Romania – Residency

What types of residency are available to foreign nationals in Romania?

Romania’s approach to residency is split into two principal tracks determined by the applicant’s nationality. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals benefit from freedom of movement and, for stays extending beyond 90 days, are required to register with the General Inspectorate for Immigration to obtain a Registration Certificate. Non-EU nationals face a more structured journey that begins with a long-stay visa and culminates in a formal residence permit.

Registration Certificate (EU/EEA/Swiss nationals)
The registration certificate is issued on the day of application and remains valid for up to five years, with a minimum validity of one year. It is renewable, and after five years of continuous lawful residence, EU/EEA/Swiss nationals become eligible to apply for a permanent residence card. Nationals of EU/EEA/Swiss Confederation countries and their family members are entitled to take up employment or self-employment in Romania under the same conditions as Romanian citizens.

Temporary Residence Permit (non-EU nationals)
Foreign nationals who have entered Romania on a long-stay visa may apply for a temporary residence permit. This permit may be extended for between one and five years by submitting an application and accompanying documentation to the IGI that corresponds to the applicant’s purpose of stay. Available categories include employment, commercial activity, study, family reunification, and — introduced in 2021 — digital nomads.

Employment-Based Residency
Temporary resident status is granted to individuals employed under a contract with a private or public organisation. Restrictions apply to the employment of foreign nationals: for most occupations, an authorisation from the General Immigration Inspectorate is required, and the authority verifies whether suitable Romanian or EU candidates are available, who are given priority in hiring. Seconded workers and intra-company transferees are also able to access residence rights under this framework.

Digital Nomad Visa and Permit
Eligibility for Romania’s digital nomad category requires the applicant to be employed by or own a company registered outside Romania and to perform work that can be carried out remotely. Both employed individuals and entrepreneurs or freelancers may qualify. A critical condition is income: applicants must demonstrate monthly earnings of at least three times Romania’s average gross salary. As of 2025, this threshold stands at approximately 18,000 RON per month (around €3,600), and must be evidenced for at least the six months preceding the application. Applicants must also hold private health insurance covering their entire period of stay, have a clean criminal record, and be able to demonstrate a local address in Romania.

Family Reunification
Romanian law allows holders of residence permits to sponsor the relocation of close relatives. Spouses and dependent children may apply for permits through family reunification channels, facilitating settlement and integration. The applicable rules vary according to whether the sponsor is a Romanian citizen, a national of an EU member state, or a non-EU national lawfully resident in Romania.

Investor Residency
Romanian legislation provides a full exemption from standard residency requirements for qualifying foreign investors. As of 2025, the principal conditions are an investment of at least €1 million in the Romanian economy or the creation of a minimum of 100 jobs. This pathway offers an expedited route to residency, though the entry thresholds are substantial. Prospective applicants should consult the official IGI website or seek guidance from a qualified immigration lawyer to confirm the most current requirements.

Long-Term (Permanent) Residence
Following five consecutive years of lawful residence in Romania, foreign nationals may apply for a long-term residence permit. The validity period differs depending on the basis of stay: the permit is valid for ten years when the applicant is a family member of a Romanian citizen, and for five years in all other circumstances permitted by law.

How does temporary residency work in Romania, and how can it lead to permanent residency?

For non-EU nationals, the path to long-term settlement in Romania typically begins outside the country. A long-stay Type D visa must first be obtained from a Romanian consulate or diplomatic mission in the applicant’s country of residence before travelling. This visa serves as the gateway to applying for a temporary residence permit once inside Romania.

The temporary residence permit may be extended for between one and five years, though in practice one- to two-year periods are most common. Applications must be lodged at least 30 days before the current permit or visa expires — a deadline that carries significant consequences if missed (see the FAQ section below). Permit holders are not in a passive administrative state; they are expected to maintain the conditions on which their permit was granted, whether that means remaining in employment, staying enrolled in study, or continuing to meet the financial criteria associated with non-employment categories. For work-based permits, as of March 2025, an employment contract must be signed within 15 working days of entering Romania or receiving work authorisation — a requirement reflecting the closer scrutiny now applied to the relationship between permits and the activities they authorise.

The route from temporary to long-term residence in Romania broadly mirrors the approach taken in other EU member states such as Germany or the Netherlands, where five years of lawful continuous residence is the standard qualifying threshold. To obtain a permanent residence permit, a foreign national must already hold a temporary residence permit, demonstrate an uninterrupted and lawful stay of at least five years, show satisfactory knowledge of the Romanian language, and not pose any threat to national security.

One important distinction from many other EU residency systems is that study periods count towards the five-year qualifying period at only half their actual duration, and periods spent on seasonal work or diplomatic employment visas do not count at all. These nuances are worth carefully factoring into any long-term planning.

