How to send money to Romania in 2026: lei or euros, a gift to relatives and paying for a flat
Romania lives in lei although it is in the EU: euros from EU countries arrive the next business day, other currencies in 1-3 days, and lei move between Romanian banks in seconds, up to $11,000 at a time. In 2026 cash help to relatives is tax-free, and a large sum is backed by a deed of gift.
In short
- A Romanian account number has 24 characters, and euros from the EU arrive in 1 business day.
- An instant payment in lei is up to $11,000 (50,000 lei) at a time, and the money arrives in 10 seconds.
- A cash gift is not taxed, while income without a confirmed source is taxed at 70%.
- Deposits are protected up to $120,000 at one bank, and home sale proceeds above that for 12 months.
In detail
In 2026 money goes to Romania to a local 24-character account in lei or euros: a European payment from EU countries is credited on the next business day, an international one from the rest of the world in 1-3 days. Within the country lei move between banks in seconds, up to $11,000 (50,000 lei) at a time, and cash help to relatives is not taxed at any amount.
| Method | In 2026 | Currency | Timing | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A euro transfer from the EU and the euro payments area | works | euros to a currency account or exchanged into lei | 1 business day | a 24-character account number and the recipient's name |
| An international transfer from other countries | works | dollars, euros, lei | 1-3 business days | the account number and an 8- or 11-character bank code |
| An instant payment in lei within Romania | works | lei | up to 10 seconds, around the clock | up to $11,000 (50,000 lei) per payment |
| A money transfer system to an account | works | lei, euros | from minutes to a day | the recipient's name and account number |
The National Bank of Romania rate on 7 October 2026 is 4.7801 lei per dollar, dollar sums are rounded up; the table was checked on 8 October 2026.
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Lei or euros: which currency to send money to Romania in
Romania is in the European Union but settles in lei, so a transfer has two paths. Euros from EU countries go under European rules in 1 business day and with a fee as within your own country. Romanian banks keep currency accounts in euros, and the money lands on them with no exchange, while it is changed into lei for a specific payment.
If euros or dollars are sent to a lei account, the bank exchanges them on crediting at its own rate, and from $10,000 the difference from the National Bank rate is noticeable. So a large sum is more convenient to send to a currency account in the same currency it was sent in.
Within the country lei move between banks in 10 seconds around the clock, up to $11,000 (50,000 lei) per payment: settlement goes through the National Bank of Romania. Romanian banks will start receiving instant euro transfers from 9 January 2027, when the EU rule reaches countries outside the euro area.
From countries outside the EU money goes through correspondent banks in 1-3 business days. How money leaves your country is decided by its laws, and Romania receives the transfer under its own. If your bank does not send a payment to Bucharest directly, a manager will suggest a legal route from your country.
Details for a transfer to Romania
A transfer needs the recipient's name as it is recorded at the bank and a 24-character account number: after the country code and 2 check digits it has 4 letters of the bank code, so the number shows which bank the money goes to. For transfers from outside the EU an 8- or 11-character bank code is added.
The payment purpose is written briefly and to the point: a gift, payment for a flat under a contract, a transfer of your own savings. If the recipient's account is in lei and you send euros, ask the Romanian bank in advance whether the recipient has a euro currency account: that way the money avoids a double exchange.
A cash gift in Romania: no tax, but with a contract
A cash gift between private individuals is not taxed at any amount under the Romanian tax code. At the same time the Romanian tax service checks large inflows to accounts, and income without a confirmed source is taxed at 70% under Law 296/2023.
So a large gift from parents or children is made with a deed of gift at a notary and kept together with the sender's statement: the deed shows it is a gift and not unrecorded income. The payment purpose states the aim: a gift to a daughter, help with buying a home, a transfer of your own savings.
| What you receive | Tax in Romania |
|---|---|
| Money as a gift from any private individual | 0%, a deed of gift at a notary confirms the source |
| A flat as a gift from a relative up to the third degree or a spouse | 0%, the notary and registration are paid |
| A flat as a gift from others | 3% if the donor owned it up to 3 years, 1% after that |
| An inheritance registered within 2 years | 0%, later 1% |
Rates under the Romanian tax code were checked on 8 October 2026.
