---
title: "Romania Blue Card requirements 2026: RON 9,192+/mo needed"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/romania/blue-card/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---

Romania · Work

# Romania Blue Card

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

EU Blue Card / single permit for highly qualified workers

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Record corrected 12 Oct 2026](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/corrections/#change-ro-blue-card) [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **Income needed:** RON 9,192+ a month ≈ $1,930 (Income of at least RON 9,192 a month (≈ $1,930) · Salary stated in the employment contract must be at least the average gross salary; the 2026 average gross earnings used for the state social insurance budget is 9,192 lei. A fee of EUR 300 (≈ $340) · Long-stay (D) visa fee for e-Visa applications submitted from 27 April 2026. A fee of RON 265 (≈ $56) · Cost of the residence permit card when the permit is issued in Romania; a consular fee of EUR 120, paid in lei, is charged with it (immigration inspectorate page).)
- **First stay:** 3 yrs (90-day D/AM1 visa, then single permit or Blue Card issued by IGI for the employment contract period plus 3 months, up to 3 years.)
- **Who can apply:** Most passports (Third-country nationals.)

## Key facts

Blue Card is a work route for Romania. Applicants need income of RON 9,192+ a month ≈ $1,930. You can stay 3 yrs, renewable. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

- **Money needed:** RON 9,192+ a month ≈ $1,930
- **Government fees:** €300 ≈ $340 · RON 265 ≈ $56
- **Processing:** Up to 45 days
- **First stay:** 3 yrs

## Cost, time and long term

To apply: 2 government fees listed below; income to show RON 9,192+/mo ≈ $1,930; decision: up to 45 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

**Government fees: €300 ≈ $340 · RON 265 ≈ $56**

- EUR 300 (≈ $340) Long-stay (D) visa fee for e-Visa applications submitted from 27 April 2026.
- RON 265 (≈ $56) Cost of the residence permit card when the permit is issued in Romania; a consular fee of EUR 120, (≈ $130) paid in lei, is charged with it (immigration inspectorate page).

**Shown, not spent: RON 9,192+/mo ≈ $1,930**

- RON 9,192 a month (≈ $1,930) Salary stated in the employment contract must be at least the average gross salary; the 2026 average gross earnings used for the state social insurance budget is 9,192 lei.

**Renewal: Renewable**

Single permit or Blue Card is renewed at least 30 days before it expires.

[General Inspectorate for Immigration](https://igi.mai.gov.ro/single-permit-eu-blue-card/)

**Permanent residence: After 5 years of residence**

Long-term residence (5-year permit) after 5 years of continuous stay. Time on the visa itself, short-stay visas and seasonal work does not count.

[General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania](https://igi.mai.gov.ro/en/long-term-residence-in-romania/)

**Citizenship: After 8 years**

Citizenship on request needs 8 years of legal domicile in Romania, with a permanent residence permit, plus loyalty, income, Romanian language and culture tests.

[National Authority for Citizenship (ANC), Romania](https://cetatenie.just.ro/articolul-8-acordare/)

**Processing: Up to 45 days**

IGI decides within 30 days of filing; the deadline can be extended by 15 days for extra checks.

[General Inspectorate for Immigration](https://igi.mai.gov.ro/single-permit-eu-blue-card/)

**Where to apply: From abroad**

Obtain the D/AM1 visa abroad, then IGI issues the single permit or Blue Card after entry.

[General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania](https://igi.mai.gov.ro/long-stay-visa-for-employment/)

**Presence rules: Absence limits**

For long-term status, absences must stay under 6 consecutive months and 10 months in total over the 5 years.

[General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania](https://igi.mai.gov.ro/en/long-term-residence-in-romania/)

## Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

- Applications are made from outside Romania, not after arriving
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Romania
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- Applicants have superior professional skills and meet the authorisation rules for the highly qualified occupation.
- The contract is full-time, indefinite or fixed term of at least 6 months.

