Do Hong Kong passport holders need a visa to visit RO?

No visa needed. Hong Kong SAR ordinary passport holders may enter Romania visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period as a Schengen short stay. ETIAS is not yet required as of 31 May 2026. Holders of an ordinary Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport do not need a visa to visit Romania for tourism or other short stays. Romania is a member of the Schengen Area (it became a full Schengen member, including land and sea borders, on 1 January 2025; air and sea controls were lifted on 31 March 2024). HKSAR passport holders are on the EU's visa-exempt list and may stay up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the entire Schengen Area for tourism, business, family visits or transit. Travelers should count cumulative days across all Schengen states, not just Romania. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will eventually apply to HKSAR travelers, but as of 31 May 2026 it is NOT yet operational: the EU expects ETIAS to launch in the last quarter of 2026, with a transitional grace period before it becomes mandatory in 2027. Until then, no pre-travel authorization is required, though the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric registration is being phased in at external borders. At the border, travelers must show a passport valid at least three months beyond the intended departure and have at least three months unexpired validity, proof of onward/return travel, accommodation, and sufficient funds. Always confirm current rules close to departure, as ETIAS/EES dates may change.