In recent years, Romania has become an increasingly attractive destination worldwide, both for tourists and investors, offering a remarkable diversity of landscapes and experiences that captivate those who choose to discover it.
From the sunny beaches of the Black Sea to the Danube Delta with its intricate network of channels and unique biodiversity, the forested mountains and spectacular hiking trails, the iconic Transfagarasan and Transalpina roads, to cities with rich cultural heritage, picturesque traditional villages, as well as the lakes and rivers that flow throughout the country, Romania provides countless opportunities for relaxation, hiking, outdoor sports, and authentic experiences in nature. The harmonious blend of natural scenery and cultural heritage makes Romania a perfect destination for relaxing holidays, active adventures, cultural explorations, and memorable experiences that leave a lasting impression.
At the same time, Romania offers significant opportunities for business and investment. Sectors such as tourism, real estate, renewable energy, and agriculture are continuously developing, while the economic environment supports the launch of new projects and the expansion of existing ones. The workforce is well-trained and includes talented specialists across numerous industries, which represents a real advantage for companies choosing to invest or establish operations here.
All these aspects make Romania not only a destination to visit, but also a place where ambitious, profitable, and sustainable projects can be developed—an intelligent choice for those seeking both authentic travel experiences and real business opportunities across various sectors.
European Union citizens can travel to Romania without restrictions, using only a valid identity card or passport. If they wish to remain in Romania for more than three months, they are required to apply to the General Inspectorate for Immigration for a registration certificate (a document granting resident status), depending on the purpose of their stay. On the other hand, citizens from non-EU countries may enter Romania only under certain conditions, and in some cases, a short- or long-term visa is required, depending on their nationality. For long-term stays, whether for professional, business, or family reasons, it is mandatory to apply for a long-stay visa, which represents the essential first step in legally regulating one’s residence in Romania.
Currently, Romanian legislation provides several ways in which a foreign citizen can obtain the right to long-term residence, such as carrying out economic, professional, or commercial activities, employment or detachment, studies, family reunification, religious activities, scientific research, or other regulated purposes. Among these, the most commonly used remain residence for employment, engaging in commercial activities (as a shareholder or director of a company), and residence for family reunification.
In order to stay legally in Romania for an extended period, foreign citizens must obtain a long-stay visa, which represents the essential first step in regulating their stay.
After obtaining the long-stay visa, the foreign citizen may apply for the issuance of a residence permit, granted in Romania by the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI). Once issued, the residence permit is accompanied by a card in the holder’s name (residence permit) and grants the right to live legally in Romania for a minimum period of one year, with the possibility of renewal, in accordance with legal provisions and the purpose for which it was granted.
1. Long-stay visa – definition and duration
The long-stay visa is granted to foreign citizens, upon request, for a period of 90 days, with one or multiple entries, depending on the intended purpose of stay. The long-stay visa allows the foreign citizen to obtain the right of temporary residence in Romania for a determined period, depending on the declared purpose of stay, whether it concerns professional, commercial, or academic activities, or family reunification.
It also offers the possibility to subsequently apply for a residence permit, thus strengthening the legal framework necessary for carrying out the desired activities on the territory of Romania.
2. General conditions for granting the visa
In order to obtain a long-stay visa in Romania, an application must be submitted together with a file containing the necessary supporting documents, filed on behalf of the applicant at the Romanian diplomatic missions or consular offices in the state of domicile or residence. This file must include all documents required by law, intended to prove the purpose of the stay and the fulfilment of the legal conditions.
The application must be accompanied by a valid travel document, proof of the declared purpose of stay, proof of means of subsistence and medical insurance, as well as confirmation that there are no grounds preventing entry into Romania, such as criminal convictions or bans within the Schengen area. The procedure is generally settled within a maximum of 60 days, either by granting or refusing the visa.
The choice of visa type depends on the purpose of presence on the national territory — employment, carrying out commercial or professional activities, studies, or family reunification — while the Romanian legislative framework ensures both state protection and the legal and safe integration of foreigners. As lawyers, we handle the entire process of submitting the application and ensuring compliance with all legal requirements on behalf of our clients.
3. Types of Visas and Special Conditions for Granting a Long-Stay Visa
In addition to meeting the general conditions, certain types of long-stay visas require special conditions, specific to the purpose for which the applicant intends to remain in Romania. These conditions usually include additional documents proving compliance with the legal criteria specific to each type of visa—for example, evidence of professional qualifications, business plans for investments, employment or study contracts, criminal record certificates, and health insurance tailored to the purpose of the stay.