#### What you must show

- The salary stated in the contract is at least the average gross salary (9,192 lei per month, the 2026 social-insurance budget reference).
- Issuing the permit in Romania costs 265 lei for the card plus a consular fee of EUR 120 (≈ $130) paid in lei, as listed on the immigration inspectorate page.
- The long-stay (D) visa fee is separate: EUR 300 (≈ $340) for e-Visa applications submitted from 27 April 2026.

#### Documents

- The employment contract is registered in REGES-ONLINE.
- The employer provides an employment agency certificate on available local workforce, issued no more than 90 days before filing.

#### Steps

1. The employer files the single application on the WorkinRomania.gov.ro platform for the D/AM1 visa.
2. After entry, applicants apply for the Blue Card or single permit at least 30 days before the visa stay ends.

#### After you arrive

- The permit is extended for the contract period plus 3 months, up to 3 years.

## What happens at day 183

How Romania decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

- **Stay on this route:** **Up to 3 years at first, renewable**
- **Tax residence:** - **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.
- **Foreign-source income:** Romanian personal income tax is a flat 10% under art. 64(1) of the Fiscal Code; residents are taxed on worldwide income.

[All tax rules for Romania](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/romania/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026

**Full official text**

Highly qualified workers are admitted through a D/AM1 visa and then receive a single permit or EU Blue Card from IGI after entry. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4)

#### What you must show and pay

- Income of at least RON 9,192 a month (≈ $1,930) · Salary stated in the employment contract must be at least the average gross salary; the 2026 average gross earnings used for the state social insurance budget is 9,192 lei. (sources 1, 3)
- A fee of EUR 300 (≈ $340) · Long-stay (D) visa fee for e-Visa applications submitted from 27 April 2026. (source 4)
- A fee of RON 265 (≈ $56) · Cost of the residence permit card when the permit is issued in Romania; a consular fee of EUR 120, (≈ $130) paid in lei, is charged with it (immigration inspectorate page). (source 2)

#### Requirements

- Applicants have superior professional skills and meet the authorisation rules for the highly qualified occupation. (source 1)
- The contract is full-time, indefinite or fixed term of at least 6 months. (source 1)
- The salary stated in the contract is at least the average gross salary (9,192 lei per month, the 2026 social-insurance budget reference). (sources 1, 3)
- Issuing the permit in Romania costs 265 lei for the card plus a consular fee of EUR 120 (≈ $130) paid in lei, as listed on the immigration inspectorate page. (source 2)
- The long-stay (D) visa fee is separate: EUR 300 (≈ $340) for e-Visa applications submitted from 27 April 2026. (source 4)
- The employment contract is registered in REGES-ONLINE. (source 1)
- The employer provides an employment agency certificate on available local workforce, issued no more than 90 days before filing. (source 1)
- The employer files the single application on the WorkinRomania.gov.ro platform for the D/AM1 visa. (source 1)
- After entry, applicants apply for the Blue Card or single permit at least 30 days before the visa stay ends. (source 2)
- The permit is extended for the contract period plus 3 months, up to 3 years. (source 2)

#### Stay

- 90-day D/AM1 visa, then single permit or Blue Card issued by IGI for the employment contract period plus 3 months, up to 3 years.
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
- 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.
- Single permit or EU Blue Card up to 36 months: Extended for the employment contract period plus 3 months, up to 3 years.

#### 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

Right to work in the highly qualified job.

#### Family

Sponsors holding a Blue Card can apply for family reunification even if the permit validity is under one year.

