BCPs) with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, specifically at Sighetu Marmației, Siret, and Isaccea for Ukraine, and at Sculeni, Albita, and Galați for Moldova. In addition to this daily presence, CNRR conducted 16 independent monitoring missions at the borders with Ukraine, Moldova, and Bulgaria, as well as at international airports. The border monitoring activities are based on thorough assessments, taking into account previous reports, alleged incidents, statistical data, and other information collected directly from the Border Police, IGI, FDSPs, or through third parties. The visits are announced in advance to ensure the availability of relevant stakeholders.^[7] During the visits, CNRR has access to the BCP, but not to the transit zone.^[8]

In 2025, independent border monitoring continued to be carried out by CNRR, UNHCR’s implementing partner, as well as by UNHCR through monitoring missions at several border crossing points. CNRR maintained a daily presence at three strategic border crossing points at the Romanian border with Ukraine (Isaccea, Siret and Sighetu Marmației) until May 2025. Following the discontinuation of this presence due to funding constraints, monitoring activities continued in the form of ad hoc or targeted missions. Throughout 2025, CNRR conducted 15 monitoring missions at the borders with Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria and Hungary, as well as at Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport. Monitoring activities continued to rely on assessments of previous reports, alleged incidents, statistical data and information gathered directly from the Border Police, IGI, FDSPs or through third parties.[9]

According to CNRR and UNHCR, monitoring visits are announced in advance in order to ensure the availability of relevant stakeholders. UNHCR also reported conducting monitoring visits during the second half of 2025, including at Siret, Sighetu Marmației and Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport. Both organisations reported that they did not encounter obstacles when carrying out monitoring activities and were granted access, including at airport facilities. Contact information for referrals is available at most major border crossing points through information boards displaying the contact details of CNRR and UNHCR.[10]

Readmissions to neighbouring countries

Over the years, according to the information provided by IGI-DAI,^[11] the Romanian Government has concluded readmission agreements with 18 countries, among which: the Republic of Moldova, Albania, Lebanon, North Macedonia, Türkiye, Russia Federation, Georgia, Ukraine, India, Iraq, Armenia and China. According to CNRR, both returns and readmissions are made based on protocols, so these decisions are based on legal provisions and notified to the persons in question.^[12]

In recent years, Romania has seen a significant decline in the number of returns to neighbouring countries under readmission agreements. According to the Border Police, 1,396 individuals were returned in 2022, compared to 831 in 2021.^[13] However, by 2023, this number dropped sharply to 214, with returns decreasing notably at the borders with Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, and the maritime border.^[14] In 2024, under the readmission agreement with Serbia, less than 40 individuals were returned, marking a significant decrease compared to previous years.^[15] According to the AIDA Serbia 2024 report, in 2024, a total of 20 individuals were officially readmitted from Romania to Serbia under the EU–Serbia Readmission Agreement, including 15 adult males, 1 underage male, 2 adult females, and 2 underage females.^[16] In 2025, comprehensive national data on returns under readmission agreements were not publicly available at the time of writing. However, regional Border Police reports indicate that readmission procedures, particularly to Serbia, continued to be applied in practice, including in cases of persons apprehended at the border.[17]

Information published by regional Border Police structures indicates different dynamics across border segments. In the Western region, a decrease in irregular migration, particularly secondary movements, was reported, alongside an increased use of readmission procedures to Serbia.[18] At the same time, at the northern border with Ukraine, irregular crossings continued to be recorded, including cases involving Ukrainian nationals crossing through difficult terrain such as river or mountainous areas, often involving significant risks.[19] According to the Border police, a total of 84 persons were detected crossing irregularly into Romania, the majority being subsequently returned to Serbia under readmission agreements.[20]

Access to Romanian territory and asylum: statistics and practices

In 2024, a significant decrease (over – 60%) in the migratory pressure at the Romanian border with Serbia was observed, despite other countries in the region seeing an increase in the number of arrivals. In 2024, the Border Police reported that 259 people were prevented from entering the country, the indicator decreasing by 67% compared to 2023.^[21]  In the past years, significantly less arrivals were registered on the border near Timișoara compared especially to the period between 2016 and 2021. According to the Border Police, the decrease in the number of arrivals at this border is due to an increased focus on migration management at this border and to the collaboration with border authorities of Serbia to prevent the irregular crossing of migrants from the neighbouring country.

This shift, however, is likely also to be attributed to an overall shift of the Balkan migratory route. Following Croatia’s Schengen accession, migration routes shifted, as it became easier and more cost-effective for irregular migrants to travel through Croatia instead of entering Romania and transiting through Hungary.^[22]

The figures reported for 2025 indicate a continued decrease in migratory pressure at Romania’s borders. According to information provided by the Romanian Border Police, in 2025 a total of 12,066 persons were detected attempting to enter Romania irregularly. When broken down by type of border, 22 persons were detected at the maritime border, 23 at airports and 12,744 at the land border. The total number of persons detected in connection with irregular border crossings reached 12,789, which also includes 587 persons identified while attempting to exit Romania irregularly and 136 persons whose travel direction was interrupted by the authorities. According to the Romanian Border Police, the largest group of persons detected in connection with irregular entry attempts in 2025 were Ukrainian nationals (10,955). Other nationalities included Iraqi (475), Syrian (249), Moroccan (104), Turkish (81), Iranian (64), Bangladeshi (58), Egyptian (53), Afghan (46) and Chinese nationals (46), while 189 persons belonged to other nationalities.[23]

According to IGPF,^[24]  in 2024, Romanian border authorities identified 18,396 foreign nationals attempting to irregularly cross into Romania. This number includes more than 14,800 Ukrainians who entered the country seeking protection from the Romanian government.^[25] Moreover, 2,389 foreign nationals were found trying to irregularly leave Romania, mostly at the Hungarian border. In most of these cases, the individuals had originally entered Romania legally with work visas and were attempting to continue their journey toward Western Europe.^[26] The main nationalities of the people attempting to cross the border are Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Nepal, Bangladesh, Turkey, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India.^[27]

As a comparison with 2023, the total number of registered irregular crossings in 2024 decreased slightly (18,396 in 2024 vs. 19,793 in 2023), but the proportion of protection-seeking individuals, especially Ukrainians, increased. The number of irregular exits in 2024 (2,389) dropped substantially compared to 2023 (12,278), possibly due to enhanced border controls or shifting migration routes. Even though migration patterns indicate a shift, Romania remains a transit country, especially for legally employed migrants attempting secondary movement toward Western Europe.

According to the 2025 activity report of the Territorial Inspectorate of the Border Police (ITPF) Timișoara, in 2025 a significant decrease in irregular migration was observed in the inspectorate’s area of competence, particularly with regard to secondary movements. On the entry route into Romania, border authorities detected 84 persons who had crossed the state border irregularly, most of whom were returned to Serbia under readmission agreements. On the exit route from Romania, attempts to cross the border irregularly decreased significantly, with a reduction of 85% in attempts to cross towards Serbia and 91% towards Hungary compared to 2024. Secondary movements continued to involve mainly nationals of South Asian countries, particularly Nepal and Sri Lanka, who enter Romania legally for work or studies and subsequently attempt to leave the country irregularly in order to reach Western European states. The authorities also reported a 51% decrease in the number of persons involved in migrant smuggling offences compared to 2024, which was attributed to strengthened operational measures, including intensified border surveillance, additional patrols, the use of technical monitoring equipment and drones, joint Romanian–Serbian patrols, cooperation with neighbouring authorities and the deployment of approximately 260 FRONTEX officers within Joint Operation Romania 2025.[28]

According to ITPF Timisoara, in 2024, it was more common to observe individuals attempting to leave Romania and cross irregularly into other countries. Many of these individuals enter the country on work visas but do not comply with the intended purpose of their stay.^[29] The 78% decrease in irregular exit attempts from Romania between 2023 and 2024 suggests a decline in the number of people entering with work visas and subsequently seeking to move onward. Notably, since 2017, there have been no incidents involving the use of firearms or complaints related to excessive force by ITPF Timisoara.^[30] More recently, a decrease in both arrivals and exit attempts has been observed, potentially as a result of shifts in migration routes and enhanced border surveillance measures implemented by the Romanian Border Police.^[31]

According to GRETA, pushbacks heighten trafficking risks by fostering distrust in officials, forcing asylum seekers into unsafe migration routes and discouraging them from reporting exploitation. Additionally, some interlocutors pointed out that undocumented migrants were deported without risk assessments.[32]

People detected crossing or attempting to cross the border entering Romania and people apprehended for irregular entry

In 2024, the European Union recorded a 38% decline in the number of irregular border crossings compared to the previous year, according to data published by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). The national border police identified a total of 18,396 foreign nationals who entered the country by irregularly crossing the border, approximately the same number as in 2023. This figure includes over 14,800 Ukrainian citizens who sought protection from the Romanian state upon their arrival.^[33] According to the Romanian Border Police, the countries of origin of those apprehended at the border in 2024 included Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Nepal, Bangladesh, Turkey, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India. However, no disaggregated statistical breakdown per nationality was made publicly available in the official report.^[34]

