Do Bulgaria and Romania Count Toward Schengen 90/180?

Yes. Bulgaria and Romania now count toward Schengen 90/180 short-stay day counting.

The European Commission says Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen Area on January 1, 2025. The Commission also says the Schengen Area now has 29 countries.

Short answer: if you are planning current Schengen short stays, treat Bulgaria and Romania as Schengen countries from January 1, 2025 onward. Do not group them with Cyprus or Ireland.

Jetseen helps you track days - always consult a qualified tax, legal, or immigration professional for advice specific to your situation.

What changed on January 1, 2025?

The European Commission says Bulgaria and Romania became full Schengen members on January 1, 2025 after checks at internal land borders were lifted.

The Commission's Schengen Area page says Bulgaria and Romania were the last countries to join on January 1, 2025.

That date is the anchor for this guide. It is why older travel advice about Bulgaria or Romania can now be misleading if it was written before full Schengen integration.

Do Bulgaria days count toward Schengen 90/180 now?

Yes, for current short-stay planning.

Because Bulgaria is now part of the Schengen Area, Bulgaria days belong in the same Schengen 90/180 rolling-window record as France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Spain, and the other Schengen countries.

Do not treat a Bulgaria trip as a break that resets the Schengen clock.

Do Romania days count toward Schengen 90/180 now?

Yes, for current short-stay planning.

Romania is also part of the Schengen Area from January 1, 2025. Romania days should be tracked as Schengen days for the same rolling 90/180 short-stay calculation.

Do not treat Romania as a separate non-Schengen waiting room for current 90/180 planning.

How does the 90/180 count work?

The European Commission short-stay calculator page says visitors to Schengen are usually allowed a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period.

The same page says you count back 180 days from each day of stay and check that the total does not exceed 90.

That means the window moves every day. It is not a calendar-half-year rule, and leaving Schengen does not wipe old days away. Older days fall out of the 180-day window one day at a time.

Example: mixed Bulgaria, Romania, and Schengen travel

Imagine this current itinerary:

Trip	How to treat it now
20 days in Bulgaria	Count as Schengen days
15 days in Romania	Count as Schengen days
30 days in Italy	Count as Schengen days
10 days in Germany	Count as Schengen days

That is 75 Schengen days in the relevant rolling-window record, subject to the exact entry and exit dates.

This example is only a recordkeeping illustration. Always calculate from the exact dates, because a rolling 180-day window can change the answer depending on when each stay happened.

What about Cyprus and Ireland?

Do not group Cyprus or Ireland with Bulgaria and Romania.

The European Commission short-stay calculator page says Cyprus and Ireland are not part of the Schengen Area.

That is the contrast:

Country	Current Schengen 90/180 treatment in this guide
Bulgaria	Count as Schengen from January 1, 2025 onward
Romania	Count as Schengen from January 1, 2025 onward
Cyprus	Do not group with Bulgaria/Romania as Schengen Area days under the Commission calculator source
Ireland	Not part of the Schengen Area

If your route mixes all four countries, keep separate records and check official sources before planning near a limit.

Should you enter Bulgaria and Romania in the EU short-stay calculator?

For current short-stay Schengen planning, yes. Bulgaria and Romania are now Schengen countries under the European Commission source base used for this guide.

Keep the calculation narrow:

• exact arrival date
• exact departure date
• country visited
• whether the stay was a short stay
• any long-stay visa or residence-permit status, if relevant
• planned future Schengen trips

This guide does not cover EES records, residence permits, penalties, or pre-2025 date splits. Those need separate sourcing.

What should you avoid assuming?

Avoid these mistakes:

• "Bulgaria resets my Schengen days."
• "Romania resets my Schengen days."
• "Cyprus counts the same way as Bulgaria and Romania."
• "A Schengen calculator can see my official EU records."
• "A trip label is enough without exact dates."

The useful habit is simple: keep all current Schengen countries in one 90/180 record and calculate from exact dates.

Where Jetseen fits

Jetseen includes Schengen 90/180 tracking, trip records, trip simulation, alerts, and CSV export.

A practical setup:

• use the built-in Schengen tracker for Bulgaria, Romania, and other Schengen countries
• log every entry and exit date
• simulate future Bulgaria or Romania trips before booking
• keep Cyprus and Ireland records separate from Schengen short-stay tracking
• export CSV records for personal or advisor review

Jetseen can help model Schengen days from your own trip log. It does not access official EU or EES records, grant permission to stay, or replace immigration advice.

If Bulgaria or Romania is part of your Europe route, Try Jetseen Free for 14 Days and keep your Schengen 90/180 count visible before you travel.

Jetseen helps you track days - always consult a qualified tax, legal, or immigration professional for advice specific to your situation.

Sources

• European Commission: Schengen area
• European Commission: Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen Area
• European Commission: Short-stay calculator