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ROEntry · residence · long-term status

Legal ways to live in Romania.

Romania currently offers 6 active paths relevant to remote workers, including a digital nomad visa (income requirement 27,576 RON/month). Conditions below come from official immigration sources — filter by your citizenship.

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6 legalization paths · 9 sources · official immigration sources only

passport-specific

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6 legalization paths

01

Choose your route

A compact map of every documented option for Romania. Start with eligibility and duration, then open the full conditions below.

  1. 01Visa-free short stay (Schengen 90/180)Getting in · Visa-free stayWho qualifiesUS citizens, UK citizens, Ukrainian citizensDuration3 moNo direct PR path
  2. 02Long-stay visa for employment (D/AM)Getting in · National visaWho qualifiesAll except EU citizensDuration1 yr +→ PR path
  3. 03Digital nomad long-stay visa & residence permit (D/DN)Staying long-term · Digital nomad visaWho qualifiesAll except EU citizensDuration1 yr +No direct PR path
  4. 04Temporary residence for commercial/business activitiesStaying long-term · Business visaWho qualifiesAll except EU citizensDuration1 yr +→ PR path
  5. 05Temporary residence for professional activities (independent professionals)Staying long-term · Freelance permitWho qualifiesAll except EU citizensDuration1 yr +→ PR path
  6. 06EU/EEA/Swiss citizens — registration of residenceStaying long-term · Special programWho qualifiesEU citizensDuration5 yrs +→ PR path

02

Getting in

Who can enter Romania and on what terms — visa-free windows and entry visas.

01Getting in
Visa-free stayactive

Visa-free short stay (Schengen 90/180)

For: US citizens, UK citizens, Ukrainian citizens

Duration
3 months
Path to PR
No

Requirements (3)

03
  1. 01Passport of an Annex II visa-exempt country (for Ukraine and other Eastern Partnership states: biometric passports only)
  2. 02Sufficient funds, accommodation, and no entry ban; visa-free entry is not an unconditional right
  3. 0390 days within any rolling 180-day window — since 2025-01-01 counted across the whole Schengen area (Romania is now a full Schengen member)
02Getting in
National visaactive

Long-stay visa for employment (D/AM)

For: All except EU citizens

Duration
1 year, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
Income requirement
4,050 RON/month

Requirements (4)

04
  1. 01A Romanian work permit (aviz de angajare) obtained by the employer, or proof of exemption
  2. 02Financial means at least at the minimum gross wage level for the visa period
  3. 03Medical insurance and clean criminal record
  4. 04Moldovan, Ukrainian and Serbian citizens are exempt from the work-permit requirement for up to 9 months/year

03

Staying long-term

Grounds for residence — business, employment, special programs — with the conditions to qualify.

03Staying long-term
Digital nomad visaactive

Digital nomad long-stay visa & residence permit (D/DN)

For: All except EU citizens

Duration
1 year, renewable
Path to PR
No
Family
Included
Fee
300 EUR
Processing
15–45 days
Income requirement
27,576 RON/month

Requirements (5)

05
  1. 01Employed by, or owner of, a company registered OUTSIDE Romania, providing services remotely via information and communication technology (OUG 194/2002 as amended by Law 22/2022)
  2. 02Proof of income ≥ 3× the Romanian average gross monthly wage for each of the last 6 months
  3. 03Valid medical insurance for the whole stay and clean criminal record
  4. 04Apply for the D/DN long-stay visa at a Romanian consulate, then obtain the residence permit from IGI after arrival
  5. 05Proof of accommodation in Romania
04Staying long-term
Business visaactive

Temporary residence for commercial/business activities

For: All except EU citizens

Duration
1 year, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
Family
Not included
Fee
120 EUR
Processing
30–45 days
Income requirement
700 EUR/month

Requirements (5)

05
  1. 01Own/administer a Romanian company (typically an SRL); the company administrator route generally requires a EUR 50,000 capital contribution or technology transfer
  2. 02Proof of financial means: EUR 500/month (associates) or EUR 700/month (shareholders) for the permit period
  3. 03Proof of legal possession of the registered office and of a residence address in Romania
  4. 04Medical insurance, social-insurance proof, clean criminal record
  5. 05First-year permit; renewed in successive 1-year periods (3 years if EUR 500,000 invested or 50+ full-time jobs created)
05Staying long-term
Freelance permitactive

Temporary residence for professional activities (independent professionals)

For: All except EU citizens

Duration
1 year, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
Fee
300 EUR
Processing
30–45 days
Income requirement
9,192 RON/month

Requirements (3)

03
  1. 01Proof of having practiced a similar regulated/liberal profession in the home country and intending to continue it in Romania
  2. 02Proof of meeting the Romanian legal conditions to exercise that profession (special-law authorization)
  3. 03Financial means at least at the average gross monthly wage level, medical insurance, clean criminal record, proof of accommodation
06Staying long-term
Special programactive

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens — registration of residence

For: EU citizens

Duration
5 years, renewable
Path to PR
Yes
Family
Included

Requirements (3)

03
  1. 01No visa or permit needed; full labor-market access and self-employment/company formation on the same terms as Romanian citizens
  2. 02For stays over 3 months: obtain a registration certificate from IGI (issued same day, valid 1–5 years)
  3. 03Permanent residence card after 5 years of continuous legal stay (valid 10 years)

Romania

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