Over 351 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, were charged for being involved in migrant smuggling by supporting foreign citizens in their attempt to illegally cross the border. Regarding the nationality of the people detected while attempting an irregular border crossing, most of those detected were nationals of the following countries: Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Nepal, Bangladesh, Turkey, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India.^[35]

If we refer to the mode of action at the border in relation to the total number of people detected crossing or attempting to cross, 85% of migrants were detected attempting to irregularly cross a green border. 12% tried to cross borders by hiding in means of transport. 2% attempted to cross at maritime and river areas using boats. 1% were detected trying to irregularly cross using other methods, such as false travel documents and visas, person substitution, or avoiding border controls.^[36]

According to information provided by the Romanian Border Police, in 2025 a total of 12,066 persons were detected attempting to enter Romania irregularly, representing a decrease compared to 2024, when 18,396 persons were detected in connection with irregular border crossings. The majority of detections in 2025 occurred at the land border, while a small number of cases were recorded at the maritime border and airports. The largest group of persons detected attempting irregular entry were Ukrainian nationals, followed by Iraqi, Syrian, Moroccan, Turkish, Iranian, Bangladeshi, Egyptian, Afghan, Chinese and other nationals.[37] Disaggregated statistical data by type of border (land, sea, air) were not publicly available at the time of writing. However, available regional data indicate that detections are concentrated along the land borders, particularly at the borders with Serbia and Ukraine.[38]

At the regional level, the Territorial Inspectorate of the Border Police (ITPF) Timișoara strengthened border control measures and collaborated with Serbian authorities to address migration challenges.^[41] Information published by ITPF Timișoara indicates that in 2025, a total of 84 persons were detected crossing the state border irregularly into Romania in the inspectorate’s area of competence, most of them at the border with Serbia. According to the Border Police, the majority of these persons were subsequently returned to Serbia under the applicable readmission agreements. The authorities reported that the number of irregular entries detected at the Serbian border remained significantly lower than in previous years, reflecting strengthened border surveillance measures and continued cooperation with Serbian border authorities. [42]

Data on the total number of cases of prevented irregular entries in 2025 were not publicly available at the time of writing. However, the Border Police reports indicate a continued decrease in irregular migration and attempts to cross the border, suggesting that preventive measures remained in place.[43] Romanian authorities also prevented 268 irregular entries in 2024, a 67% decrease from 2023 (804 cases) and a striking 99% drop from 2022 (27,469 cases). According to the border police, this was due to improved surveillance, including the use of thermal cameras, Frontex’s “Sparrow2” aerial missions, and real-time data exchange with Serbia. Secondary migration toward Hungary also dropped by 77%, with only 18 cases involving 56 migrants, compared to 38 cases and 244 migrants in 2023.^[44]

To combat smuggling, the judicial police at ITPF Timișoara targeted trafficking networks, leading to 16 individuals being investigated while at liberty and legal measures against 45 individuals – with 11 arrests and 34 persons placed under judicial supervision. These efforts reflect Romania’s ongoing commitment to securing its borders and addressing irregular migration through surveillance, cooperation, and enforcement. ^[45] Regarding combating migrant smuggling, in 2025 the number of people involved in such crimes decreased by 51% compared to 2024, which reflects the efficiency of the operational measures adopted.[46]

According to ITPF Timisoara, following Romania’s entry into the Schengen Area, two internal borders remain in place, where the Border Police has continued to allocate personnel and resources. Joint operations are being conducted in coordination with both Hungarian and Bulgarian authorities to combat irregular migration networks, supported by effective inter-agency communication. Additionally, Romania has contributed 40 police officers to the joint deployment at the Turkish-Bulgarian border, alongside Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria. These coordinated efforts have contributed to a noticeable decrease in irregular migration between Bulgaria and Romania.^[47] This was the case up to early 2025. These coordinated efforts have contributed to a noticeable decrease in irregular crossings between Bulgaria and Romania.

According to ITPF Timisoara, in 2025 the number of people involved in migrant smuggling decreased by 51% compared to 2024, which reflects the efficiency of the operational measures adopted. In the context of anti-smuggling efforts, the following measures were ordered:[48]

• An optimal number of patrols was created by supplementing the personnel allocated to surveillance activities;
• The technical means of surveillance were diversified and supplemented (thermal imaging, fixed and portable observation equipment, helicopters, drones and Frontex aircraft);
• Approximately 260 officers of the European Agency FRONTEX were integrated into the border police device, within the Joint Operation JO ROMANIA 2025;
• The interventions of joint (Romanian-Serbian) ad-hoc patrols were used effectively, acting promptly in the event of border events;
• Efficient cooperation with the authorities of neighbouring states by organizing mixed patrols to combat cross-border crime, as well as meetings for the exchange of data and information;
• Organization and implementation of actions in an integrated system in which all M.A.I. structures participate to detect foreigners with irregular entry/stay on Romanian territory;
• Application of compensatory measures after Romania’s entry into the Schengen Area by organizing and implementing BLITZ and HOT-SPOT type actions, in cooperation with national authorities and similar bodies of neighbouring states.

Pushbacks: refusals of entry and people ‘prevented from entering’ Romania

In 2025, 10,135 foreign nationals were refused entry at Romania’s external borders, representing a slight decrease compared to 2024.[49] In 2024, Romanian border authorities denied entry to 10,266 foreign nationals who did not meet the legal requirements for entering the country, representing an increase by 41.7% compared to 2023. ^[50]

According to ITPF Timișoara, which oversees border security in Timiș, Caraș-Severin, and Mehedinți counties (mainly at the border with Serbia), the statistics for individuals stopped from entering the country in this region alone were as follows:

In 2024, a significant decrease (over 60%) in the migratory pressure at the border with Serbia was observed, regardless of the high number of arrivals that were still registered by other countries in the Western Balkans region.  In 2024, only 259 people were prevented from entering the country at the border with Serbia, which represented a 67% decrease compared to 2023.^[54]  In 2025, updated data on persons prevented from entering at the border with Serbia were not made available. As previously mentioned, in recent years, arrivals have dropped significantly, largely due to migration routes shifting after Croatia’s Schengen entry, reducing pressure on the once-busy Timișoara border.^[55] This decline is also likely due to a police operation in Serbia that took place in the end of 2023 during which migrants were forcibly evacuated from the entire northern border area with Hungary and Romania. 7,000 people were relocated to different camps in southern areas without being informed of their destination.^[56]

Information published by the Territorial Inspectorate of the Border Police (ITPF) Timișoara indicates that the declining trend in migratory pressure at the Serbian border continued in 2025, particularly with regard to secondary migration movements. Border authorities reported a significant reduction in irregular migration incidents in the inspectorate’s area of competence, which was attributed to strengthened surveillance measures, operational cooperation with Serbian border authorities and the continued deployment of joint patrols and Frontex personnel within Joint Operation Romania 2025. [57]

Refusal of entry procedure and appeal

Pursuant to the Aliens Act, refusal of entry is motivated by the Border Police authorities and it is immediately communicated to the person concerned, using the form provided in Part B of Annex V of the Schengen Borders Code and the National Visa Centre within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.^[58] This form is provided to the person concerned in Romanian and English.^[59]

As the Aliens Act does not foresee a special remedy against the decision of refusal of entry, general administrative law applies.^[60] As a result, the person concerned may lodge an action against the decision before the Administrative Court with territorial jurisdiction over the area in which the issuing body of the contested administrative act is located.^[61]

Prior to lodging an appeal at the Administrative Court, the person, who considers that their rights have been breached by an administrative act issued by a public institution, shall appeal to the issuing public authority within 30 days. The complaint should be addressed to the hierarchically superior body if there still is one (for example when the act had already been taken by a superior there might no longer be a hierarchically superior body).^[62] The appeal is assessed in 30 days.^[63] An appeal lodged to the Administrative Court without fulfilling this prior procedural step will be declared inadmissible. The complaint and the appeal to the Administrative Court have no suspensive effect.

The applicant may request the suspension of the administrative act to the competent court, when lodging the prior appeal,^[64] or when appealing to the court.^[65]

The Aliens Act prescribes that the foreigner against whom the measure of non-entry to Romania has been taken has the possibility to voluntarily leave the border crossing point within 24 hours. The term is calculated from the time when the measure of non-entry to Romania was ordered.^[66]

Upon the expiration of the 24-hour term, the decision of refusal of entry to Romania is enforced by the Border Police, taking into account the state of health of the person concerned. The person is sent to the country of origin or to another destination accepted both by the person and the third state concerned, except Romania.^[67] The consequence of this provision is that the foreigner against whom a decision of refusal of entry was taken has only 24 hours to lodge the appeal against the decision.