Long-Stay Visa for Conducting Economic Activities
This type of visa is granted to foreign citizens who will carry out organized economic activities on Romanian territory regulated by special laws (i.e., activities in banking, energy production and supply, health services, transport, telecommunications).
Long-Stay Visa for Conducting Professional Activities
The long-stay visa for professional activities is granted to foreign citizens who will practice regulated liberal professions in Romania (i.e., doctors, lawyers, certified accountants, architects, psychologists).
Foreign citizens applying for a long-stay visa for professional activities must provide a set of documents proving their right to practice the profession in Romania and their professional status (i.e., license or qualification certificate, proof of practicing a similar profession in their home country, valid health insurance for the duration of the stay, and criminal record certificate or equivalent).
Long-Stay Visa for Conducting Commercial Activities
This type of visa is granted, based on the approval issued by the Romanian Center for the Promotion of Trade and Foreign Investments, to foreign citizens who are shareholders or associates, with management or administrative responsibilities, of Romanian legal entities, and who intend to make an investment in Romania.
The approval issued by the Romanian Center for the Promotion of Trade and Foreign Investments is valid for six months from the date of issuance and is granted to foreign citizens provided by law who cumulatively meet the following conditions:
a- Business Plan – the applicant must submit a detailed plan that includes the identification of the company, field of activity, purpose and value of the investment, estimated number of jobs and the stages of creating them, the steps and amounts related to the investment, location, duration and amortization of the investment, as well as a financial projection for at least three years;
b- Required Funds – proof, through a bank statement issued by a Romanian bank, that the applicant holds the necessary funds to carry out the activity, amounting to at least 100,000 Euros for foreigners associated in a limited liability company and at least 150,000 Euros for foreigners who are shareholders in a joint-stock company.
c- Investment Implementation – within a maximum of 12 months from obtaining the residence permit, the applicant must make the investment according to the business plan, contributing capital or technology worth at least 100,000 Euros for a limited liability company and at least 150,000 Euros for a joint-stock company.
d- Job Creation – the investment must generate, within a maximum of 12 months, at least 10 new jobs for limited liability companies and at least 15 new jobs for joint-stock companies.
In the case of companies with two or more associates or shareholders applying for the approval, the above conditions must be analyzed separately for each applicant, with the value of the investment to be made and the number of jobs to be created increasing proportionally according to the number of applicants requesting approval.
4. Long-stay visa for employment
The long-stay visa for employment is granted to foreign citizens for the purpose of being employed in Romania by an employer.
To obtain a long-stay visa for employment, an application is submitted along with a supporting document file, the most important of which is a copy of the work permit. This permit is issued by the General Inspectorate for Immigration and officially certifies the employer's right to hire a foreign citizen in Romania for the specified position, serving as the central document guaranteeing the legality of the employment.
To obtain a work permit in Romania, certain essential conditions must be met both regarding the foreign citizen and the employing company.
Employer company requirements
To be eligible for obtaining the work approval, the employer must meet the following conditions:
a- activity – the employer must have been carrying out activities in Romania corresponding to the position for which the foreign citizen is being hired, for at least one year, evidenced by documents;
b- Legal purpose – the employer's activity must not primarily aim to facilitate the entry of foreign citizens into Romania;
c- Tax obligations – all tax obligations must be fulfilled;
d- Integrity – the employer must not have been convicted of labor code offenses or intentional offenses against persons;
e- Compliance with labor law – the employer must not have been sanctioned for undeclared work or illegal employment of foreigners in the last 6 months;
f- Available quota – the contingent of foreign workers for the year has not been reached (around 100,000 annually).
Conditions regarding the foreign citizen
For a foreign citizen to obtain a work permit, they must meet the following conditions:
a- Valid travel document – Holds a valid travel document recognized by Romanian authorities.
b- No alerts in official systems – Is not listed in the National Information System or the Schengen Information System in a way that would prevent entry into Romania.
c- Security and public health – Does not pose a threat to national security, public order, or public health (a criminal record showing no prior convictions is required).
d- Means of subsistence – Can prove financial means at least equal to the gross minimum wage in Romania for the entire duration of the visa.
e- Criminal record – Provides a criminal record certificate or legal equivalent, issued by the authorities in their country of residence or domicile.
f- Health insurance – Holds valid medical insurance for the entire period of stay specified in the visa.
