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Peleș Castle in Sinaia
Peleș Castle in SinaiaPhoto: Myrabella · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Moving to Romania

13 ways to move to Romania in our guide: 1 nomad / remote-work visa, 3 business / startup routes, 6 work visas, 1 student visa, 2 spouse visas.

Remote workers: Digital nomad visa, RON 28k+ a month ≈ $5,780. Smallest investment: Company administrator visa, €50k+ ≈ $56k. Checked against official sources on .

Nomad visa: income neededRON 28k+ a month ≈ $5,780Digital nomad visa
Smallest investment needed€50k+ ≈ $56kCompany administrator visa
Longest first stay5 yearsResearcher visa

Romania offers a range of long-stay visas for remote workers, business owners, highly qualified employees, posted workers and students. Each route has its own conditions, and the records here set out who can apply and what documents are needed.

Remote workers with a foreign employer or foreign companyInvestors and business owners setting up in RomaniaHighly qualified employees with a Romanian job offerPosted workers and intra-corporate transfereesStudents in full-time higher education
Quick match

Nomad / Remote work · 1

Business / Startup · 3

Liberal profession visa

Income needed: RON 9,192+ a month ≈ $1,930

Needs health cover
Details

Long-stay visa for professional activities D/AP (liberal professions)

  • Not for Austria, Belgium +29 passports
  • Applicants meet the legal conditions for the liberal profession regulated by special laws
  • Applicants practise a similar profession in the home country

Practice of a liberal profession regulated by special laws. 1 2 3

What you must show and pay

  • Income of at least RON 9,192 a month (≈ $1,930) · At residence extension, means at least the average gross monthly earnings. The average gross monthly earnings used in Law 44/2026 (art. 19) is 9,192 lei. 1 3 4
  • A fee of EUR 300 (≈ $340) · Long-stay (D) visa fee charged for applications through the e-Visa portal from 27 April 2026 (EUR 120 (≈ $130) before that date); some nationalities exempt. 5

Requirements

  • Applicants meet the legal conditions for the liberal profession regulated by special laws. 1
  • Applicants practise a similar profession in the home country. 1
  • At residence extension, means are at least the average gross monthly earnings. 1
  • A criminal record certificate is submitted. 1
  • Medical insurance of EUR 30,000 (≈ $33,500) is submitted. 1
  • The permit extension needs proof that the profession is actually practised as the special law requires. 1

Stay

  • Visa 90 days; residence permit extended after entry in successive periods of up to 1 year.
  • Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
  • Long-stay visa up to 90 days: Granted for 90 days with one or more entries; the residence permit is obtained after entry.
  • Temporary right of residence up to 12 months: Extended in successive periods of up to 1 year.

Nationality

Third-country nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Work

Exercise of the licensed profession.

Family

Spouse, unmarried minor children (including adopted) and dependent first-degree ascending relatives can join through family reunification once the sponsor holds a temporary residence permit valid for at least one year.

First checked against official sources on Change log

Official site ↗

Work · 6

Student · 1

Student visa

Income needed: RON 4,325+ a month ≈ $910

Can work: limitedNeeds health cover
Details

Spouse visas · 2

For people married to, or in a partnership with, a citizen or permanent resident.

Free movement and visa-free stays · 1

Where each passport can live without a visa →

Tax

For newcomers, the records note that Romanian personal income tax is a flat rate under the Fiscal Code, and that residency rules are also in the Fiscal Code. Company taxation includes a microenterprise regime for small Romanian companies and a dividend tax on distributions. Foreign-source income is not addressed in these records, so its treatment depends on your residency status and the Fiscal Code; visas and tax are separate matters.

Special regime

Microenterprise income tax (1% of turnover) from 2026

1% tax

Details
  • Limit: €100k/yr ≈ $112k

Romanian companies with revenue up to EUR 100,000 (≈ $112,000) pay a single 1% tax on turnover in 2026; the former 3% rate and the EUR 60,000 (≈ $67,000) step were abolished.

Taxed on

Revenue forming the taxable base under art. 53 of the Fiscal Code, of a Romanian legal entity; revenue of linked enterprises is added together for the ceiling.

Who it applies to

  • Romanian legal entity whose revenue at 31 December 2025 and during 2026 does not exceed EUR 100,000 (≈ $112,000) (lowered from EUR 250,000 (≈ $279,000) from 1 January 2026).

Exclusions

  • If revenue exceeds EUR 100,000 (≈ $112,000) during 2026, the company owes profit tax from the quarter of exceeding and cannot opt back in for the following period.

Limits

  • EUR 100,000 a year (≈ $112,000) · Revenue ceiling for the micro-enterprise regime, group-wide including linked enterprises; euro equivalent at the exchange rate at 2025 year end.

Tax residence

Applies to the company, not to the individual; individual tax on dividends is separate.

Visas

Not linked to any visa; foreign shareholders and administrators may use a Romanian company that qualifies.

Other taxes

Dividends paid out are taxed at 16% from 2026. Standard VAT is 21% (reduced 11%) from 1 August 2025; the VAT exemption ceiling is 395,000 lei from 1 September 2025. Social contributions follow separate rules.

Checked against official sources on Change log

Full page →

Standard rules

Dividend tax 16% from 2026

16% tax

Details
  • Who: Dividends distributed after 1 January 2026

Dividends distributed from 1 January 2026 are taxed at 16% (previously 10%), final tax for individuals.

