smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
Romania
| Romania overall | This Advice is current for Saturday, 13 March 2010. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. The overall level of the advice has not changed.
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Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
You should avoid protests and demonstrations as they may turn violent.
The incidence of violent crime is low, but victims of street crime are sometimes harmed. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, is common, particularly near hotels, on public transport and in train stations. Criminals are known to target foreigners. We recommend that you do not walk alone after dark. Thefts from hotel rooms are common. Financial and internet scams, and credit card and ATM fraud are also prevalent.
There have been reports of travellers being robbed by off-duty policemen or individuals posing as policemen.
While major city streets and inter-city highways are generally in good condition, most roads are poorly maintained, badly lit and narrow. Additional hazards include poor driving standards, wandering livestock and horse-drawn carts. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.
Traffic laws are strictly enforced and police conduct frequent checks. It is essential you observe road rules, including displaying valid highway road-toll stickers.
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.
Romania is subject to earthquakes. While serious earthquakes are rare, earth tremors are common. Information on natural disasters can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas.
Romania is predominantly a cash economy, although the use of credit/debit cards is increasing. It is illegal to change money on the streets.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling Parents brochure.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
When you are in Romania, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
You are required to carry your passport, with appropriate registration (see below), at all times. Photocopies are not acceptable.
There is a zero blood alcohol limit for driving. Penalties for drink driving range from loss of licence and a fine to a prison sentence of one to five years.
Possession or trafficking of drugs can result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
You should avoid taking photographs of military establishments.
Homosexual activity is not illegal but is not widely accepted in Romanian society. Prostitution is illegal both for homosexual and heterosexual acts.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
Romania recognises dual nationality.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Romania for the most up to date information.
Foreign currency in excess of EUR10,000 must be declared to customs officials when entering Romania in order to obtain a declaration receipt. The receipt must be presented on departure. Failure to comply may result in confiscation of the currency.
All foreigners are required to register their place of residence with the local Ministry of Interior Office. Registration is included in the check-in procedure when staying at a hotel. If staying with family or friends, registration should be undertaken at the nearest police station within three days of arrival.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 has spread throughout the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) provides useful information for individuals and travellers on its website. For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our Travelling Well brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
Medical facilities are generally below western standards and the availability of medical supplies is limited, particularly outside major cities. Treatment can be expensive and up-front payment is often required. A list of hospitals which meet western standards and suitable physicians is available from the Australian Embassy in Belgrade. In the case of serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to London or Vienna may be required. Medical evacuation costs could be considerable.
Romania has three decompression chambers, all located in the port city of Constanta on the Black Sea coast.
Rabies is endemic in Romania. Feral dogs roam city streets, often in packs, and can be vicious. Dog attacks are not uncommon. You should seek medical help immediately if bitten.
Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including tuberculosis, typhoid, measles and hepatitis) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We recommend that you avoid raw and undercooked food. In rural areas, it is recommended that all drinking water be boiled or that you drink bottled water, and that you avoid ice cubes. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
Travel in forested areas brings the risk of exposure to tick-borne encephalitis. Ticks are very common in country areas and are active from spring to autumn.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
The Australian Consulate in Bucharest will be closed from 1 October 2009 until further notice.
You can obtain full consular assistance from the nearest Australian Embassy which is in Belgrade, Serbia. Contact details are:
Australian Embassy
8th Floor
Vladimira Popovica 38-40
11070 New Belgrade
Belgrade Serbia
Telephone (381 11) 330 3400
www.serbia.embassy.gov.au
belgrade.embassy@dfat.gov.au
If you are travelling to Romania, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the above missions, you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