If the Border Police needs more than 12 hours to carry out the removal from the border-crossing point, the individual is accommodated in a space arranged for this purpose in the transit area, or, if this is not possible, to another location established outside the border-crossing point with transit area status.^[68]

The Aliens Act prescribes a special procedure when the foreigner declares to the Border Police authorities that, in case they were forced to leave the border crossing point, they would have to go to a state where they fear that their life is endangered or they will be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment and they do not submit an asylum application.^[69] When this occurs the Border Police officers shall immediately inform IGI-DAI, which, within maximum of 10 days, shall analyse the situation of the foreigner and determine whether the declaration is well-founded.^[70] If a person’s statement is unfounded, IGI-DAI communicates the decision to the border police authorities, which will inform the person concerned in this respect.^[71]

If the foreigner’s declaration is well-founded, IGI-DAI will enforce the decision of refusal of entry to Romania by removal under the escort of the foreigner. The provisions of the Aliens Act on removal under the escort, public custody of foreigners and toleration status on the territory of Romania apply accordingly.^[72]

Reported pushbacks

No new documented pushback incidents were reported in 2025.

In a report published in May 2024, the Border Violence Monitoring Network (BVMN) reported incidents of pushbacks at the Serbia-Romania border. In spring, the Serbian organization InfoPark revealed details of a violent pushback from Romania, where a man from Kazakhstan claimed he was subjected to physical violence by Romanian police before being forcibly returned to Serbia.^[73] UNHCR received information on five incidents of lack of access to an asylum procedure where the person concerned reported to have asked for international protection at the border.^[74]

Regarding border incidents, UNHCR Romania reported that on three occasions in January 2023, Romanian government authorities at the border with Serbia pushed back refugees and asylum applicants from third countries transiting through Serbia.^[75] The US Department of State 2023 report mentioned that according to NGOs, several incidents of harassment, discrimination, abuses against refugees and asylum applicants, pushbacks, and deviations from asylum procedures at border areas occurred throughout the year. Most incidents were not reported because of fear, lack of information, inadequate support services, and inefficient redress mechanisms. CNRR reported^[76] that persons claimed that potential abuses at the border were notified to the border police, and the institutional response was hesitant, including denial of access to potential beneficiaries at Otopeni Airport, while there were gaps in access to the territory and the asylum procedure, mainly in situations involving other nationals than Ukrainians (Russian Federation or Belarus) who were allegedly ‘discouraged entry to Romania’ by Border Police officers.

Applications for asylum at border crossing points

According to the Border Police, asylum applications are generally not submitted at border crossing points, as legislation restricts access to Romanian territory, permitting a maximum stay of 20 days within transit zones.^[77] When a third-country national is apprehended for irregular crossing and submits an asylum claim, the border police may detain the individual for up to 24 hours solely to conduct a preliminary interview related to the irregular entry.^[78] Upon receipt of an asylum request, the IGI is promptly notified, and the border police also inform the UNHCR implementing partner accordingly.^[79]

According to information provided by IGI-DAI, 24 asylum applications were processed under the border procedure in 2025, including one application submitted by an unaccompanied minor. The main countries of origin of applicants whose claims were examined under the border procedure in 2025 were the Russian Federation (11 applications), Morocco (3 applications), Azerbaijan (3 applications), Syria (2 applications), and Afghanistan (1 application).[80]

In 2023, 772 third-country nationals applied for asylum at the border crossing points.^[81] According to IGI-DAI, a total of 45 applications for international protection were processed under a border procedure, in accordance with Article 43 of Directive 2013/32/EU.^[82] The top five countries of origin for applicants in this procedure were: the Palestinian Authority in Palestine, with 31 applications, followed by Uzbekistan (3 applications), Ukraine (2 applications), Syria (2 applications), and the Russian Federation (2 applications).^[83] In 2025, a total of 24 applications for international protection were processed under the border procedure. The main countries of origin were the Russian Federation (11 applications), Morocco (3), Azerbaijan (3), Syria (2), and Afghanistan (1).[84]

The figures confirm that the border procedure continues to be used only in a limited number of cases in Romania, with most asylum applications being registered after the applicant has been transferred to reception centres on the territory and examined under the regular procedure.

According to CNRR, asylum applications continue to be rarely lodged directly at border crossing points in practice. In 2025, the organisation received 11 requests for assistance from individuals who reported having expressed the intention to seek international protection in the border area. Four individuals confirmed that their asylum applications were registered. In the remaining cases, the persons concerned stated that their intention to apply for international protection had not been acknowledged and that they had been returned to third countries previously transited. CNRR notified the Border Police regarding these cases; however, the authorities reported that no asylum request had been made in those situations.[85]

UNHCR also reported a limited number of cases involving potential difficulties in accessing the asylum procedure at the border. Based on UNHCR’s observations, the main obstacles appear to relate to language barriers and interpretation challenges. In several instances, local intervention by CNRR and/or UNHCR contributed to solving the situation.[86]

Issues related to exiting Romania

While irregular entry or stay in Romania committed by persons who have been granted a form of protection is not punishable,^[87] irregular exit from the country is punishable under the Criminal Code by imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years or a fine.^[88]

According to the Romanian Border Police, 587 persons were detected in 2025 while attempting to leave Romania irregularly, representing a significant decrease compared to the cases recorded in 2024.[89]

At the regional level, the Border Police Inspectorate of Timișoara reported a significant decrease in attempts to cross irregularly from Romania into neighbouring countries in 2025. Attempts to cross irregularly towards Serbia decreased by approximately 85%, while attempts at the border with Hungary decreased by around 91% compared to the previous year. According to the authorities, cases of secondary movements continued to involve mainly nationals of South Asian countries, particularly Nepal and Sri Lanka, who had initially entered Romania legally for work or study purposes.[90]

In 2024, 2,389 foreign citizens were detected while attempting to irregularly cross a border into neighbouring countries, with most of them being detected at the border with Hungary. In these cases, it is mostly about the migration towards Wester European Countries of the labour force coming from foreign countries to Romania, meaning individuals who entered the country legally, with work visas.^[91]

Measures taken by Romanian authorities to “close migration routes” and limit irregular entries

In 2024 according to the Romanian Border Police, 259 migrants were prevented from entering Romania via the Serbian border – a 67% decrease compared to the 803 prevented in 2023. Irregular border crossings declined by over 60% following enhanced collaborative measures with Serbian authorities.^[92]  In 2025, available information indicates a continued decrease in irregular migration along the Western border, including the Serbia route. According to regional Border Police data, in the area of competence of the Territorial Inspectorate Timișoara, only 84 persons were detected crossing irregularly into Romania, the majority of whom were returned to the Serbian authorities under readmission agreements.[93] No updated data on the number of persons prevented from entering Romania in 2025 were publicly available.

In 2024, Romanian authorities intensified efforts to combat migrant trafficking along key border segments, particularly those with Serbia and Hungary. According to the Romanian Border Police, a total of 728 individuals suspected of being involved in migrant smuggling networks (guiding, transporting, facilitating illegal entry) were identified and detained—representing a 30.5% increase compared to the previous year. This significant rise occurred despite an overall drop in irregular migration figures, suggesting more targeted law enforcement and intelligence-led operations. In 2025, this approach continued, with Border Police reports highlighting a focus on enhanced surveillance, risk-based controls, and operational cooperation aimed at identifying and dismantling migrant smuggling networks.[94]

These efforts were supported by a comprehensive package of measures, including:^[95]

• Reinforced surveillance along the western and southern borders;
• Joint patrols and operations with the National Police, Gendarmerie, and the General Inspectorate for Immigration;
• Mobile controls in key transit areas such as the vicinity of Timișoara’s North Station, a known hotspot for secondary movement;
• The deployment of aerial surveillance missions, supported by FRONTEX and the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
• Participation in the Joint Operation Terra 2023, extended into 2024, focused on external EU border control with Serbia, Ukraine, and No information on its continuation in 2025 was publicly available at the time of writing.

