Romania digital nomad visa: Complete guide 2026

Romania is big, dramatic, and cheaper than almost anywhere else in Europe. Bucharest is a city of grand communist-era boulevards and Ottoman-influenced old town neighborhoods, of excellent food and a nightlife scene that regularly punches above its weight. Beyond the capital, you have Transylvania's Saxon towns and forested mountains, the painted monasteries of Bukovina, and a Black Sea coastline that remains largely undiscovered by western tourists. The internet is among the fastest in Europe, the cost of living is among the lowest, and the startup scene in Bucharest has grown quietly but steadily for years.

In December 2021, Romania introduced its Digital Nomad Visa — officially the Long-Stay Visa for Other Purposes (D/AS) — giving non-EU remote workers a legal framework to live and work there for up to a year, with the option to renew. Employees, freelancers, and those managing their own companies abroad are all eligible. This guide covers everything you need to know: who qualifies, what documents you need, and every other step of the process.

Who Can Apply: Eligibility Requirements

Work Requirements

The visa is for people who work remotely using information and communication technology for employers or clients based outside Romania. Applicants must fall into one of the following categories: employed by a company registered outside Romania; freelancing or working as an independent contractor for clients based outside Romania; or managing a company registered outside Romania that has been operating for at least three years on the date of application. You cannot work for a Romanian-registered company.

Income Requirements

The minimum income threshold is three times the Romanian national average gross salary — currently 29,604 RON (~€5,800) per month, based on the latest INS figure of 9,868 RON for December 2025. You must have earned at least this amount every month for the six months before applying, and must be able to demonstrate that your income will continue at this level for the full duration of the visa. This figure is updated monthly by INS and will shift with exchange rates, so verify the exact current amount before applying.

Passport Validity

Your passport must be valid for at least three months after your estimated date of exit from Romania, contain at least two blank pages, and have been issued within the last ten years.

Documents You'll Need to Prepare

A certified translation into Romanian must accompany all documents. Documents issued in a foreign country must be legalized or certified with an apostille.

Passport

Your valid travel document. Bring the original and a copy.

Photograph

One passport-sized color photograph meeting the official requirements.

Application Form

The Long-Stay Visa for Other Purposes (D/AS) application form, completed online through the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs eVisa platform, then printed and signed.

Letter of Intent

A signed letter explaining your intention to live in Romania and detailing the activities you plan to carry out during your stay, confirming your remote work status.

Employment Contract or Proof of Business Ownership

Your employment contract with a company registered outside Romania, provided in original with a certified Romanian translation. For business owners, proof of remote management of a company registered outside Romania for at least three years as of the application date.

Company Identification Document

A separate document issued by your employer or your own company, presenting its full identification and contact details, field of activity, your participation in the company, and information on the company's legal representatives. The original must be provided alongside a certified Romanian translation.

Proof of Income

Bank statements, payslips, or other documentation demonstrating that your monthly income has consistently met the minimum threshold for the six months prior to application.

Tax Compliance Certificate

A document from the relevant authority in your country of residence confirming that you have paid taxes and have no record of tax fraud or evasion. This must be apostilled.

Health Insurance

A valid insurance contract covering medical treatment costs in Romania for the full duration of your stay, with a minimum coverage of €30,000.

Proof of Accommodation

Evidence of where you will be living in Romania, such as a rental or lease contract, or a hotel reservation for a minimum of three months.

Proof of Travel to Romania

A valid ticket to Romania. If travelling by car, provide your driving licence, vehicle documents, and proof of itinerary.

Criminal Record Certificate

An official criminal record certificate from your country of domicile or residence, bearing an apostille or legalization as required. The certificate must not be older than six months at the time of submission.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Prepare your documents

Assemble everything listed above. A certified translation must accompany all documents not in Romanian. Allow time for obtaining your criminal record certificate and tax compliance certificate, as these can take several weeks depending on your country of residence.

Step 2: Apply online or in person

Applications must be submitted in person at a Romanian embassy or consulate. Before your appointment, complete your application form and upload your supporting documents through the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs eVisa platform at evisa.mae.ro — this allows consular staff to review everything in advance and flag any issues before you attend. Once your documents are in order, book an appointment to present your originals in person and have your file formally registered.

