Residence Permit in Romania

Obtaining residence in Romania is possible for long-term and short-term purposes, with differences between EU/EEA foreign nationals and non-EU/EEA citizens. Our immigration lawyer can guide you throughout your application for a residence permit in Romania.

Quick Facts
Short stay visa	The short-stay visa is for individuals who plan to stay in Romania for a short period of time, not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period.
Available types of short-term visas	– tourism, – business, – sport activities, – transportation, – short-term medical treatment, – cultural activities.
Short-term visa exemptions	Citizens of certain states may enter Romania without a visa if they meet specific criteria; Our immigration lawyers can provide those exceptions.
Invitation requirement (YES/NO)	YES, depending on the country of origin
Long-term visa for employment	Valid for 90 days with one or multiple entries.
Documents required for immigration	– application form, – ID documents, – criminal record, – proof of income, – visa, – proof of fee payment, etc.
Conditions for long-term residence in Romania	Continuous residence for the last 5 years (absences of less than 6 consecutive months and not exceeding a total of 10 months); means of subsistence, health insurance, accommodation and a Romanian language certificate of at least level A2.
Validity for long-term residence permit	5 years, with a 10-year exception for family members of Romanian citizens.
Obtaining residence permit	Submit documents at least 30 days before the expiration of the residence right granted by the visa.
Visa revoked or annulled (YES/NO)	YES
Categories that cannot obtain long-term residence	– foreigners with temporary study visa, – individuals seeking asylum, – individuals receiving humanitarian protection, – diplomatic workers.
How to obtain Romanian citizenship	– by birth, – by adoption, – by request.
Residency requirements for citizenship	at least 8 years
Advantages of moving to Romania	– EU member, – visa-free travel, – affordable cost of living, – cultural experience, – public education system, etc.
Assistance	If you wish to relocate to Romania, we can help you with the procedures.

Who must make an application to lawfully reside in Romania?

Non-EEA citizens who stay for more than 90 days are required to obtain a residence permit (as described below in two essential steps).

Citizens of an EU Member State can freely enter Romania, and they may remain in the country for more than three months. However, when choosing to do so, they are also required to register their residency (and provide proof of adequate income and accommodation) with the Romanian immigration authorities.

What types of residence permits can I apply for in Romania?

Foreign nationals who move to Romania can do so for various purposes, as listed below by our Romanian immigration lawyers:

• Study;
• Research or religious activities;
• Employment (in this category we can also mention digital nomads, subject to conditions);
• Business or commercial activities;
• Family reunification.

The infographic below summarizes the application steps for those looking to obtain residence in Romania:

How do I obtain a residence permit in Romania?

Foreign, non-EU nationals who want to move to Romania will follow two distinct and important steps:

1. Apply for a long-term visa (the type D visa);
2. Submit an application to the General Inspectorate for Immigration, no later than 30 days before the visa expiration date, to obtain a temporary residence permit (the long-term residence permit can only be requested after 5 years of continuous legal stay).

As seen above, the long-stay visa and the residence permit are inextricably linked.

What documents must I submit for the residence permit in Romania?

If you want to relocate to Romania in 2026, based on a visa type D issued for a specific purpose, you will submit general documents and visa-specific documents.

Some examples of visa-specific documents are listed below by our team:

• The employment agreement and/or proof of intra-company transfer, if this is the case (with accompanying documents issued by the foreign company);
• Acceptance letter, in the case of foreign nationals who will follow a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate program in Romania (or a student exchange program/other educational project);
• Proof of investment, and the specialized opinion on the business plan issued by the Romanian Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade.

Can my family join me if I have residency rights in Romania?

Yes. Your spouse or other family members may join you in Romania, provided that they obtain their own right to reside in the country.

The following documents are submitted in case of the spouse of a non-EU citizen who has the right to reside in Romania and is therefore considered the applicant’s sponsor:

• Application form;
• Identification document;
• Proof of marriage;
• Statement indicating that the persons will be living together and that no bigamy or polygamy relations will be undertaken;
• Proof of accommodation, medical insurance, and medical record;
• Proof of sufficient income;
• Proof of fee payment.

We invite you to watch a short video about the residence permit in Romania:

What is the long-term residence permit’s validity?

A Romanian long-term residence permit is valid for 5 years or 10 years for the family members of a Romanian citizen.

Are there any restrictions for obtaining residence in Romania?

Some categories of foreigners cannot obtain a residence permit in Romania, derived from a visa type D, as mentioned above:

• Those who have the right to a temporary study visa;
• Those who are seeking asylum or benefiting from temporary humanitarian protection, or protection from the Romanian state;
• Those who have a diplomatic or service visa, or who have a short-stay visa, or whose stay was for seasonal work or au pair.

Understanding the differences between the available types of visas is important for foreign nationals planning on remaining in Romania for long-term purposes.

Contact our immigration lawyer in Romania if you have questions about the residence permit, permanent residency, or require assistance during these applications in 2026.

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For more information and guidance on obtaining the long-term residence permit that allows you to immigrate to Romania, please do not hesitate to contact our immigration lawyers in Bucharest. We offer free judicial consultation.