In 2024, as mentioned above, the overall number of arrivals from the Serbian border further dropped compared to the previous year. Beyond a general decrease in the number of arrivals on the route, the Romanian Border Police also implemented a series of measures directed at curbing irregular arrivals at this specific border, such as deploying new technology, strengthening surveillance at key borders, increasing patrols with advanced equipment, and conducting aerial surveillance and joint operations with national security forces.^[96] According to the Border Police, in 2024, irregular crossings at the Romania-Serbia border showed more departures from Romania to Serbia than entries from Serbia. This shift is likely due to challenges in Hungary and easier access through Croatia. Fingerprints taken upon entry to Romania increase the risk of people being identified and returned from other EU countries. Authorities recorded 125 detection events involving 526 third-country nationals: 172 attempts to exit Romania irregularly, 30 entries from Serbia, 59 unauthorized presences in the border zone, 251 irregular stays in Romania, and 34 readmissions from Serbia.^[97]

In 2025, available regional data indicate that this trend continued, with a further decrease the number of attempted irregular crossings along the Romania–Serbia border. According to the Territorial Inspectorate of the Border Police Timișoara, attempts to exit Romania irregularly towards Serbia decreased significantly compared to the previous year, while irregular entries remained limited and were primarily addressed through readmission procedures. Attempts to cross the border irregularly exiting Romania decreased by 85% at the border with Serbia and by 91% at the border with Hungary compared to the previous year. Some secondary movements continued to be observed, particularly involving third-country nationals who had entered Romania legally for work or study purposes and subsequently attempted to leave the country irregularly.[98]

The European Commission pilot with Romania and cooperation with Frontex

After Romania’s accession to the Schengen area, the number of applications for international protection did not increase, as it may have been expected. One consequence of Romania being part of the Schengen area is that border crossings are no longer subject to systematic checks, but rather to non-systematic and potentially more profile based controls.[99]

Starting in March 2023, Romania implemented a six-month pilot project initiated by the European Commission. The pilot included a “border management and international cooperation” component, given the Terra Joint Operation with Frontex across all of Romania’s external land borders, especially that with Serbia which is “considered of critical importance” by the Commission. The Commission made available EUR 10.8 million to Romania for reinforcement of the management of the EU’s external borders, in addition to Romania’s national allocations under the BMVI, which is of EUR 129.77 million for the period 2021-2027. The Commission considers recent activities at Romania’s border with Serbia to be good practices to be further enhanced through:

• Continued “successful management” of the external border with Serbia, with “continued activities for prevention of irregular migration” though common patrols with Serbian authorities;
• Europol continued support to the Romanian Police and Border Police, to be extended;
• Romania maintaining “maximum hosting capacity for Frontex standing corps officers for border surveillance” at the border with Serbia, and expanding their access to databases for a “more efficient use of the standing corps”
• Deployment of Frontex mobile surveillance vehicles operation for border surveillance as Frontex aerial surveillance.
• The Commission is to assess potential needs for funding for more equipment in order to maintain “a high level of border surveillance and control at the Romanian-Serbian border”.

The pilot also included aspects related to asylum, particularly the Accelerated procedure and a joint return decision together with the international protection rejection; and other measures to streamline return, and the enhancement of voluntary returns.

th pilot, the European Commission reported^[100] “solid results” and “best practices identified” in all three aspects of the pilots. Regarding border management specifically, according to the European Commission,^[101] Romania continued to demonstrate “successful management” of its external borders with Serbia, based on activities for prevention of irregular migration with the Serbian authorities. The following activities, realised in those 6 months, were highlighted as “good practices” by the European Commission:

• Joint patrol missions: a total of 448 joint patrols on the territory of both States were carried out.
• Joint “ad hoc” patrols: 140 cases with 422 people were registered and following exchanges of information with the Serbian authorities, 34 migrant smugglers were identified and further investigated by the relevant authorities. Where there is concrete operative information or other indications regarding a border event, the signatory parties can organise joint “ad hoc” patrols. Supporting the activities in question can also be carried out with the help of some means of aerial surveillance (Frontex surveillance aircraft, helicopter, drones).
• International cooperation with Serbia: according to agreed procedures, the Romanian and Serbian authorities constantly exchange information about any aspects related to irregular migration, in order to prevent and combat cross-border criminality through Common Contact Point Portile de Fier I. At the same time, Romania is an active host of the Joint Operation Terra by Frontex that covers the entirety of its external land border sections with Serbia, Ukraine and Moldova. The border section with Serbia is considered of critical importance and deployments for green border surveillance “fully meet” the operational needs agreed between Frontex and Romania.

At a public event, an official from the Ministry of Internal Affairs described the pilot as enabling Romanian authorities to identify groups of migrants approaching the Serbian-Romanian border and thus to notify Serbian authorities “long before they reach the border”. According to the official, the Serbian authorities then have an obligation to intervene, and manage to do so most of the time. These preventive activities contribute to reducing “illegal” flows. According to the statistics presented, only 221 “aliens having entered illegally through Serbia” submitted asylum applications to the border police in 2023, as opposed to 1,455 in 2022, i.e. an over 80% decrease. The project is presented as a “whole of route cooperation” initiative that involved Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and the European Commission. It has allowed for improved cooperation with the Serbian authorities but also with Frontex, whose staff, through a change in legislation in May 2023, can now access all relevant databases.^[102]

Following the results that were considered to have been achieved through the 2023 EU pilot project, Romania continued in 2025 to strengthen its border management capacities and deepen cooperation with both Frontex and Serbian authorities. The Romanian Border Police maintained the strategic approach established during the pilot, including coordinated patrols, real-time data exchange, and targeted risk-based controls at the border with Serbia, which remains a critical area for the EU’s external border policy. In addition, Frontex Standing Corps are present at the Romanian-Serbian border, within the Terra 2023 operational area, using Mobile Surveillance Vehicles.[103]

These developments reflect Romania’s continued alignment with EU priorities on border governance and migration control, and the institutionalization of practices initially introduced under the 2023 pilot.^[104]

As regards border management, among other things, Romania continued to implement a “strategic approach to apprehensions and border controls” with the aim of addressing irregular migration and preventing secondary movements, to ensure a constant level of preparedness at the external borders, and building on the cooperation established between Romania and Frontex in the context of the pilot project and going forward.^[105] In June 2023, FRONTEX launched operation Centurion, as a new pilot project in Romania taking into account the rapidly growing number of officers, the agency considered it needs to take steps to reinforce the command in the field and decentralise some of its activities for better coordination and communication with host country authorities.^[106] According to CNRR, in 2025, in relation to border monitoring and collecting information at the border, the focus has shifted from Romania’s borders with EU Member States (Bulgaria, Hungary) to external borders (Romania’s borders with Serbia, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova). As a result, it has become more difficult to collect information and identify possible fundamental rights violations or at the borders with Bulgaria and Hungary, particularly since the Romanian Border Police’s main priority when migrants are detected at these borders is to apply readmission agreements.[107]

In 2024:

• Romania sustained its role as an active host for the Joint Operation Terra, with deployments covering all external land borders with Serbia, Ukraine, and Moldova.^[108]
• The Commission confirmed ongoing support for Romania’s green border surveillance activities, building on the operational framework established during the pilot phase.^[109]
• FRONTEX operation Centurion, launched in 2023, was further consolidated in 2024 as a mechanism to reinforce field command and improve direct coordination with Romanian border authorities.^[110]
• Legislative reforms enacted in 2023 allowing Frontex officers access to relevant Romanian databases were fully operationalized in 2024, facilitating more effective cooperation on surveillance and return.^[111]
• According to the personnel at Moravita BCP, there are always 2 Frontex border guards that work in shifts with different areas of expertise.^[112]

According to CNRR, these elements, combined with changes in migratory routes, documented practices at the Bulgaria-Turkey border, a more restrictive EU migration and asylum policy, limited possibilities for people to leave areas of persecution, and the systematic use of readmission agreements, have contributed to a decrease in the number of asylum applications in Romania.[113]

Ill-treatment at the border

2025: No publicly available sources reported on systematic ill-treatment at the border.

2024: According to the Border Violence Monitoring Network (via InfoPark), in spring 2024 a man from Kazakhstan reported being physically assaulted by Romanian police before being forcibly returned to Serbia. This represents one of the few documented incidents, and while overall pushback figures are low, the presence of physical violence – including alleged beatings – remains a serious concern.^[114]   

2023: For the year 2023, CNRR^[115] states that, based on discussions its legal counsellors had with asylum applicants, some of them said that they had been hit or had experienced other abusive behaviour on the Romanian territory, for example at border crossings in the western region of Romania. The abuse behaviour described by them consisted in using a high tone of voice, applying strokes (in the abdomen/legs area), not granting permission to use the toilet for a certain period of time. For example, in Timisoara, a Russian citizen, who applied for asylum at the Moravita Border Crossing Point, during the asylum procedure at the border, stated that the Romanian authorities did not show respect towards him, the border police officers displaying a disrespectful attitude.

Most of the incidents related to Romania were reported on by various organisations mainly present in Serbia. KlikAktiv^[116] reported cases of “formalised push-backs” between Romania and Serbia which clearly violated the people’s right to seek asylum and the principle of non-refoulement with deportations of higher numbers of third country nationals, including people seeking international protection, back to Serbia by applying the readmission agreement between the EU and Serbia without an effective assessment of protection needs or asylum claims. One person seeking international protection was deported from Romania to Serbia immediately after he was caught on Romanian territory. Were also documented cases of people transferred back to Romania under Dublin further deported to Serbia based on the readmission agreement. Also, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung^[117] reported that several dozen thousand persons were pushed back from Croatia and Romania.

CNRR received reports from people claiming potential abuses at the border, which were subsequently brought to the attention of the border police. The answer of the authorities to these claims remained limited. For instance, CNRR was not granted access to potential beneficiaries of international protection at Otopeni Airport, despite having notified the relevant authorities of possible rights violations.^[118]

International reactions regarding access to the Romanian territory

In 2023, the UN Committee for the Prevention of Torture^[119] noted that there was a lack of experienced, qualified interpreters to assist in victim identification processes, and in the asylum system more generally and recommended that the authorities ensure access to its territory and sufficient and effective protection from refoulement at borders by making sure that people seeking asylum at the border receive appropriate information about their rights, including information on procedures, appeal mechanisms and legal aid, immediately and in a language that they understand.

