Romania · Spouse visas
Romania Spouse of a citizen
First stay: 5 yrs
Long-stay visa for family reunification and residence permit (spouse of a Romanian citizen)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for Romania. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Processing
- Up to 90 days
- First stay
- 5 yrs
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
Extended in periods of up to 5 years.
General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
Long-term residence permit (valid 10 years for family of a Romanian citizen) after 5 years of continuous stay.
General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania
CitizenshipAfter 5 years of marriage
A spouse living with a Romanian citizen needs 5 years from the date of marriage, plus the other conditions.
ProcessingUp to 90 days
First residence permit is decided within 90 days, later ones within 30 days; checks can add 15 days.
General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania
Where to applyFrom abroad
Obtain the family-reunification visa abroad, 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
Who can apply1
- Applicant is a foreigner married to a Romanian citizen, or an unmarried partner with at least one child in common with an unmarried Romanian citizen.
What you must show1
- The long-stay visa fee is waived for family members of Romanian citizens.
Documents3
- Marriage certificate issued by the Romanian authorities, or transcribed in Romania if the marriage was abroad.
- Passport, the Romanian citizen's identity document and a written declaration of no other marriage.
- Proof of legal possession of the living space, proof of social health insurance and a medical certificate.
Steps3
- The family member requests the long-stay visa for family reunification at a Romanian diplomatic mission or consulate in the state of residence.
- After entry the permit is requested at the IGI office of the county of residence at least 30 days before the visa stay expires, in person or online.
- The first residence permit is decided within 90 days and later permits within 30 days.
After you arrive2
- The permit is renewed at least 30 days before it expires; the right of stay is extended in periods of up to 5 years.
- Long-term residence after five years of continuous residence gives a permit valid ten years for family members of Romanian citizens.
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 5 years at first, renewable
- 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
Proof of legal possession of the living space, proof of social health insurance and a medical certificate
- Police certificate and civil documents
Marriage certificate issued by the Romanian authorities, or transcribed in Romania if the marriage was abroad
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Long-stay visa for the foreign spouse or partner of a Romanian citizen, followed by a residence permit as a family member of a Romanian citizen, extendable in periods of up to 5 years. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Requirements
- Applicant is a foreigner married to a Romanian citizen, or an unmarried partner with at least one child in common with an unmarried Romanian citizen. 1 2
- The long-stay visa fee is waived for family members of Romanian citizens. 3
- Marriage certificate issued by the Romanian authorities, or transcribed in Romania if the marriage was abroad. 1 2
- Passport, the Romanian citizen's identity document and a written declaration of no other marriage. 2
- Proof of legal possession of the living space, proof of social health insurance and a medical certificate. 2
- The family member requests the long-stay visa for family reunification at a Romanian diplomatic mission or consulate in the state of residence. 1
- After entry the permit is requested at the IGI office of the county of residence at least 30 days before the visa stay expires, in person or online. 2
- The first residence permit is decided within 90 days and later permits within 30 days. 2
- The permit is renewed at least 30 days before it expires; the right of stay is extended in periods of up to 5 years. 2
- Long-term residence after five years of continuous residence gives a permit valid ten years for family members of Romanian citizens. 4
Stay
- Temporary right of residence extended in periods of up to 5 years; long-term residence after five years of continuous residence.
- First stay: up to 60 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
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
Foreign family members of Romanian citizens with a temporary residence permit may work without a work permit.
Family
Foreign spouse, partner with a child in common, children under 21 (or studying up to 26, or unable to support themselves), first-degree ascending relatives, and a foreign parent of a minor Romanian citizen can apply.
Official sources
- Family reunification for Romanian citizens · Inspectorate General for Immigration (IGI), Romania · checked 2026-10-11
- Residence permit · General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania · 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
- Employment and posting · General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania · checked 2026-10-10
- Residence permit for family members · General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania · checked 2026-10-11
- Article 8: granting of Romanian citizenship on request · National Authority for Citizenship (ANC), Romania · checked 2026-10-11
Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a citizen | – | 5 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Spouse of a resident | – | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Spouse of a citizen Portugal | – | – | – |
| Spouse of a resident Spain | Needs income of €900+ a month ≈ $1,010 | – | Yes |
| Spouse of a resident Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Spouse of a citizen?
Temporary right of residence extended in periods of up to 5 years; long-term residence after five years of continuous residence.
How long does the Spouse of a citizen take to process?
First residence permit is decided within 90 days, later ones within 30 days; checks can add 15 days.
Can I work on the Spouse of a citizen?
Yes. Foreign family members of Romanian citizens with a temporary residence permit may work without a work permit.
Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a citizen?
Foreign spouse, partner with a child in common, children under 21 (or studying up to 26, or unable to support themselves), first-degree ascending relatives, and a foreign parent of a minor Romanian citizen can apply.
Who can apply for the Spouse of a citizen?
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 Spouse of a citizen lead to permanent residence in Romania?
Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward permanent residence in Romania, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 5 years of marriage.
How are Spouse of a citizen holders taxed in Romania?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a citizen. The standard rules apply: Dividends distributed from 1 January 2026 are taxed at 16% (previously 10%), final tax for individuals.
More in Romania
Spouse and partner 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.
- Family reunification for Romanian citizens · Inspectorate General for Immigration (IGI), Romania · checked 2026-10-11
- Residence permit · General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania · 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
- Employment and posting · General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania · checked 2026-10-10
- Residence permit for family members · General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania · checked 2026-10-11
- 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.