Taxed on

Gross dividends distributed to individuals or legal entities.

Who it applies to

  • Dividends distributed after 1 January 2026; dividends distributed from 2025 interim financial statements stay at 10%.

Exclusions

  • Interest on bonds issued by Romanian companies abroad stays at 10%.

Tax residence

Applies to resident individuals; dividends paid to non-residents under art. 224 are also taxed at 16% from 1 January 2026, subject to tax treaties.

Visas

Independent of visa category.

Checked against official sources on Change log

Full page →

Standard rules

Personal income tax general rate 10%

10% tax

Details
  • On: Annual taxable income by category under art. 64(1) of the Fiscal Code
  • Who: Residents are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income
  • Limit: RON 3,000/mo ≈ $630

Romanian personal income tax is a flat 10% under art. 64(1) of the Fiscal Code; residents are taxed on worldwide income.

Taxed on

Annual taxable income by category under art. 64(1) of the Fiscal Code.

Who it applies to

  • Residents are taxed on worldwide income, including foreign-source income; foreign pensions are taxed at 10% of annual gross income after the non-taxable monthly pension amount.

Exclusions

  • Dividends are taxed separately at 16% from 2026; interest on term deposits is taxed at 10%.

Limits

  • RON 3,000 a month (≈ $630) · Non-taxable monthly pension amount, applied to foreign pensions and reduced by the health contribution due (since August 2025).

Days in the country

  • More than 183 days in any 12 consecutive months ending in the calendar year · An individual present in Romania for more than 183 days in total is tax resident; domicile, permanent home or centre of vital interests in Romania also make an individual resident.

Tax residence

Tax residence arises from domicile, a permanent home, centre of vital interests in Romania, or presence above 183 days in any 12 consecutive months ending in the calendar year; tax-treaty tie-breakers apply where two states claim residence.

Visas

Not tied to a visa; residence permits do not by themselves decide tax residence.

Checked against official sources on Change log

Full page →

Checked against official sources on Change log

Romania in pictures

The Transfăgărășan road in the Făgăraș Mountains
The Transfăgărășan road in the Făgăraș MountainsPhoto: Andrei Stroe · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Bran Castle on its rock above the Transylvanian countryside
Bran Castle on its rock above the Transylvanian countrysidePhoto: Todor Bozhinov · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Jagged peaks of the Ciucaș Mountains
Jagged peaks of the Ciucaș MountainsPhoto: kallerna · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The CEC Palace on Calea Victoriei in Bucharest at night
The CEC Palace on Calea Victoriei in Bucharest at nightPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

All photo credits

Path to permanent residence · 2
  • PR after 5 years · Long-term residence right
  • PR after 10 years · Permanent stay

Arriving in Romania: first steps

  1. Arrange medical insurance with the required cover for your route before or during the visa process.
  2. Have proof of accommodation ready, as it is required for most long-stay routes.
  3. For work routes, make sure your employment contract is registered in REGES-ONLINE.
  4. After entry on a Blue Card route, apply for the Blue Card or single permit before the visa stay ends.
  5. For business routes, keep company registration documents and proof of registered office available for the residence permit.
  6. For study routes, carry the acceptance proof from the Ministry of Education and, if you are a minor, parental consent.

Questions people ask

What is the Romania digital nomad visa income requirement in 2026?

Romania has 1 nomad or remote-work visa. Digital nomad visa asks for an income of at least RON 27,576 a month (≈ $5,780).

Can I move to Romania by starting a business?

Romania has 3 business or startup routes. Company shareholder visa asks for an investment from EUR 100,000 (≈ $112,000) and gives a first stay of 3 years that can be renewed. Sole proprietor visa asks for an income of at least RON 9,192 a month (≈ $1,930). Liberal profession visa asks for an income of at least RON 9,192 a month (≈ $1,930).

What work visas does Romania offer foreigners?

Romania has 6 work visas. Blue Card asks for a salary of at least RON 9,192 a month (≈ $1,930) and gives a first stay of 3 years that can be renewed. Company administrator visa asks for an investment of at least EUR 50,000 (≈ $55,900). Work visa asks for a salary of at least RON 4,325 a month (≈ $910) and gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed.

How do I get a student visa for Romania?

Romania has 1 student visa. Student visa asks for an income of at least RON 4,325 a month (≈ $910).

Can I join my spouse or partner in Romania?

Yes. Romania has 2 spouse visas. Spouse of a resident gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed. Spouse of a citizen gives a first stay of 5 years that can be renewed.

Compare with

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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

Ask the AI about Romania AI

An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.

Sources (5)

Official sources

  1. Activitati profesionale (D/AP) · General Inspectorate for Immigration · checked 2026-10-10
  2. Types of visas and the purpose of your trip · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (eViza) · checked 2026-10-10
  3. Government Emergency Ordinance 194/2002 on the regime of foreigners (consolidated text, June 2024) · Government of Romania / IGI · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2024-06
  4. Law 44/2026 State social insurance budget 2026 (average gross earnings 9,192 lei, art. 19) · Parliament of Romania (ANAF legislation library) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-03-27
  5. Visa fees · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (eViza) · checked 2026-10-10