In 2022, GREVIO^[120] reported delayed access to legal representatives, NGOs and UNHCR of people apprehended at the border (in some cases, they have received information about people apprehended at the border who may need international protection, only after they had been readmitted to neighbouring countries or denied access to Romanian territory) and asked that the authorities ensure effective provision of accessible, easy-to-understand and gender-sensitive information on protection measures, to persons apprehended at the borders, prior to their application for readmission/return procedures.

According to the European Annual Asylum and Migration Report 2025,[121] Romania recorded one of the highest numbers of refusals of entry at the EU’s external borders. According to data from Eurostat, 10,135 persons were refused entry at Romania’s external borders in 2025.[122] The report highlights that sustained efforts are needed to strengthen the quality and resilience of the Schengen area’s external borders, reflecting continued attention at EU level on border management practices.

In 2025, Romania became a full member of the Schengen area following the decision of the Council of the European Union in December 2024 to lift land border controls as of 1 January 2025.[123] This development marked the completion of a process that lasted more than a decade, during which Romania had been considered technically ready for accession but faced repeated political delays[124]. A first step in the accession process took place in March 2024, when controls at air and maritime borders were lifted, allowing partial integration into the Schengen area.[125] Full accession was achieved only in a second stage, with the removal of controls at land borders as of 1 January 2025, following agreement at EU level.[126] The two-step accession process took place in a broader context at EU level, including discussions on migration management and the strengthening of external border security.[127]

Following the Council Decision of 12 December 2024, checks on persons at the internal land borders with and between Romania and Bulgaria were lifted as of 1 January 2025.[128] The European Commission also welcomed the decision, stating that it would strengthen the Schengen area.[129] In addition, discussions at EU level in the context of the Justice and Home Affairs Council emphasized priorities related to strengthening security and the protection of external borders, as well as the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum.[130] Reactions from Member States were generally supportive but remained linked to concerns regarding migration management and border security. In particular Austria.[131] which had previously blocked Romania’s full accession, lifted its opposition following negotiations at EU level concerning migration and border management.[132]

The bipartite agreement on border monitoring

In Romania there is a framework on border monitoring, which takes place under a bipartite agreement between UNHCR and IGPF. CNRR is UNHCR’s implementing partner as described in the Memorandum of Understanding. The border monitoring activities include formal meetings with the authorities, monitoring missions at border crossing points and public custody centres, and counselling sessions on international protection with people who request assistance at the border.

When carrying out monitoring activities, there were no major obstacles. However, when immediate intervention is needed, the access of the counsellors is delayed by formal notifications and prior approvals. CNRR will have further meetings with the Border Police to discuss a quicker way of accessing persons of concern in urgent cases.

Visits are usually conducted at border crossing points where a relevant number of entries or exits was registered. The number of visits conducted depends on the circumstances, such as the number of arrivals, influx of migrants.

In case of regular monitoring visits, the Border Police is notified in advance. In case of emergency interventions regarding specific asylum cases, the Border Police is notified on the same day or shortly before the visit is conducted.

In 2024, there were 16 monitoring visits at the borders with Ukraine, Moldova, and Bulgaria, as well as in International Airports. The visits were carried out by CNRR, as implementing partner of UNHCR, based on a memorandum of understanding among the three parties.^[133] In addition, Frontex maintained its presence through regular monitoring, conducting more than four to five visits annually to ITPF Timisoara.^[134]

In 2025, border monitoring activities continued, although with some adjustments. According to CNRR and UNHCR, monitoring at border crossing points was carried out mainly through ad hoc or targeted monitoring missions, following the discontinuation of CNRR’s regular presence at most border crossing points in May 2025 due to funding constraints. Nevertheless, monitoring visits continued to be conducted at key locations, including Siret, Sighetu Marmației and Bucharest Otopeni International Airport, and access to border facilities was generally granted by the authorities. Frontex also continued to support Romanian authorities through operational deployments and cooperation activities at the external borders.[135]

Information provision, interpretation at the border and NGO access

Information provision

According to the Asylum Act, if there are elements that indicate that a foreigner intends to apply for international protection in Romania in the context of pre-trial detention or detention facilities, penitentiaries, border crossing points or transit area, the competent authorities for the asylum application provide information on the possibility of submitting the request.^[136]

As regards the information about the possibility to make an asylum application, the Border Police stated that the territorial structures of the Border Police have leaflets in several international languages in circulation, including Arabic, Kurdish, Pashto, and Farsi. The leaflets cover information on the rights and obligations of asylum applicants and information regarding the assistance provided by NGOs.^[137]

The Border Police reported that they provide information both orally and in writing. The available leaflets in English, French, Arabic and different dialects of the Arabic are made by UNHCR. No interpreter is present at the information session.^[138]

In 2025, contact information for referrals is ensured at the border through information boards displaying the contact details of CNRR and UNHCR, which are available at most major border crossing points.[139]

In 2024, CNRR had daily presence in BCPs with Ukraine and Republic of Moldova, namely Sighetu Marmatiei, Siret and Isaccea (with UA) and Sculeni, Albita and Galati (with MD). Information on asylum is available at the BCPs via UNHCR-placed visibility materials. However, given the chosen location of the materials, it is not always accessible to those who may be in need of protection and do not receive access to territory. The information is complemented with CNRR-designed flyers on the asylum procedure, available in 6 languages. Governmental materials on asylum are not available at the BCPs, nor a language-sensitive information.^[140]

In 2023, CNRR reported that, following consultations with UNHCR on the information needs at the border with Ukraine and Moldova, 10,000 leaflets with information on the asylum procedure were drafted and translated into Ukrainian and distributed at border crossing points with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova in order to increase access to accurate information on the RSD procedure. In 2022, leaflets with DOPOMOHA^[141] were distributed by CNRR to the people coming from Ukraine. The leaflet promoted the DOPOMOHA platform which contained official and secure information. It also indicated contact data for all the relevant Romanian authorities.^[142]

CNRR discovered that there were no updated information leaflets on the asylum procedure in other languages. The team started working on a new leaflet on the right to ask for asylum in Romania to disseminate in 2023. Leaflets can only be displayed at border-crossing points with prior approval by the authorities (Border Police). CNRR stated that any person detained at the border for illegal crossing or who presents themselves at a border-crossing point, following hearings by the judicial police officer, is informed that they have the right to make an asylum application. In 2024, CNRR counsellors provide leaflets on the asylum procedure in several languages of interest in Reception centres and detention centres, alongside the videos about the asylum procedure are also displayed in the Regional Centres. Leaflets were distributed at the borders as well in 2024 during the monitoring visits.^[143]  In 2025, according to CNRR, asylum applicants received information on the asylum procedure both from the General Inspectorate for Immigration and from CNRR counsellors. CNRR continued to provide information through leaflets on the asylum procedure in various languages of interest, which were distributed to asylum applicants, as well as through video materials displayed in the Regional Centres.[144]

CNRR counsellors observed that few reports were received regarding the information provision at the Bulgarian, Serbian and Hungarian borders. However, at the Otopeni International Airport, three people reported that they did not have access to information during their detention in the transit area. They also stated that the Border Police officers ignored their requests and did not call interpreters when needed.^[145]

Interpretation

CNRR mentioned that any interview, hearing or investigation made by the authorities (Border Police) is accompanied by an interpreter.

According to CNRR, at the border when a person requests asylum, interpretation is in most cases provided and the procedure is explained verbally by representatives of the Border Police and, when available, by CNRR counsellors.^[146]

The representatives of ITPF Timișoara declared that an interpreter is called when foreigners are apprehended. Foreigners are informed about the right to make an asylum application immediately verbally in English or in writing through FRONTEX leaflets. The Border Police has access to interpreters in all languages spoken by apprehended migrants and in case of need they can contact the embassies for guidance.