Applications for the permanent residence permit are resolved within a maximum of six months, with the possibility of a further 90-day extension if required. If the application is approved, the permanent permit is issued for a five-year period, with the option of subsequent renewal. Upon receiving permanent residency, the holder is assigned a CNP — a personal identification number — issued once and retained regardless of future entries into or periods spent outside Romania.

How do you apply for residency in Romania?

The steps involved in applying for residency differ slightly depending on whether the applicant is an EU/EEA/Swiss national or a non-EU national. The following outlines the standard procedure for non-EU nationals seeking a temporary residence permit, which is the route most newly arriving expats will follow.

1. Obtain a long-stay visa (Type D) before travelling. Third-country nationals must submit the long-stay visa application to a Romanian diplomatic mission or consular office in their country of domicile or residence before entering Romania. The application fee is €120 as of 2025 — always verify the current fee directly with the relevant Romanian consulate before applying.
2. Enter Romania using the long-stay visa. Present your long-stay visa at the border upon arrival. Within 30 days, register your address with the relevant authorities. Accommodation providers and hosts are also legally obliged to notify the competent authorities of any foreign guests staying with them.
3. Lodge your residence permit application with the IGI. Once inside Romania, you must apply for a residence permit that formally certifies your right to remain. Applications are submitted to the territorial units of the General Inspectorate for Immigration in the county where you are resident.
4. Provide documents, biometric data, and pay the applicable fee. Submit all required supporting materials — such as employment contracts, study enrolment letters, or family documents — along with your biometric data and payment of the relevant processing fee.
5. Use the online portal if preferred. The IGI operates an online application portal that enables applicants to upload and verify supporting documents ahead of their in-person counter appointment, helping to reduce waiting times. The portal is accessible at portaligi.mai.gov.ro.
6. Await processing and collect your residence card. Processing generally takes between 30 and 90 days from the date all documents are submitted (as of 2025). Fees vary by permit category and are typically in the low hundreds of euros. Additional expenditure on translations, apostilles, and insurance may increase the overall cost. Check the IGI’s current fee schedule before submission, as figures are subject to change.
7. Renew well ahead of the expiry date. Applications to extend a temporary residence permit must be filed no later than 30 days before it expires. Renewal applications are similarly processed within approximately 30 days.

For EU/EEA/Swiss nationals, the process is considerably simpler: attend the nearest IGI territorial office with proof of identity, intended purpose of stay, and accommodation arrangements, and receive a registration certificate on the same day.

What documents do you need to apply for residency in Romania?

Required documentation varies depending on the residency category, so the information below covers the core materials common to most applications. Always refer to the IGI’s official residence permit page for the definitive checklist applicable to your specific situation, as requirements are updated from time to time.

For most temporary residence permit applications, non-EU nationals will typically need to provide:

• A valid passport or travel document — both the original and a copy, including the page showing the long-stay Type D visa.
• Proof of purpose of stay — such as a signed employment contract, a letter of enrolment from an educational institution, or equivalent documentation for your permit category.
• Health insurance — evidence of valid health coverage is required. For employment-based permits, contributions to Romania’s social health insurance scheme may suffice; for other categories, a private international health insurance policy may be necessary.
• Proof of financial means — documentation demonstrating that you have adequate financial resources to support yourself in Romania. For employment-based applications, this is typically established through your employment contract and salary details.
• Criminal record certificate — generally required for all categories, this must be issued by the relevant authority in your country of origin or most recent country of residence, translated into Romanian, and apostilled.
• Proof of accommodation — documentation confirming legal occupancy of the address at which you declare residence in Romania, presented in both original and copy.
• Application form and photographs — the standard IGI application form, completed in full, together with recent passport-sized photographs as specified.

Family reunification applications require additional materials, including a marriage certificate issued by Romanian authorities or, if the marriage took place abroad, a certificate transcribed at a Romanian Civil Status Office, along with a written declaration that the applicant has not contracted any other marriage. Where the application is based on kinship, documents from competent authorities attesting to the family relationship — translated into Romanian and apostilled — must be submitted in both original and copy.

For long-term (permanent) residence applications, the documentation required includes a completed application form, a border-crossing document (passport or travel document) in original and duplicate, evidence of lawful accommodation in original and duplicate, and proof of payment of the applicable fees. Applicants are also required to demonstrate satisfactory knowledge of the Romanian language and may be called for an interview to assess their proficiency as part of the IGI’s internal process.

Do you need to register with any government department or authority after arriving in Romania?

Registration with Romanian authorities is a legal requirement for all foreign nationals who intend to remain in the country beyond 90 days, and certain registration steps must be completed within days of arrival. Failing to comply or missing statutory deadlines can lead to financial penalties and complications with your residency application.