The application for a long-stay visa for employment can be submitted within 180 days from the issuance of the work permit, and the foreign citizen may stay in Romania for up to 90 days during this period. Within this interval, it is mandatory to submit an application to the General Inspectorate for Immigration for the extension of the right of residence through a residence permit.
5. Long-stay visa for detachment
The long-stay visa for detachment is granted to foreign citizens who are to perform work activities in Romania for a beneficiary company of the service in Romania.
The visa application must be accompanied by a file of documents, particularly a copy of the detachment permit. This permit, issued by the General Inspectorate for Immigration, certifies the right of the recipient to employ in Romania a foreign citizen detached to a specific position.
Under Romanian law, a detached worker is a qualified foreign citizen temporarily transferred from their enterprise in a third country – where they have a valid employment contract – to a recipient (company) of services in Romania. The recipient company may be part of the same enterprise, the same group of enterprises, or have a collaboration contract that involves the employee's detachment.
The detachment permit is issued by the General Inspectorate for Immigration at the request of the service recipient (the Romanian company), following the same legal conditions required for obtaining a work permit.
In addition to the general conditions for obtaining a work permit, there are two additional important conditions for detachment:
- the enterprise from which the detachment is made must be established in a third country;
- the foreign citizen must meet the special qualification and professional experience requirements provided by law and must have no criminal record incompatible with the activity they perform or are to perform in Romania.
The visa application must also include (i) proof of means of subsistence at least equal to the gross minimum wage in Romania for the entire visa period, (ii) a criminal record certificate or equivalent document issued by the authorities of the country of domicile or residence, and (iii) valid medical insurance for the entire duration of the visa.
6. Long-stay visa for studies
The long-stay visa for studies in Romania is intended for foreign citizens who wish to remain in Romania for more than 90 days to pursue educational programs. This covers various types of education, including undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral studies, professional internships, and specialized training courses.
7. Long-stay visa for family reunification
A foreign citizen holding a temporary residence permit valid for at least one year, a long-term residence permit, or enjoying refugee or subsidiary protection status in Romania may apply for family reunification for: a) their spouse; and b) their minor unmarried children and those of the spouse, including adopted children.
The Romanian Immigration Office may also approve family reunification, when legal conditions are met, for the following persons: a) first-degree ascending relatives of the foreign citizen or their spouse, if they cannot support themselves and do not receive adequate family support in their country of origin; and b) adult unmarried children of the foreign citizen or their spouse, if they cannot support themselves for medical reasons.
The standard application form is submitted to the territorial unit of the Romanian Immigration Office where the applicant legally resides, along with a file containing supporting documents. The application is processed within a maximum of 3 months from submission. If deemed necessary by the General Inspectorate for Immigration, the foreign citizen may be called for an interview. Unjustified absence from the interview may lead to rejection of the application, except in cases where non-attendance is due to reasons beyond the applicant’s control.
Approval is communicated in writing to the applicant, who forwards it to the family members to present to the Romanian diplomatic mission or consular office within 60 days, together with the application for the long-stay visa for family reunification. The visa is issued by Romania’s diplomatic missions or consular offices in the country of residence or domicile of the family members.
8. Long-stay visa for religious activities
The long-stay visa for religious activities can be requested by foreign citizens through Romania’s diplomatic missions or consular offices in their country of residence or domicile under the following conditions:
a- Approval from the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs – obtained after verifying similar activities carried out in the country of origin or residence and consulting the national counter-terrorism authority;
b- Representative status – the applicant must prove they are a representative of a legally established religious organization in Romania;
c- Accommodation and means of support – proof of a place to live and adequate financial resources, amounting to at least three average salaries in the economy;
d- Health insurance and public health – valid medical insurance and evidence that the applicant does not suffer from diseases that could endanger public health;
e- Criminal record – submission of a criminal record certificate or an equivalent document issued by the competent authorities in the country of origin.
8. Long-stay visa for scientific research activities
The long-stay visa for scientific research activities can be obtained by foreign citizens based on approval from the Ministry of Research and Innovation and the General Inspectorate for Immigration. The approval from the Ministry of Research and Innovation is issued at the request of research and development units or institutions that meet the following conditions: they are certified according to the law and have concluded a hosting agreement with the researcher accepted for a research project.
The visa application must include: the hosting agreement approved by the Ministry of Research and Innovation, a criminal record certificate or equivalent issued by the authorities in the country of residence or domicile, and valid medical insurance for the duration of the visa.
The hosting agreement must include at least the title or field of research, the researcher’s commitment to complete the activity, the research unit’s commitment to host the researcher, the period of the activity, information regarding planned mobility in other member states, and a note on automatic termination of the agreement in case the researcher is not accepted or the legal relationship with the research unit ends.