According to the Border Police, when an interpreter is not available, they use digital translation devices to communicate with the people apprehended at the border.^[147]

According to UNHCR, in a limited number of cases concerning access to the asylum procedure at the border, the main limitations appeared to relate to language barriers and interpretation challenges. In several cases, local intervention by CNRR and/or UNHCR helped solve the situation. [148]

Access to NGOs

At this stage, NGOs have access to border-crossing points only once third-country nationals have submitted the asylum application. Furthermore, NGOs need to be informed about the migrant’s presence directly by the Border Police, through UNHCR Romania or by the migrant’s family or friends or by him/ herself. Given the Memorandum of Understanding between the UNHCR and the General Inspectorate of the Border Police, the representatives will mutually notify each other when immediate intervention is needed at the border crossing-point/transit area, via telephone/e-mail.^[149]

According to CNRR in 2024 the access to border areas was formally granted by the Border Police to its staff, based on needs, and includes regular access for areas covered by CNRR with daily presence, as well as access-upon-request for other monitoring activities. Given the continuous collaboration with authorities at the border with Ukraine and Republic of Moldova, access is granted without impediments. However, there have been situations where limitations have been imposed, including when requesting to offer counselling on protection procedures, upon beneficiary’s request.^[150]

In 2025, CNRR carried out independent border monitoring through frequent monitoring missions and maintained a daily presence at three strategic border crossing points at the border with Ukraine (Isaccea, Siret and Sighetu Marmației) until May 2025. After that, due to funding constraints, monitoring continued through ad hoc monitoring missions. Throughout 2025, CNRR conducted 15 monitoring missions at the borders with Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria and Hungary, as well as at Otopeni Airport. According to CNRR, no new limitations or obstacles to independent monitoring activities were identified in 2025 compared to previous years. UNHCR also reported that, since May 2025, monitoring was mainly carried out in the form of ad hoc or targeted missions, and that access to border facilities, including airport locations, was granted in practice. [151]

Legal access to the territory

Between 2018 and 2022, Romania resettled refugees primarily from Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon, with quotas varying by year.^[152] In 2023, Romania transferred 154 Syrian refugees – 54 from Turkey, 25 from Jordan, and 78 from Lebanon. These refugees could access Romania’s integration program, which facilitates employment, education, housing, medical care, and social assistance.^[153] Each institutional stakeholder (Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour and Social Justice, Ministry of Health) is responsible for the integration of foreigners in its area of activity; the coordination and monitoring of the policies are the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior through the General Inspectorate for Immigration. The program includes Romanian language courses, cultural orientation, job and education assistance, and psychological support.^[154] For 2024-2025, Romania should have accepted 200 refugees in need of resettlement.^[155] There were no resettlements in 2024.

In September 2025, Government Decision No. 712/2025 amended Article 3¹ of Government Decision No. 1596/2008 on the resettlement of refugees to Romania, introducing a new paragraph (1⁷) setting a quota of 300 refugees to be resettled to Romania during the period 2026–2027.[156] According to the explanatory memorandum, the decision followed the meeting of the Committee for the Resettlement of Refugees in Romania held on 9 May 2025, where the authorities approved the resettlement of refugees, primarily Eritrean, Sudanese and South Sudanese nationals, temporarily present in Egypt and Kenya, in line with identified resettlement needs and relevant EU commitments.[157] The logistical aspects of the resettlement process, including selection missions, transfer and assistance in Romania, are to be supported through national programs funded under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).[158] However, according to information provided by JRS Romania, no resettlement transfers were carried out in 2025.[159]

In view of full accession to the Schengen area, in March 2024, Romania adopted several measures in a speedy procedure (Emergency Ordinance 25/2024) in conjunction with the need to ensure the control of irregular migration and the reduction of secondary movements.^[160] According to the Explanatory Memorandum to the Ordinance, the justification was related also to the full application of the Schengen acquis by Romania involving the need to increase measures to ensure public order and safety, especially in relation to the contingent of 100,000 foreign workers newly admitted to the labour market (in 2024), given that Romania faced a wide range of irregular migration methods, given its geographical position, at the confluence of the East – as the area of departure for migrants, and the West – as the destination area for illegal migration. The main forms of illegal migration identified on the territory of Romania refer to illegal entry into the territory, legal entry and, subsequently, remaining on the territory after the expiry of the term granted by the entry visa, established in the documents abolishing the visa regime or granted by the temporary residence permit, all followed by detection in illegal situations and the imposition of restrictive measures. Some of the foreigners detected in the situations may request a form of international protection on the territory of the state, which leads to the creation of artificial pressure on the national asylum system by delaying or preventing the implementation of the restrictive measures. Therefore, the Ordinance was amended by providing that the measure of revocation of the visa may be ordered by the authorities, inter alia, if the individual employment contract was not concluded within 15 working days from the entry of the foreigner into the territory of Romania or, as the case may be, from obtaining the new employment permit, in the case of a long-stay visa for employment. This shall not be ordered in the situation where the failure to conclude the individual employment contract is due to the fault of the employer (Art. 33 of the Emergency Ordinance 25/2024^[161]).

Romania’s humanitarian response to Gaza

Since late 2024, Romania has continued to respond to the humanitarian consequences of the conflict in the Gaza Strip through a combination of medical evacuation operations, humanitarian assistance, and participation in EU-coordinated mechanisms. The response has primarily focused on the evacuation and treatment of vulnerable civilians, particularly children requiring urgent medical care.[162]

Romania has played an active role in EU-supported medical evacuation (medevac) operations for patients from Gaza. In September 2024, Romania received a first group of patients directly evacuated from the Gaza Strip under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, marking one of the first such operations at European level.[163] The transfer included children in need of urgent medical treatment, accompanied by family members.

Throughout 2025, Romanian authorities continued to organise and participate in repeated MEDEVAC missions in cooperation with the European Commission, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other international partners.[164] These operations were coordinated by the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), with logistical support from the Ministry of National Defence and involvement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[165] By early 2025, several patients evacuated from Gaza were receiving treatment in Romanian hospitals, notably the “Marie Curie” Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children and the “Grigore Alexandrescu” Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children in Bucharest.[166] According to available data, at least 20 patients and their accompanying family members had been transferred to Romania for specialised treatment, the majority being children in need of urgent care.[167]

Medical evacuation operations continued throughout 2025, with multiple humanitarian flights organised by Romanian authorities. These included transfers of children accompanied by relatives, reflecting a sustained commitment to providing life-saving medical care.[168] Romania acted both as a receiving state and as an operational partner within the EU-wide evacuation framework.[169] Romania’s response has been closely linked to European-level coordination mechanisms. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism, activated at the request of WHO, has enabled the transfer of patients from Gaza to European states, including Romania.^[170]

Upon arrival in Romania, evacuated patients and their families have been received by a range of public authorities and institutions. Medical care has been provided within the public healthcare system, while additional support has been ensured through coordination between health authorities, emergency services, and social protection structures.

Beneficiaries of medical evacuation operations have been granted refugee status within a couple of days. This facilitated their inclusion in integration projects funded under national AMIF, enabling access to support measures such as financial assistance, accommodation, Romanian language courses, and other integration services. In practice, however, the situation of these beneficiaries presents significant challenges that go beyond those typically encountered in the integration of people granted international protection. Most cases involve a single adult – often a parent or sometimes another relative – caring for several children. At the same time, in almost every family there is at least one child with a very serious medical condition requiring constant care or repeated hospitalization. This means that the adult is often moving between the hospital and the responsibility of caring for the other children and managing daily needs. In this context, the main challenge is not participation in integration activities, but rather the fact that existing integration projects are not designed to respond to these types of situations. Standard support measures do not fully take into account the level of medical vulnerability, the caregiving burden, and the overall instability affecting these families. As a result, their needs often fall outside the scope of regular integration support.[171]

According to information provided by General Directorate of Social Assistance of the Municipality of Bucharest, in 2025 the institution also provided assistance to persons displaced from the Gaza Strip. 302 individuals received support, including accommodation in dedicated facilities such as the Femina Centre. [172] According to DGASPC Sector 2, among the persons displaced from Gaza assisted in 2025 were 88 children and 33 persons with disabilities. DGASMB also reported the presence of persons with medical or psychosocial needs and victims of trauma among the assisted population.[173]

Beneficiaries received emergency accommodation, daily meals, clothing, hygiene products, as well as information, counselling and emotional support. DGASMB also facilitated access to healthcare services, including medical consultations and treatment, and provided assistance in accessing social services. [174]

In 2025, according to Habitat for Humanity Romania, housing support was provided to 67 refugees from Gaza (51 children and 16 adults) through the allocation of apartments during the period from 1 January to 31 May 2025. During the same initial period (1 January – 31 May 2025), Habitat for Humanity Romania covered utility costs, and, following the handover of certain apartments, financed renovation works, in accordance with contractual arrangements concluded with the parties involved.[175] In March 2025, JRS Romania started assisting refugees from Gaza, through the AMIF project on housing.[176]

^[1] Border Police, ‘Doisprezece migranţi din India şi Pakistan, sprijiniţi de un cetățean român, depistați la granița cu Serbia’, 14 February 2022, available in Romanian here: ‘Doisprezece cetățeni din Afganistan și Pakistan, depistaţi de poliţiştii de frontieră timișeni’, 23 April 2022, available in Romanian here;  Cetățean sârb cercetat în stare de arest preventiv pentru trafic de migranți, 25 November 2022, available in Romanian here.

