Thanks to a Dec. 10 decision by the European Council, Bulgaria and Romania will become part of Europe's Schengen Area in January.
Land border controls with the two countries will be eliminated, when both destinations join the 29 members of the passport-free travel area.
Currently, the Schengen area includes most European Union countries, with the exception of Cyprus and Ireland.
Travelers from North America should ensure that their passports are valid for at least six months at the time of entry, even if transiting through Canada or the United Kingdom.