Step 3: Pay the application fee

The visa application fee is €120, paid as directed by the embassy or consulate.

Step 4: Wait for a decision

Processing for this visa typically takes 30 to 45 days from the date you present yourself at the diplomatic mission or consular post, though it can be shorter. You may be contacted for additional information or clarification during this period.

Step 5: Enter Romania upon approval

Once approved, your visa will be issued, and you may enter Romania. The visa permits a stay of 90 days from your date of entry. During this initial 90-day period, you must apply for a temporary residence permit through the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) to extend your stay to 12 months.

Step 6: Apply for your temporary residence permit

No later than 30 days before your initial 90-day visa expires, apply for a temporary digital nomad residence permit through the IGI online portal, or in person at the relevant territorial immigration office. The fee for the residence permit is €120, plus approximately 259 Romanian lei (~€53) for the permit card itself. A medical examination at a private clinic will also be required at this stage. IGI has 30 days to issue a decision on your permit application, extendable to 90 days in complex cases.

Step 7: Renew if needed

The residence permit can be renewed for an additional 12 months, provided you continue to meet the eligibility requirements. You must also have spent the majority of your time physically present in Romania during the preceding permit period — extended absences can affect your renewal application. Apply for renewal before your current permit expires. Under the current legislation, stays of up to 36 months in total are possible through successive renewals.

When renewing the residence permit, the income requirement drops to the level of one average gross monthly salary; no longer the three-times threshold required for the initial application.

Costs and Fees to Expect

Visa Fee

The application fee for the long-stay D visa is €120, non-refundable.

Residence Permit Fee

Once in Romania, you will pay approximately €120 for the residence permit application plus approximately €53 for the permit card itself.

Document Preparation Expenses

Factor in the following potential costs:

• Certified translations of documents into Romanian: €5–€20 per page

• Apostille or legalization of foreign documents: €20–€50 per document

• Criminal record certificate issuance: €10–€50

• Medical examination at a private clinic in Romania: €30–€80

• Tax compliance certificate: €10–€50, varies significantly by country

• Medical examination at a private clinic in Romania: €30–€80

Frequently Asked Questions

Can freelancers apply?

Yes. Freelancers and independent contractors with clients based outside Romania are eligible, provided they can demonstrate the required monthly income for the six months preceding application.

Can I work for a Romanian company on this visa?

No. Your activity must be remote work for employers or clients based outside Romania. Working for a Romanian-registered company is not permitted under this visa category.

Is the visa renewable?

Yes. After your initial 90-day D visa, you apply for a 12-month residence permit. This permit can be renewed annually, with a total stay of up to 36 months possible under the current legislation.

Can I bring my family?

Yes, but they cannot be added to your digital nomad residence permit. They must apply separately for a family reunification visa, which they can do alongside your application. Submit all applications together at the same embassy appointment.

Can I travel within the Schengen Area on this visa?

Romania joined the Schengen Area in January 2025, meaning border controls between Romania and other Schengen member states have been lifted. During the validity of your long-stay D visa or residence permit, standard Schengen rules apply; you can travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Does the Digital Nomad Visa lead to permanent residency?

Not directly. The digital nomad visa and residence permit are temporary statuses and do not automatically count toward permanent residency. If you are interested in long-term residency or Romanian citizenship, consult an immigration specialist; the path involves transitioning to other visa categories and meeting separate continuity of residence requirements.

Will I pay taxes in Romania?

Under Law no. 69/2023, digital nomads are exempt from Romanian income tax and social insurance contributions on their foreign-sourced income, but only for stays of up to 183 days in any 12 consecutive months. If you stay beyond 183 days, you become a Romanian tax resident, at which point the standard 10% flat income tax rate applies to your worldwide income, along with social contributions. The 183-day threshold is therefore significant and worth planning around. Even before reaching that threshold, you may need to register your fiscal presence with ANAF if you hold a residence permit. Romania has tax treaties with over 80 countries that may affect your obligations — consult a qualified tax professional before making long-term plans.