Checked 2026-10-12

## Official sources

1. [Long-stay visa for employment](https://igi.mai.gov.ro/long-stay-visa-for-employment/) · General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Single permit / EU Blue Card](https://igi.mai.gov.ro/single-permit-eu-blue-card/) · General Inspectorate for Immigration · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Law 44/2026 State social insurance budget 2026 (average gross earnings 9,192 lei, art. 19)](https://static.anaf.ro/static/10/Anaf/legislatie/L_44_2026.pdf) · Parliament of Romania (ANAF legislation library) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-03-27
4. [Visa fees](https://eviza.mae.ro/VisaFees) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (eViza) · checked 2026-10-10
5. [Long-term residence in Romania](https://igi.mai.gov.ro/en/long-term-residence-in-romania/) · General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania · checked 2026-10-10
6. [Article 8: granting of Romanian citizenship on request](https://cetatenie.just.ro/articolul-8-acordare/) · National Authority for Citizenship (ANC), Romania · checked 2026-10-11

## Blue Card and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Blue Card | Needs income of RON 9,192+ a month ≈ $1,930 | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| [Company administrator visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/romania/administrator-das/) | Needs an investment of €50k+ ≈ $56k | – | – |
| [Work visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/romania/employment/) | Needs income of RON 4,325+ a month ≈ $910 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| [Posted worker visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/romania/posting-ict/) | Needs income of RON 4,325+ a month ≈ $910 | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| [Researcher visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/romania/researcher/) | Needs income of RON 4,325+ a month ≈ $910 | 5 yr, renewable | Yes |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the Blue Card?

Income of at least RON 9,192 a month (≈ $1,930). Salary stated in the employment contract must be at least the average gross salary; the 2026 average gross earnings used for the state social insurance budget is 9,192 lei. A fee of EUR 300 (≈ $340). Long-stay (D) visa fee for e-Visa applications submitted from 27 April 2026. A fee of RON 265 (≈ $56). Cost of the residence permit card when the permit is issued in Romania; a consular fee of EUR 120, (≈ $130) paid in lei, is charged with it (immigration inspectorate page).

### How long can I stay on the Blue Card?

90-day D/AM1 visa, then single permit or Blue Card issued by IGI for the employment contract period plus 3 months, up to 3 years.

### How long does the Blue Card take to process?

IGI decides within 30 days of filing; the deadline can be extended by 15 days for extra checks.

### Can I work on the Blue Card?

Right to work in the highly qualified job.

### Can I bring my family on the Blue Card?

Sponsors holding a Blue Card can apply for family reunification even if the permit validity is under one year.

### Who can apply for the Blue Card?

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.

### Does the Blue Card lead to permanent residence in Romania?

Time on the Blue Card counts toward permanent residence in Romania, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Blue Card counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 8 years.

### How are Blue Card holders taxed in Romania?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Blue Card. The standard rules apply: Dividends distributed from 1 January 2026 are taxed at 16% (previously 10%), final tax for individuals.

## More in Romania

[Digital nomad visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/romania/digital-nomad/) [Company shareholder visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/romania/business-dac/) [Sole proprietor visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/romania/economic-dae/) [Branch head visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/romania/branch-head/) [Student visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/romania/study/)

## Work visas elsewhere

[🇵🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/eu-blue-card/) [🇪🇸 EU Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇪 IT sector permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/it-residence-permit/) [🇮🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇷 Large-company director permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/company-executive-b3/) [🇩🇪 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/eu-blue-card/)

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

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-12 against 6 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

1. [Long-stay visa for employment](https://igi.mai.gov.ro/long-stay-visa-for-employment/) · General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Single permit / EU Blue Card](https://igi.mai.gov.ro/single-permit-eu-blue-card/) · General Inspectorate for Immigration · checked 2026-10-10
3. [Law 44/2026 State social insurance budget 2026 (average gross earnings 9,192 lei, art. 19)](https://static.anaf.ro/static/10/Anaf/legislatie/L_44_2026.pdf) · Parliament of Romania (ANAF legislation library) · checked 2026-10-10
4. [Visa fees](https://eviza.mae.ro/VisaFees) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (eViza) · checked 2026-10-10
5. [Long-term residence in Romania](https://igi.mai.gov.ro/en/long-term-residence-in-romania/) · General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania · checked 2026-10-10
6. [Article 8: granting of Romanian citizenship on request](https://cetatenie.just.ro/articolul-8-acordare/) · National Authority for Citizenship (ANC), Romania · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.