^[2] Border Police, ‘Cetățean libian, depistat ascuns într-un autocamion la PTF Giurgiu’, 26 January 2022, available in Romanian here; ‘Doi cetățeni străini depistați ascunși în cabina unui autocamion, sub o saltea’, 19 January 2022, available in Romanian here; ‘Un migrant în stare de hipotermie, ascuns pe șasiul unui autocamion, salvat de polițiștii de frontieră doljeni’, 14 February 2022, available in Romanian here; ‘Patru cetățeni afgani ascunși printre covoare, depistați de polițiștii de frontieră doljeni’, 26 March 2022, available in Romanian here; ‘Trei cetăţeni afgani, ascunşi într-un TIR încărcat cu piese auto’, 09 March 2022, available in Romanian here; ‘Cinci cetățeni străini ascunși printre conserve și sucuri, descoperiți în P.T.F. Giurgiu’, 06 June 2022, available in Romanian at here; ‘Șoferul unei autoutilitare arestat preventiv pentru trafic de migranți’, 04 June 2022, available in Romanian here; ‘Doi cetățeni sirieni depistați ascunşi în podeaua unui autoturism la PTF Calafat’, 08 August 2022, available in Romanian here; ‘Șoferul unei autoutilitare cercetat în stare de arest preventiv pentru trafic de migranți’, 19 September 2022, available in Romanian here; ‘Opt cetățeni sirieni, ajutați de doi cetățeni români, descoperiți de polițiștii de frontieră giurgiuveni în timp ce încercau să treacă ilegal frontier’, 26 November 2022, available in Romanian here.

^[3] Border Police, ‘Depistaţi din elicopter când au trecut ilegal frontiera’, 21 April 2022, available in Romanian here.

^[4] Agerpres, ‘O navă s-a scufundat în Marea Neagră, în apropiere de Sf. Gheorghe; opt persoane salvate, trei   dispărute’, 18 May 2024, available in Romanian here.

[5] Romanian Border Police, Activitatea Poliției de Frontieră în 2025 – primele zece luni, available here.

^[6] Information provided by Border Police, 3 March 2021.

^[7] Information provided by CNRR, February 2025.

^[8] Meeting with NGOs during ECRE fact-finding visit to Romania, 17 March 2025.

[9] Information provided by CNRR, 03 February 2026. Information provided by UNHCR, 13 March 2026.

[10] Information provided by UNHCR, 13 March 2026.

^[11] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 18 January 2024.

^[12] Information provided by CNRR, 7 February 2023.

^[13] Information provided by Border Police, 6 April 2023.

^[14] Ibid., 16 January 2024.

^[15] Meeting with the General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPF) during ECRE fact-finding visit to Romania, 18 March 2025.

^[16] Information provided by the Ministry of Interior of Serbia, Department for Readmission, 07–2/25 and 07–34/24, cited in AIDA, Country Report: Serbia – 2024 Update, July 2025, available here.

[17] Most of the 84 persons detected were returned to Serbia under readmission agreements. Romanian Border Police – Territorial Inspectorate Timișoara, Activități pentru prevenirea și combaterea migrației ilegale – 2025, available here.

[18] Romanian Border Police – Territorial Inspectorate Timișoara, Activități pentru prevenirea și combaterea migrației ilegale – 2025, available here.

[19] Romanian Border Police – Territorial Inspectorate Sighetu Marmației, Analiza activității 2025, available here.

[20] Information provided by IGPF, 09 March 2026. See Romanian Border Police – Territorial Inspectorate Timișoara, Activități pentru prevenirea și combaterea migrației ilegale – 2025, available here.

^[21] Romanian Border Police, Evaluarea activităţii Poliţiei de Frontieră Române desfășurate în anul 2024, 19 February 2025, available here.

^[22] Meeting with IGPF during ECRE fact-finding visit to Romania, 18 March 2025.

[23] Information provided by IGPF, 09 March 2026.

^[24] Romanian Border Police, ‘Analiza activității Poliției de Frontieră Române pe anul 2023’, 13 February 2024, available in Romanian here.

^[25] Romanian Border Police, Evaluarea activităţii Poliţiei de Frontieră Române desfășurate în anul 2024, 19 February 2025, available here.

^[26] ibid.

^[27] ibid.

[28] Romanian Border Police, Evaluarea activităţii Inspectoratului Teritorial al Poliției de Frontieră Timișoara pe anul 2025, 26 February 2025, available here.

^[29] Meeting with ITPF Timisoara during ECRE fact-finding visit to Romania, 20 March 2025.

^[30] ibid.

^[31] ibid.

[32] Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), Evaluation Report Romania, Fourth Evaluation Round, Measures to prevent and detect vulnerabilities, to human trafficking, published on 12 November 2025, available here.

^[33] Romanian Border Police, Evaluarea activităţii Poliţiei de Frontieră Române desfășurate în anul 2024, 19 February 2025, available here. However, according to the General Inspectorate for Immigration, a number of 4.507 Ukrainian citizens have been registered as asylum-seekers in Romania between 24 February 2022 and 31 December 2024, available here.  

^[34] The information is based on the Romanian Border Police’s official 2024 activity report. For detailed data and context, see the Evaluation of the Activities of the Romanian Border Police in 2024 (March 19, 2025), Available here.

^[35] Romanian Border Police, Evaluarea activităţii Poliţiei de Frontieră Române desfășurate în anul 2024, 19 February 2025, available here.

^[36] ibid.

[37] Information provided by IGPF, 09 March 2026.

[38] Romanian Border Police – Territorial Inspectorate Timișoara, Activități pentru prevenirea și combaterea migrației ilegale – 2025, available here. Romanian Border Police – Territorial Inspectorate Sighetu Marmației, Analiza activității Inspectoratului Teritorial al Poliției de Frontieră Sighetu Marmației pe anul 2025, available here.

^[39] Information provided by Border Police, 16 January 2024

^[40] Ministry of Internal Affairs, ‘Main results of the activities carried out by MAI structures in 2023 for crime prevention and combating, as well as citizen protection’, available in Romanian here.

^[41] Timisoara Border Police Territorial Inspectorate, Evaluarea activității Inspectoratului Teritorial al Poliției de Frontieră Timișoara pe anul 2024, 20 Feburary 2025, available here.

[42] Romanian Border Police, Evaluarea activităţii Inspectoratului Teritorial al Poliției de Frontieră Timișoara pe anul 2025, 26 February 2026, available here.

[43] Romanian Border Police, Bilanțul Poliției de Frontieră pentru anul 2025, available here.

^[44] Romanian Border Police, Evaluarea activităţii Inspectoratului Teritorial al Poliției de Frontieră Timișoara pe anul 2025, 26 February 2026, available here.

^[45] ibid.

[46] ibid.

^[47]  ibid.

[48] ITPF Timisoara, Evaluation of the activity of the Timișoara Border Police Territorial Inspectorate for 2025, published on 26 February 2026, available only in RO here.

[49] Eurostat, Third country nationals refused entry at the external borders – annual data (rounded), available here.

^[50] The information is based on the Romanian Border Police’s official 2024 activity report. For detailed data and context, see the Evaluation of the Activities of the Romanian Border Police in 2024 (March 19, 2025), Available here.

^[51] ibid.

[52] Eurostat, Third country nationals refused entry at the external borders – annual data (rounded), available here.

^[53] Timisoara Border Police Territorial Inspectorate, Evaluarea activității Inspectoratului Teritorial al Poliției de Frontieră Timișoara pe anul 2024, 20 Feburary 2025, available here. 

^[54] Romanian Border Police, Evaluarea activităţii Poliţiei de Frontieră Române desfășurate în anul 2024, 19 February 2025, available here.

^[55] Meeting with the General Inspectorate of the Border Police during ECRE fact-finding visit to Romania, 18 March 2025. See also: ECRE/AIDA, Country Report on Serbia – Update on 2024, July 2025, available here.

^[56] Pushed, beaten, left to die, European Pushback Report 2024, February 2025, available here.

[57] Romanian Border Police, Evaluarea activităţii Inspectoratului Teritorial al Poliției de Frontieră Timișoara pe anul 2025, 26 February 2025, available here.

^[58] Article 8(4) Aliens Act.

^[59] Information provided by Border Police, 12 February 2020.

^[60] Act 554/2004 on Administrative Litigation.

^[61] ibid. Articles 6-18.

^[62] ibid. Article 7(1).

^[63] ibid. Article 7(4) in conjunction with Article 2(1) g).

^[64] ibid. Article 14.

^[65] ibid. Article 15.

^[66] Article 9(1) Aliens Act.

^[67] ibid. Article 9(2).

^[68] ibid. Article 9(3).

^[69] ibid. Article 9(5).

^[70] ibid. Article 9(6).

^[71] ibid. Article 9(7).

^[72] ibid. Article 9(8).

^[73] BVMN, Balkan Regional Report, May 2024, available here.

^[74]  Meeting with UNHCR during ECRE fact-finding visit to Romania, 19 March 2025.

^[75] US Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Romania, April 2024, available here. 

^[76] CNRR, Input by civil society organisations to the Asylum Report 2024, 2023, available here.

^[77] Meeting with the General Inspectorate of the Border Police during ECRE fact-finding visit to Romania, 18 March 2025; Art. 87 Asylum Act.

^[78] ibid.

^[79] ibid.

[80] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 02 March 2026.

^[81] Information provided by the Border Police, 16 January 2024.

^[82] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 23 January 2025.

^[83] ibid.

[84] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 02 March 2026.

[85] Information provided by CNRR, 03 February 2026.

[86] Information provided by UNHCR, 13 March 2026.

^[87] Article 11 Asylum Act.

