Foreign nationals who wish to immigrate to Romania need to observe the entry requirements, as well as the conditions for obtaining the long-term residence permit. Our immigration lawyer in Romania offers personalized assistance, according to the purpose of the stay, for all foreign nationals.
Quick Facts
Entry visa requirement (from EU) (YES/NO)
No
Entry visa requirement (outside EU) (YES/NO)
Yes, with some exceptions (Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, etc.)
Types of visas available
Short-term visa (tourism, medical tourism, sports, business, cultural activities);
Long-term visa (employment, study, business, family reunification).
Time frame for obtaining work visa (approx.)
30 working days or more
Validity of temporary residence permit
5 years in most cases
Temporary residence permit renewal requirements
The renewal is to be submitted at least 30 days before the initial permit's expiry date.
Documents for obtaining a residence permit
Application form, identification document, proof of medical insurance, accommodation and of financial means, proof of family ties (for family reunification purposes), and other permit-specific documents, as may be required.
Time frame for obtaining permanent residence (approx.)
30 days after the submission of the request.
One can apply for permanent residence after 5 years of lawful stay under a temporary residence permit.
Investor Visa availability
Yes, for foreign investors who will engage in economic and commercial activities (subject to conditions).
Start-up Visa Scheme availability (YES/NO)
There is no current start-up visa scheme applicable in Romania.
Sponsorship requirement (YES/NO)
No
Time frame for obtaining citizenship
Lawful and permanent stay in Romania for at least 8 years; alternatively, 5 years after marriage to a Romanian citizen.
Citizenship by naturalization applications usually have a processing time of 6 months.
Citizenship/Residency by investment scheme availability (YES/NO)
No
Taxation of foreign citizens
Tax residents are subject to taxation on their worldwide income; non-residents for taxation purposes are taxed only on their income derived from Romania.
Tax benefits for expats
No special tax benefits apply.
Invitation required (YES/NO)
YES, for certain countries for the short-term visa
Invitation approval
within 45 days of submission (approx.)
Duration of short-term visa (type C)
maximum of 90 days within 6 months, non-extendable
Duration of long-term visa (type D)
maximum of 90 days within 6 months, extended by obtaining a residence permit
Categories not eligible for long-term residence in Romania
Those with:
- temporary residence permit for studying,
- asylum and temporary humanitarian protection,
- short-stay diplomatic purposes,
- seasonal or au pair jobs.
Dual citizenship allowed (YES/NO)
YES
Family reunification for foreigners residing in Romania
Can bring their spouse, minor children and dependents.
Can foreigners buy property (YES/NO)
YES, with restrictions to agricultural land
Citizenship by naturalization
- continuously live for 8/5 years in Romania,
- pass Romanian language/culture test,
- have no criminal convictions,
- show means of support,
- swear allegiance to Romania.
Who can obtain Romanian citizenship by descent
Descendants of individuals who voluntarily gave up their citizenship during the 20th century or earlier;
Descendants of individuals who lost their citizenship due to involuntary border changes.
Criteria for Digital Nomad Visa
Work remotely for a foreign company for at least 3 years and have an income of at least 3 times the average gross monthly salary in Romania.
Documents needed for the Digital Nomad Visa
- proof of income,
- proof of remote work,
- employer company documents,
- letter of intent,
- medical insurance,
- travel ticket,
- criminal record, etc.
Special purposes for immigrating to Romania (visa D/AS)
- managing a company,
- unremunerated training,
- volunteering,
- long-term medical treatment
Benefits of immigrating in Romania
- EU benefits,
- affordable cost of living,
- job opportunities,
- diverse study programs,
- business investments, etc.
Why choose our immigration lawyers
- personalized services,
- experts in complex cases,
- full support,
- efficient visa application processes,
- affordable prices, etc.
Our Romanian law firm provides assistance and representation in a wide range of immigration matters related to:
short-stay visa;
long-stay visa;
long-stay residence permit in Romania;
business visa;
digital nomad visa;
Romanian citizenship.
Short-term stays in Romania are visa-free in Romania for EU/EEA citizens, as well as citizens of Canada, Israel, Japan, the United States of America and other countries. If you want to relocate to Romania, however, applying for a long-term residence permit becomes mandatory for purposes involving employment, business, or family reunification. Discussing the mandatory steps before arrival to the country is advisable in all cases for those who wish to move to Romania.
Please do not hesitate to contact our team of English-speaking immigration lawyers as soon as you need clarifications or assistance.
Our immigration lawyers assist all foreign nationals who are eligible and ready to apply for citizenship in Romania. Gaining this status is possible by request, through the process of naturalization (also referred to as application). For this to be possible, the candidate needs to have lawfully resided in the country for at least 8 years at the time of the application. In some cases, this period is shorter and our team can detail these situations.
CONDITIONS FOR THOSE WHO IMMIGRATE TO ROMANIA
The Romanian Immigration Law outlines the conditions applicable for the entry, stay and exit from the Romanian territory by foreign citizens, as well as their rights and obligations.
As previously mentioned, the need to apply for a visa for entry purposes depends on nationality, with EU / EEA / Swiss Confederation citizens being able to enter the country without the need for a visa for short-term stays.
When EU/EEA citizens wish to remain in the country for more than three months, they are also required to register for residency purposes with the authorities. Remaining in Romanian for long-term purposes is subject to a set of rules and a foreign national entering the country on a visa will need to apply for a resident permit in Romania before the expiry of the visa stay period. Our team can give you complete details about the documents that are submitted for this purposes with the General Inspectorate for Immigration.
