Romania · Business / Startup
Romania Sole proprietor visa
Income needed: RON 9,192+ a month ≈ $1,930
Long-stay visa for economic activities D/AE (sole proprietor / family business)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Sole proprietor visa is a business / startup route for Romania. Applicants need income of RON 9,192+ a month ≈ $1,930. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Money needed
- RON 9,192+ a month ≈ $1,930
- Government fees
- €300 ≈ $340
- Processing
- Up to 45 days
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee €300 ≈ $340; 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
- 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.
Shown, not spentRON 9,192+/mo ≈ $1,930
- RON 9,192 a month (≈ $1,930)At residence extension, proof of means at least the average gross monthly earnings for the extension period (art. 53 OUG 194/2002); compliance with GEO 44/2008 conditions required. The average gross monthly earnings used in Law 44/2026 (art. 19) is 9,192 lei.
RenewalRenewable
Residence is extended in successive periods of up to 1 year.
Permanent residenceAfter 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
CitizenshipAfter 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.
ProcessingUp to 45 days
IGI decides within 30 days of filing; the deadline can be extended by 15 days for extra checks.
Where to applyFrom abroad
Employer or you start abroad: obtain the long-stay visa at a Romanian consulate, then apply for the residence permit from IGI after entry.
Presence rulesAbsence 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
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Romania, not after arriving
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
What you must show1
- At residence extension, proof of means is at least the average gross monthly earnings for the extension period.
Documents3
- Proof of meeting the conditions of the special law (GEO 44/2008) is submitted.
- A criminal record is submitted.
- Medical insurance of EUR 30,000 (≈ $33,500) is submitted.
What happens at day 183
How Romania decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in any 12 consecutive months ending in the calendar yearAn 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 Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Health insurance
Medical insurance of EUR 30,000 (≈ $33,500) is submitted
- Police certificate and civil documents
A criminal record is submitted
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Self-employed activity as authorised natural person, individual enterprise or family enterprise under GEO 44/2008. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- Income of at least RON 9,192 a month (≈ $1,930) · At residence extension, proof of means at least the average gross monthly earnings for the extension period (art. 53 OUG 194/2002); compliance with GEO 44/2008 conditions required. The average gross monthly earnings used in Law 44/2026 (art. 19) is 9,192 lei. 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
- At residence extension, proof of means is at least the average gross monthly earnings for the extension period. 1
- Proof of meeting the conditions of the special law (GEO 44/2008) is submitted. 1
- A criminal record is submitted. 1
- Medical insurance of EUR 30,000 (≈ $33,500) is submitted. 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
Self-employment in the registered activity.
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.
Official sources
- Activitati economice (D/AE) · General Inspectorate for Immigration · checked 2026-10-10
- Types of visas and the purpose of your trip · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (eViza) · checked 2026-10-10
- 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
- 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
- Visa fees · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (eViza) · checked 2026-10-10
- Long-term residence in Romania · General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania · checked 2026-10-10
- Article 8: granting of Romanian citizenship on request · National Authority for Citizenship (ANC), Romania · checked 2026-10-11
Sole proprietor visa and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietor visa | Needs income of RON 9,192+ a month ≈ $1,930 | – | – |
| Company shareholder visa | Needs an investment from €100k ≈ $112k | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Portugal | Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Entrepreneur visa Spain | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Italy | Needs savings of €50k+ ≈ $56k | 1 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Sole proprietor visa?
Income of at least RON 9,192 a month (≈ $1,930). At residence extension, proof of means at least the average gross monthly earnings for the extension period (art. 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.
How long can I stay on the Sole proprietor visa?
Visa 90 days; residence permit extended after entry in successive periods of up to 1 year.
How long does the Sole proprietor visa 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 Sole proprietor visa?
Self-employment in the registered activity.
Can I bring my family on the Sole proprietor visa?
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.
Who can apply for the Sole proprietor visa?
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 Sole proprietor visa lead to permanent residence in Romania?
Time on the Sole proprietor visa counts toward permanent residence in Romania, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Sole proprietor visa counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 8 years.
How are Sole proprietor visa holders taxed in Romania?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Sole proprietor visa. The standard rules apply: Dividends distributed from 1 January 2026 are taxed at 16% (previously 10%), final tax for individuals.
More in Romania
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 7 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.
- Activitati economice (D/AE) · General Inspectorate for Immigration · checked 2026-10-10
- Types of visas and the purpose of your trip · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (eViza) · checked 2026-10-10
- Government Emergency Ordinance 194/2002 on the regime of foreigners (consolidated text, June 2024) · Government of Romania / IGI · checked 2026-10-10
- 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
- Visa fees · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (eViza) · checked 2026-10-10
- Long-term residence in Romania · General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania · checked 2026-10-10
- Article 8: granting of Romanian citizenship on request · 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, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.