We will help you send money to Romania
Mistakes cost more than fees: euros to a lei account exchanged at the bank's rate, a large gift without a deed of gift, money for a flat without statements along the path of the money, a large sum in lei without allowing for the 50,000 lei limit on an instant payment. We will help you avoid them: we choose a legal transfer route from your country, prepare documents on the origin of the money for the Romanian bank and notary and carry out the transfer through licensed partners through to crediting.
Details and the cost are with a manager in the chat: the calculation depends on the amount, the country the money comes from and the purpose of the transfer.
Paying for a flat in Romania: a notary, a tax number and sale proceeds
A flat buyer in Romania needs a passport and a Romanian tax number: without it the notary does not draw up the contract. The notary takes 0.5-1% of the price plus 21% value added tax on the service, and registering ownership costs 0.15% of the price for a private individual.
The money for a flat goes by transfer from your own account, and the Romanian notary looks together with the bank at where the sum came from. Prices and the deal procedure by city are covered in the article buying a flat in Romania, and the choice between neighbouring countries in Bulgaria or Romania.
$120,000 (100,000 euros in lei) per depositor at one bank is protected by the Romanian deposit guarantee. Money from selling a home, retirement and similar events is protected above that sum for 12 months from the date of crediting if you bring the deal documents to the bank.
Selling a flat in Romania or sending the proceeds of a home sale in another country? A manager will draw up a transfer plan around the deal dates and prepare statements for the notary.
Taxes of a Romanian resident on income from abroad
10% is the flat income tax rate in Romania, and dividends and capital gains are taxed at 16% from 2026. A resident of Romania pays tax on worldwide income, a non-resident only on Romanian income. A transfer of your own savings to Romania is not income, so a statement from the account in the country the money comes from settles the tax service's question. Rates are covered in detail on the Romania taxes page, and moving in the article a residence permit in Romania.
Documents for a transfer to Romania from $10,000
A Romanian bank will credit any sum, but the larger it is, the deeper the bank looks at its history. The table was checked on 8 October 2026:
| Amount | The Romanian bank's question | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $10,000 | the payment purpose and the link to the recipient | details and a short explanation: a gift, studies, rent |
| $10,000-$100,000 | the source of the money, if the inflow stands out from usual operations | a 3-6 month statement, a salary certificate, a deed of gift at a notary |
| From $100,000 | the path of the money back to its source and the aim: a home, a deposit, a business | a contract for selling a flat or a stake, inheritance documents, a tax return, statements for each account on the way |
How to prove the origin of money is covered in proof of source of funds, sending a large sum abroad and moving home sale proceeds abroad.
Sending $100,000 or more to Romania for a house or a business? A manager will put together documents on the origin of the money for the Romanian bank and carry out the transfer through licensed partners through to crediting; moving capital as a whole is on the capital relocation page.
Where families from Romania send money on to
From Romania money most often goes where the family lives and works:
- Germany - an instant euro transfer, the bank checks the recipient's name
- Italy - euros in 10 seconds, a tax code for any deal
- Spain - euros from the EU in 10 seconds, housing through a notary
- United Kingdom - pounds in 1-3 business days, deposits up to $160,000
Sending money to neighbouring countries
- Bulgaria - in the euro area since 1 January 2026
- Moldova - euro transfers as within the EU since October 2025
- Ukraine - incoming transfers with no limit on the amount
- Serbia - dinars and euros, a flat is paid for only through a bank
- Hungary - forints, instant payments in 5 seconds and a family gift with no tax
- Slovakia - no tax on buying a home and no tax on gifts
Ways of moving capital for all countries are on the capital relocation page.
FAQ
How many characters are in a Romanian account number?
What is the limit on an instant payment in lei?
Is a cash gift from relatives taxed in Romania?
Does a foreigner need a tax number to buy a flat in Romania?
How much does registering a flat cost in Romania?
Are home sale proceeds above $120,000 protected in Romania?
When will instant euro transfers start working in Romania?
We will suggest the best way to send your money
We will choose a transfer method for your amount and country, prepare the documents on the origin of the money for the bank, make the transfer through licensed partners and follow it until the money is credited. Ask your question in the chat - the manager will suggest the best terms and the cost. The legal side with banks and government bodies is handled by Murblz specialists and locally licensed partners.
Details and cost are with the manager in the chat. Describe your situation and we will reply right away.
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