Under law, a foreign national is also an individual without are represented by people who do not have Romanian citizenship or nationality of another Member State of the European Union, the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation.
Below, you can find out more information about the short-term visa, as well as the long-term visa suitable for those who wish to immigrate to Romania.
THE SHORT-STAY VISA
Foreigners wishing to travel to Romania for a short period of time may require the entry in Romania for reasons other than immigration, with the right to an uninterrupted stay or stays not exceeding a period of 90 days, during any 180 days prior to each day of stay in Romania.
The short-stay visa can be issued with one or more trips and is granted on condition of the fulfillment of several criteria established by law.
Examples of short-term visas include those for short-term study purposes, for seasonal work or work as an au pair, along with short-term business visas.
LONG-TERM STAY IN ROMANIA
Foreigners can be granted the right to long term stay in Romania both as a family member of a Romanian citizen, and for other purposes.
Citizens of a non-EU/EEA member state who wish to enter and remain in the country for a longer period can apply for a long-term residence permit in Romania.
The following purposes are taken into consideration for long-term residence:
The long-term right of residence is not awarded in case of those who have obtained a temporary right of residence for study purposes.
If you wish to relocate to Romania permanently following your studies, our immigration lawyers can give you more details about your options.
Our attorneys are fully committed to each step of the way, making your transition a smooth process so you can focus on the reason for your long term stay in Romania.
Family reunification is an important aspect of the Romanian immigration law, and the Romanian legislation clearly and unequivocally defines the terms under which a person can achieve reunification by third country nationals or Romanian citizens, all the same regulating the steps to be taken in order to obtain the permit and visa required under these circumstances.
The long-term residence permit is valid for 10 years, if you are a family member of a Romanian citizen and 5 years if your stay in Romania is motivated by other purposes, such as those listed above.
In order to be able to immigrate to Romania, a foreign national will need to apply for permanent residence once he or she has lived uninterruptedly for at least 5 years in the country, based on a temporary residence permit (allowing for long-term stays).
In order to be eligible for permanent residency, the applicant cannot have accumulated more than 10 months of absence from the country during the 5-year period (nor more than 6 consecutive months).
The following documents are required for permanent residency applications:
- the filled-in application form;
- passport or other travel document (original and duplicate);
- proof of accommodation;
- proof of social health insurance;
- proof of financial means;
criminal record and civil status documents, if applicable.
The authorities reserve the right to ask the applicant for additional documents.
The following fees and usual processing times apply in case of permanent residence applications:
- 259 RON for the residence permit in case of a family member of a Romanian citizen;
- 128 RON for the application for the residence permit and 259 RON for the residence permit for those who are not family members of Romanian citizens;
- The processing time can be 6 months, during which time the foreign national needs to have a valid residence permit.
Please keep in mind that these fees can be subject to change.
The holder of a long-term stay visa for Romania has the same rights as a Romanian citizen in terms of:
- access to the labor market;
- education and training;
- security and social protection;
- healthcare and social care;
- deductions of taxes;
- access to public goods and services.
Our immigration lawyer in Romania can give you more details about these rights, as well as one’s duties whilst living, working or doing business in the country.
ASSISTANCE FOR PREPARING THE VISA APPLICATION
When applying for one of the types of visas described above, our immigration lawyer in Romania assigned to your case will make sure that your application documents are submitted in the correct format.
The visa application process is one based on a number of key documents, all of which need to be translated into Romanian by a sworn translator and, in some cases, even notarized.
Those who wish to move to Romania from an EU or non-EU country will need to prepare their application for a long-term visa, the one suitable for lengthy stays and, ultimately, for immigration purposes.
The required documents differ according to the purpose of the visa. Below, our team highlights the documents required for a work visa:
If you wish to relocate to Romania for investment purposes, either in real estate or for the purpose of opening a company in various business fields, our immigration lawyers can answer specific questions. We also invite you to watch a short video about the general process of relocation to Romania:
OUR TEAM
The lawyers specializing in immigration matters at Darie, Manea & Associates law firm are dedicated to providing complete services to foreign nationals.
We understand that visa applications can be a rigorous process, given the multitude of terms and conditions that must be met, especially when the applicant is not familiar with the Romanian and European procedures and laws.
Our specialists make sure that our clients understand all the steps for obtaining the necessary permits, and we provide legal counsel on the conditions, rights and obligations, as stipulated by the law in force.
Our lawyers will provide specialized legal advice tailored to each client’s particularities, as well as representation before competent authorities.
With our help, foreign national are able to relocate to Romania knowing that they are in full compliance with the immigration legislation.
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU
Marcela Manea is one of the managing partners of Darie, Manea & Associates law firm, and has been a legal practitioner for more than 10 years.
Although Mrs. Manea has extensive experience in many areas of the law, she remains passionate about the Romanian immigration law, a particular area of law in which she is continues to provide counsel and successfully solve numerous cases.
Mrs. Manea, as well as all our other immigration lawyers at Darie, Manea & Associates, finds motivation in our clients’ satisfaction, when they are able to obtain their visa and can enjoy their stay in Romania.
If you want to move to Romania for short or long-term purposes, do not hesitate to contact us for legal advice.
An immigration lawyer in Romania from our team will be assigned to your case and will handle all the necessary formalities so that you can focus on the purpose of your stay in the country.