9. Long-stay visa for other purposes
The long-stay visa for other purposes is granted, upon request, by Romania’s diplomatic missions and consular offices in the foreign citizen’s country of residence or domicile and is intended for:
a- Individuals appointed as company administrators, provided they cumulatively meet the following criteria:
- Administrator status and means of support – they hold the position of company administrator and can demonstrate financial resources of at least 500 Euro per month, derived from activities carried out under the mandate contract;
- Not a shareholder or partner – at the time of application, they are not partners or shareholders in the respective company or any other Romanian legal entity and have not held such positions in the last two years;
- Sole foreign administrator with residence rights – the company does not already have another foreign citizen who has obtained a residence permit in Romania for the same purpose;
- Capital contribution or technology transfer – the company has made a capital contribution or technology transfer valued at a minimum of 50,000 Euro, including areas such as construction, technical installations and machinery, other installations, equipment, or furniture.
b- Individuals seeking entry into Romania for unpaid professional training, conducted within an accredited vocational training provider or within a public or private enterprise authorized by law to organize such activities, provided they cumulatively meet the following requirements:
- Training contract – they have signed a contract to participate, without remuneration, in a training program within an accredited provider or an enterprise authorized by law;
- Means of support – they have financial resources at least equal to the national gross average salary per month for the entire period for which the visa is requested;
- Consent of legal representatives – if the applicant is a minor, parental or guardian consent for the stay in Romania for this purpose is provided.
c- Individuals engaged in volunteer programs, provided they cumulatively meet the following requirements:
- Volunteer contract – they have signed a contract with a host organization, specifying the activities to be carried out, the monitoring of tasks, working hours, and, if applicable, any professional training necessary to perform the volunteer service;
- Responsibilities of the host organization – the host ensures accommodation, means of support, medical insurance for the entire validity period of the visa, expenses and/or pocket money, as well as any costs related to repatriation measures;
- Minimum age – the applicant is at least 14 years old;
- Consent of legal representatives – if the applicant is a minor, parental or guardian consent for the stay in Romania for this purpose is provided;
- Liability insurance – the host organization provides proof of liability insurance, except in cases where volunteers participate in the European Voluntary Service.
d- Individuals undergoing long-term medical treatment at public or private medical institutions, subject to the following conditions:
- Medical acceptance letter – the applicant provides a letter of acceptance issued by the medical institution, specifying the diagnosis and the duration of the treatment;
- Possible accompanying person – the visa may also be granted to an accompanying person if the patient is unable to care for themselves, provided that this necessity is explicitly stated in the acceptance letter.
e- Digital nomads – these are foreign citizens who wish to travel and stay in Romania while continuing to earn income from activities carried out outside the country.
Digital nomads:
- are either employed under a work contract by a company registered outside Romania and provide services using information and communication technology (online services), or
- own a company registered outside Romania through which they provide remote services using information and communication technology (online services).
To obtain a long-stay visa, digital nomads must cumulatively meet the following conditions:
- have income from their activity of at least three times the average gross monthly wage in Romania, both for each of the last six months prior to the visa application and for the entire period for which the visa is requested;
- carry out all activities exclusively remotely, using information and communication technology.
f- Persons engaged in other legal activities who can justify their presence in Romania – for example, participation in cultural, educational, or scientific projects, internships, volunteer work, or professional collaborations, provided they have sufficient means of subsistence and comply with Romanian law.
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This article aims to clarify the Romanian legal framework applicable to citizens of the European Union and third countries (Non-EU) who wish to obtain a residence right in Romania for various purposes – investments, business, work, studies, family reunification, or other activities regulated by law. In a globalized world, where personal and professional mobility is becoming essential, Romania positions itself as a strategic destination, both through economic and cultural opportunities and its privileged location at the border of the Schengen area.
Our team of lawyers continuously supports investors and other individuals interested in establishing a legal presence in Romania, providing comprehensive legal assistance regarding the acquisition of necessary documentation and the conduct of legal procedures. Through our expertise, we facilitate clients’ access to all the advantages offered by Romanian legislation, including the ability to travel freely and subsequently explore countries within the Schengen area.
For more information or legal assistance, contact Al Safar and Partners today on 0527583267 - reception@alsafarpartners.com - https://www.alsafarpartners.com/
Written By: Mr. Paul George Căta - Partner & Senior Legal Consultant at Al Safar and Partners Law Firm.