Address registration on arrival
The IGI portal applies to foreign nationals who have lawfully entered Romania, as well as to the individuals or entities hosting them. Hosts are legally required to notify the competent territorial police authority within three days of the foreign national’s arrival and the commencement of their stay. If you are residing in a hotel or other tourist accommodation, the establishment is obliged to notify the authorities on your behalf. If you are in a privately rented property, this responsibility falls on your landlord — though it is advisable to confirm independently that the notification has been made.

EU/EEA/Swiss nationals: Registration Certificate
Any EU/EEA/Swiss national remaining in Romania for longer than three months must register their residence by obtaining a registration certificate from the territorial units of the General Inspectorate for Immigration. This is functionally equivalent to formal residence registration procedures in other EU member states — comparable to the Anmeldung system in Germany, for instance — though the process is handled through the IGI rather than a local municipal office.

Non-EU nationals: Residence permit application deadline
To secure a residence permit, non-EU nationals must personally submit their application and all required documents at least 30 days before their current visa or right of stay expires. This means the application process must begin well in advance, not in the final days before expiry.

Personal identification number (CNP)
When a permanent residence permit is granted, the holder receives a CNP — a personal identification number — allocated once and retained regardless of how many times the individual subsequently enters or leaves Romania. This number is essential for accessing public services, opening bank accounts, and entering into employment contracts in Romania.

Consequences of failing to register
Overstaying an expired permit may result in a fine and, in serious cases, a removal order. If a permit expires without a renewal application having been lodged, the holder may be required to leave Romania and restart the process from the beginning with a fresh visa application. A brief grace period of 30 days after expiry allows a belated application to be submitted on payment of a penalty fee, but beyond this point the situation becomes substantially more difficult to resolve.

What are the rights and restrictions that come with residency in Romania?

The entitlements attached to residency in Romania are largely determined by the type of permit held. As a general principle, the more established and long-standing the residency status, the broader the rights available — a framework consistent with the approach taken across most EU member states.

Right to work
Holders of a long-term permanent residence permit are entitled to take up employment in Romania under an individual employment contract without the need for a separate work authorisation. Those on temporary permits tied to employment may work within the scope of their permit, though changing employer or sector may require a fresh authorisation. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals may work freely from the moment of their arrival.

Healthcare access
Foreign nationals who are considered tax residents of Romania and pay the required health insurance contributions gain access to the national public healthcare system. Romania operates a contributory social health insurance scheme administered by the Casa Națională de Asigurări de Sănătate (CNAS), and entitlement to publicly funded care is linked to contributions being made. This differs from systems such as the UK’s NHS, which are funded through general taxation and provide largely free care at the point of use. Foreign nationals who have not yet begun contributing are required to maintain private health insurance as a condition of their residence permit.

Education
Residency in Romania entitles both the permit holder and any accompanying children to access education at all levels. Children of lawful residents are entitled to attend state schools under the same terms and conditions as Romanian national children.

Travel within the Schengen Area
With effect from 1 January 2025, Romania became a full member of the Schengen Area, guaranteeing freedom of movement across the region’s internal borders. Romanian residence permit holders are now able to travel to other Schengen member states for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without requiring additional visas — a tangible benefit for expats who travel regularly across Europe.

Tax obligations
Tax residency in Romania is generally triggered by physical presence exceeding 183 days in a calendar year, though additional criteria — such as maintaining a permanent home in Romania or holding a Romanian residence permit — may also be relevant. Tax residents are liable for Romanian income tax on their worldwide earnings, while non-residents are taxed only on income sourced within Romania. Romania applies a flat income tax rate of 10% (as of 2026), which is comparatively low by European standards. Residents are also subject to health contributions of an additional 10% and social security contributions for pension entitlements of an additional 25%.

Path to citizenship
Reforms introduced in 2025 have reinforced the link between residency progression — from temporary through to long-term and permanent status — and eligibility for Romanian citizenship. Documentation and language requirements have been tightened, and permanent residency is now firmly established as the key foundation for a naturalisation application. The qualifying period for naturalisation is eight years, reduced to five years for those married to a Romanian citizen.

Restrictions on political participation
Permanent residency confers a wide range of rights comparable to those enjoyed by Romanian citizens, with one significant exception: political rights. Foreign nationals, regardless of the length or permanence of their residency, are not permitted to vote in national elections or stand for public office unless and until they obtain Romanian citizenship.

Where can you find reliable, up-to-date information on residency in Romania?

Residency regulations are subject to change, sometimes substantially. New legislative amendments affecting employment, residence, and the legal standing of foreign nationals entered into force in March 2025, and further developments are expected. Always consult authoritative official sources rather than relying solely on third-party content — including this article — for current fees, processing timescales, and documentation requirements.

General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI)
The General Inspectorate for Immigration is a specialist body of central public administration, operating under the coordination of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, responsible for implementing Romanian policy on migration, asylum, and the integration of foreign nationals. It is the principal authority for all matters relating to residence permits in Romania. Official guidance, application forms, and territorial office contact details are available at igi.mai.gov.ro.

