Romanian residence permit in 2026: how to get it
A residence permit in a Schengen country for work, study, family, business or remote work, long-term status after 5 years and citizenship after 8. We cover the grounds, the cost and who a Romanian permit suits.
In short
- A Romanian residence permit gives free travel across the whole Schengen area.
- The grounds are work, study, family, own business and remote work with income from $6,100 a month.
- A type D visa costs about $340, and the first permit is usually issued for a year.
- After 5 years comes long-term status, after 8 citizenship by naturalisation.
In detail
Since 1 January 2025 Romania has been a full member of Schengen, and its residence permit allows free travel across the whole Schengen area. Non-EU foreigners obtain it for work, study, family, their own business or remote work, and after 5 years of lawful residence long-term status opens up.
How to get a Romanian residence permit in 2026
The route is almost always two-step. First the foreigner obtains a long-stay type D visa for the relevant purpose at a consulate, then in Romania applies for a residence permit to the General Inspectorate for Immigration at their place of residence.
| Ground | Main condition |
|---|---|
| Work | a contract with a Romanian employer and a work permit the employer obtains in advance |
| Remote work | income of three average gross salaries in Romania, ~$6,100 a month, from a foreign employer or clients |
| Own business | a company in Romania, a business plan and proof of investment and jobs |
| Study | enrolment at a Romanian university |
| Family | spouse or child of a Romanian citizen or of a foreigner with a residence permit |
The first residence permit is usually issued for a year and then renewed as long as the ground remains. Renewals are filed before the current permit expires: lateness breaks the continuous residence needed for long-term status.
How much a Romanian residence permit costs
The consular fee for a long-stay type D visa is €300, about $340, from 27 April 2026. The residence permit application and the card are paid for separately in Romania.
The mandatory costs weigh more than the fees: health insurance for the whole period, a lease, apostilles and Romanian translations of the criminal record certificate and family documents, and for remote workers proof of income for the last 6 months. Flats are covered in buying an apartment in Romania.
The visa is about $340, and refusals usually come from income and documents
The law does not forbid applying for a Romanian visa and residence permit on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: income below the threshold in even one month, your own foreign company younger than 3 years, insurance or a lease that does not cover the whole period, documents without an apostille and Romanian translation. We choose the ground, check income and documents before filing, and prepare the visa and the residence application.
The cost of support depends on the ground and your family; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
Long-term status and citizenship
After 5 years of lawful residence in Romania a foreigner can obtain long-term residence under EU rules. It is not tied to work or study and allows living in the country without renewals on a specific ground.
Citizenship by naturalisation is available after 8 years of lawful residence, with an exam in Romanian and the Constitution. Those with Romanian or Bessarabian ancestors have a shorter route: citizenship is restored without living in Romania. Details are on the page Romanian citizenship by descent and naturalisation and in how much Romanian citizenship costs.
Who a Romanian residence permit suits
It suits high-income remote workers, entrepreneurs who need an EU company with the micro-enterprise tax regime, and families who want to live in a Schengen country with moderate prices. Residents' taxes are on the page taxes in Romania.
It does not suit those looking for residence through property: Romania has no such programme, and a flat gives no status. And those with Romanian or Bessarabian ancestors may not need a residence permit at all: citizenship is restored from abroad.
How we help
Romania nomad visa
Income check, documents and the residence application for remote work.
Learn more →Company in Romania
Business registration and a basis for an entrepreneur's residence permit.
Learn more →Romanian citizenship
Checking the right to restoration through ancestors and the naturalisation route.
Learn more →We will find the right ground for a Romanian residence permit. Tell us about your work, income and family. We will show which route fits and how long it takes.
FAQ
Can you get a Romanian residence permit by buying property?
What income is needed for the Romania nomad visa?
After how many years can you get permanent residence in Romania?
Does a Romanian residence permit allow travel in Schengen?
Don’t want to figure this out alone?
We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
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