^[88] Article 262(1) Criminal Code.

[89] Information provided by IGPF, 09 March 2026.

[90] Romanian Border Police, Evaluarea activităţii Inspectoratului Teritorial al Poliției de Frontieră Timișoara pe anul 2025, 26 February 2025, available here.

^[91] Romanian Border Police, Evaluarea activităţii Poliţiei de Frontieră Române desfășurate în anul 2024, 19 February 2025, available here.

^[92] The information is based on the Romanian Border Police’s official 2024 activity report. For detailed data and context, see the Evaluation of the Activities of the Romanian Border Police in 2024 (March 19, 2025)

[93] Romanian Border Police – Territorial Inspectorate Timișoara, Activități pentru prevenirea și combaterea migrației ilegale – 2025, available here.

[94] Romanian Border Police, Bilanțul Poliției de Frontieră pentru anul 2025 and regional activity reports, available here.

^[95] The information is based on the Romanian Border Police’s official 2024 activity report. For detailed data and context, see the Evaluation of the Activities of the Romanian Border Police in 2024 (March 19, 2025), available here.

^[96] Romanian Border Police, Evaluarea activităţii Poliţiei de Frontieră Române desfășurate în anul 2024, 19 February 2025, available here.

^[97] Meeting with the General Inspectorate of the Border Police during ECRE fact-finding visit to Romania, 18 March 2025.

[98] Romanian Border Police – Territorial Inspectorate Timișoara, Activități pentru prevenirea și combaterea migrației ilegale – 2025, available here.

[99] Information provided by CNRR, 03 February 2026.

^[100] European Commission, Reporting on progress made the Pilot Project for fast asylum and return procedures with Romania, October 2023, available here.

^[101] ibid.

^[102] Presentation by the Head of Risk Analysis Department, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Romania, in Panel 3, ‘A new system for the border’, at the EMN Belgium Presidency Conference, 25 June 2023, video available here.

[103] Information provided by CNRR, 03 February 2026.

^[104] The information is based on the Romanian Border Police’s official 2024 activity report. For detailed data and context, see the Evaluation of the Activities of the Romanian Border Police in 2024 (March 19, 2025)

^[105] European Commission, Cooperation framework between the European Commission, the EU Agencies and Romania, 2023, available here.

^[106] FRONTEX, ‘Frontex launches new pilot project in Romania’, 18 June 2023, available here. 

[107] Information provided by CNRR, 03 February 2026.

^[108] The information is based on the Romanian Border Police’s official 2024 activity report. For detailed data and context, see the Evaluation of the Activities of the Romanian Border Police in 2024 (March 19, 2025), available here.

^[109] ibid.

^[110] ibid.

^[111] ibid.

^[112] Meeting with the Border Police at Moravita BCP, 21 March 2025.

[113] Information provided by CNRR, 03 February 2026.

^[114] As documented in the Border Violence Monitoring Network’s May 2024 report, a Kazakh national reported being physically assaulted by Romanian police before being forcibly returned to Serbia, available here.

^[115] Information provided by CNRR, 16 January 2024.

^[116] KlikAktiv, Pro Asyl (Network of German refugee councils), Formalizing Pushbacks – The use of readmission agreements in pushback operations at the Serbian-Romanian border, 2023, available here.  

^[117] Nikola Kovačević, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, Human Rights Pushbacks in the Western Balkans, December 2023, available here. 

^[118] CNRR, Input by civil society organisations to the Asylum Report 2024, 2023, available here.

^[119] UN committee for the Prevention of Torture, CAT/C/ROU/CO/3/23.08.2023, Concluding observations on the third periodic report of Romania, August 2023, available here. 

^[120] Council of Europe GREVIO Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, Baseline Evaluation Report Romania [GREVIO/Inf(2022)6], June 2022, available here.

[121] See here. See also here.

[122] Eurostat Database, Third country nationals refused entry at the external borders – annual data, available here.

[123] Council of the European Union, Schengen: Council decides to lift land border controls with Bulgaria and Romania, 12 December 2024, available at here.

[124] European Commission, Schengen area: Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia, Press release IP/22/6945, 16 November 2022, available here.

[125] European Commission, Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen area, 3 January 2025, available here.

[126] Council of the European Union, Schengen: Council decides to lift land border controls with Bulgaria and Romania, 12 December 2024, available at here.

[127] European Commission, Bulgaria and Romania partially join Schengen area, Press release IP/24/1283, 30 December 2023, available here.

[128] Council of the European Union, Schengen: Council decides to lift land border controls with Bulgaria and Romania, 12 December 2024, available here.

[129] European Commission, Bulgaria and Romania become fully part of Schengen, Statement, 11 December 2024, available here.

[130] European Commission, Justice and Home Affairs Council: Bulgaria and Romania becoming fully part of Schengen, 13 December 2024, available here.

[131] Euronews, Austria lifts veto on Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria, November 2024, available here.

[132] Reuters, Austria drops opposition to Romania and Bulgaria joining Schengen, 2024, available here.

^[133] UNHCR, CNRR and IGPF. Information provided by CNRR, February 2025.

^[134] Meeting with ITPF Timisoara, 20 March 2025.

[135] Information provided by CNRR, 03 February 2026 and UNHCR, 13 March 2026.

^[136] Article 35^1 Asylum Act.

^[137] Information provided by Border Police, 2 March 2022.

^[138] ibid., 6 April 2023.

[139] Information provided by CNRR, 03 February 2026 and UNHCR, 13 March 2026.

^[140] ibid., February 2025.

^[141] DOPOMOHA (means help in Ukrainian) is a web support and information platform for migrants fleeing the war in Ukraine. It is a project created by Code for Romania in partnership with the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), The UN Refugee Agency, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the National Romanian Council for Refugees (CNRR), more information is available on the website here.

^[142] Information provided by CNRR, 7 February 2023.

^[143] ibid., February 2025.

[144] Information provided by CNRR, 03 February 2026

^[145] ibid., 7 February 2023.

^[146] ibid. Confirmed in April 2026.

^[147] Meeting with the General Inspectorate of the Border Police during ECRE fact-finding visit to Romania, 18 March 2025.

[148] Information provided by CNRR, 03 February 2026 and UNHCR, 13 March 2026.

^[149] Meeting with the General Inspectorate of the Border Police during ECRE fact-finding visit to Romania, 18 March 2025.

^[150] Information provided by CNRR, February 2025.

[151] ibid., 03 February 2026 and UNHCR, 13 March 2026.

^[152] IGI-DAI, Annual Activity Report of 2019, available in Romanian here. Information provided by IGI-DAI, 20 February 2020. Information provided by IGI-DAI, 16 February 2021. Information provided by IGI-DAI, 11 March 2022. Information provided by IGI-DAI, 22 February 2023.

^[153] Article 20 Asylum Act.

^[154] Information provided by the IGI-DAI, 18 January 2024.

^[155] DECISION no. 87 of 8 February 2024 to supplement art. 3^1 of Government Decision no. 1596/2008 on the resettlement of refugees in Romania, available here.

[156] Government of Romania, H.G. nr. 712/2025 pentru completarea art. 3¹ din Hotărârea Guvernului nr. 1.596/2008 privind relocarea refugiaților în România

[157] Government of Romania, Nota de fundamentare a H.G. nr. 712/04.09.2025, available here.

[158] ibid.

[159] Information provided by JRS Romania, April 2026.

^[160] Substantiation Note of the Emergency Ordinance 25/21.03.2024 for the amendment and completion of certain normative acts in the field of foreigners and the border, available here.

^[161] Emergency Ordinance 25/21.03.2024 for the amendment and completion of certain normative acts in the field of foreigners and the border, available here.

[162] Ministry of External Affairs, see: https://www.mae.ro/node/65872 and https://www.mae.ro/node/67126.

[163] European Commission, EU facilitates new medical evacuation operation directly from Gaza, 1 October 2024, available here.

[164] Ministry of External Affairs, see: https://www.mae.ro/node/67126.

[165] See: https://www.dsu.mai.gov.ro/comunicate-oficiale/1120

[166] Agerpres, Patients from Gaza treated in children’s hospitals in Bucharest, 16 January 2025, available here.

[167] World Health Organization (WHO), Saving lives: transportation of patients from Gaza – perspectives from Romania, March 2025, available here.

[168] Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), Humanitarian flights from Gaza, 2025 (e.g. September and October 2025 operations). https://mae.ro/node/67674

[169] See for instance, see: Digi24, Zece pacienți palestinieni și 28 de membri ai familiilor, aduși în România cu o aeronavă militară. Unii vor fi transferați în Belgia, September 2025, available here.

[170] European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, Palestine, available here.

[171] Information provided by JRS Romania, April 2026.

[172] Information provided by DGASMB, 16 February 2026.

[173] Information provided by DGASPC Sector 2, 13 February 2026.

[174] Information provided by DGASMB, 16 February 2026.

[175] Information provided by Habitat for Humanity Romania, 3 February 2026.

[176] Information provided by JRS Romania, April 2026.