IGI Online Portal
The IGI has developed an online portal that enables third-country nationals to upload, review, and verify their documentation before scheduling their application appointment. This service is accessible at portaligi.mai.gov.ro.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
For long-stay visa applications lodged from outside Romania, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mae.ro) and Romania’s diplomatic missions and consular offices in your country of residence are the appropriate first point of contact. They process Type D visa applications and can offer country-specific guidance on the initial stages of the application process.

EURAXESS Romania
The EURAXESS Romania portal (euraxess.gov.ro) is a particularly valuable resource for researchers, academics, and highly skilled professionals, consolidating guidance on visas, residence permits, and work authorisations in one accessible location. Further details on internal procedures for long-term work visas and residence permits can also be found in the “Residence in Romania for work” section of the official IGI website.

European Commission Immigration Portal
The European Commission’s Migration and Home Affairs portal publishes standardised, verified information about Romania’s immigration procedures and offers a useful point of comparison for those wishing to cross-reference official data. Country-specific information is available at the EU Immigration Portal.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to receive a temporary residence permit in Romania?

Processing generally takes between 30 and 90 days from the point at which all documents have been submitted (as of 2025). Actual timescales can vary depending on the relevant IGI territorial office and the nature of the individual application. Using the online portal can help reduce waiting times at the counter. It is advisable to contact your local IGI office directly for the most up-to-date estimates, as processing volumes and staffing levels can influence turnaround times.

Can family members be included in a residency application?

Romanian law permits residence permit holders to sponsor the relocation of close family members. Spouses and dependent children are entitled to apply for permits through family reunification programmes. Both family members of Romanian citizens and those of non-EU residents may apply, though the documentary requirements differ slightly between the two scenarios. Each family member must lodge a separate application accompanied by their own supporting documentation.

What happens if a residency application is refused?

A refusal of the long-term right to stay, together with the reasons underpinning the decision, must be communicated to the applicant in writing within 15 working days of the decision being made. The applicant has 30 days from receipt of the refusal to lodge an appeal with the Court of Appeal. Importantly, a refusal of the long-term right to stay has no legal effect on any existing temporary right of residence the applicant holds. For refusals of temporary permits, the IGI is similarly required to communicate the grounds for refusal in writing. Engaging a qualified Romanian immigration lawyer is strongly recommended when facing a refusal.

Can residency be lost through extended absence from Romania?

Long-term residency status lapses following an absence from Romanian territory exceeding 12 consecutive months — unless the individual held temporary residence in another EU member state during that period — or after six consecutive years of absence even if EU temporary residence was held in the interim. For those still on temporary permits, the continuity of lawful residence required for permanent residency is broken by any absence exceeding six consecutive months during the qualifying five-year period.

Does holding Romanian residency make me a tax resident in Romania?

Tax residency in Romania is generally triggered by physical presence exceeding 183 days in a calendar year, but other factors — such as maintaining a permanent home in Romania or holding a Romanian residence permit — may also be determinative. Tax residents are liable for Romanian tax on their worldwide income. Romania has concluded tax treaties with numerous EU member states and other countries to mitigate the risk of double taxation by establishing which jurisdiction has primary taxing rights over various categories of income. Professional advice from a tax specialist with knowledge of both Romanian and international tax law is strongly recommended.

How does Romanian residency relate to citizenship eligibility?

The minimum residency period required for naturalisation in Romania is eight years, reduced to five years for applicants who are married to a Romanian citizen. The updated legal framework requires applicants for citizenship to demonstrate Romanian language proficiency at B1 level, and mandatory biometric data collection for all citizenship applications has been in place since September 2024. Permanent residency is now regarded as the standard prerequisite before a naturalisation application can be filed.

Do digital nomads qualify for residency in Romania?

Yes. The digital nomad visa is a form of long-stay visa (Type D), applied for either online through the Romanian eVisa portal or at a consulate. Once granted, the applicant travels to Romania and subsequently applies for a temporary residence permit in the digital nomad category. As a digital nomad resident, you may live legally in Romania for an extended period and, following Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area in 2025, travel freely within the Schengen zone for short stays. The income threshold is significant — verify the current figure on the official IGI or Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before submitting your application.

What is the difference between a long-stay visa and a residence permit?

A long-stay visa (Type D) is the document that authorises a non-EU national to enter Romania for an extended stay; it is obtained from a Romanian consulate or embassy prior to travel. A residence permit is the formal in-country document that authorises the foreign national to remain in Romania legally for a period exceeding 90 days. In essence, the visa is the entry permission, and the residence permit is the status document that replaces it once the holder is inside Romania. After arriving, the applicant must obtain a residence permit from the territorial units of the General Inspectorate for Immigration in the county where they are resident, which formally certifies their right to remain.