RomaniaBusiness / start-up residence permit

Business residence permit in Romania

A residence permit for foreigners who wish to carry on commercial activity in Romania. It involves registering a company (SRL), submitting documents through the IGI portal, obtaining a D-visa at the embassy and collecting the plastic card locally. It is normally valid for one year and can be renewed annually. It is available both to small entrepreneurs and to large investors.

Visa term

Usually 1 year, renewable while the company is trading

Processing time

D-visa 1-2 months; residence permit a further 1-2 months after filing with the IGI

Work

Yes, managing your own company; employment requires a different basis

Residence

Actual residence, with an address in the country

Source: igi.mai.gov.ro — residence permit for commercial activity

Two routes to the business residence permit

The programme distinguishes two main categories of foreigner according to the scale of the investment and the jobs created.

Small and medium-sized entrepreneurs

Registration of your own SRL company
Annual renewal of the residence permit
Financial means of EUR 500-700 a month
For managing your own company

Large investors

Minimum investment of EUR 500,000
Residence permit for 3 years without annual renewal
Or EUR 150,000 plus the creation of 25+ permanent jobs
The prospect of a shorter route to permanent residence

When the programme will not work

You want to be employed by a Romanian company

The employment category (work permit) — it requires an employment contract

You are a specialist or consultant without a company

The professional activity category (D/AP) or the digital nomad route

You do not have the funds to maintain the company each year

The programme requires EUR 500-700 a month in income for support

What it costs

D-visa (long-stay visa)Paid at the Romanian embassy when the application is filed	120 EUR (and RON for the card)
Monthly financial means for an SRL shareholderAt least EUR 700 a month throughout the validity of the residence permit	700 EUR (and RON for the card)
Monthly financial means for a partnerAt least EUR 500 a month for those holding partner (asociat) status	500 EUR (and RON for the card)
Investment for the 3-year residence permitWith an investment of EUR 500,000 or the creation of 50+ full-time posts, the residence permit is issued for 3 years instead of 1 year	500 000 EUR (and RON for the card)
Investment plus jobs as alternative proof of meansWith an investment from EUR 150,000 or the creation of 25+ jobs, monthly income may be evidenced by other lawful documents instead of a month-by-month income statement	150 000 EUR (and RON for the card)
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table.	651 320 EUR (and RON for the card)

Documents to gather

The full set of documents is filed online through the IGI portal (portaligi.mai.gov.ro); the originals are then presented at an in-person appointment.

Passport (original and copy)
Residence permit application form
Certificate of registration of the company (SRL)
Constitutive documents of the company
Business plan or description of the economic activity
Criminal-record certificate (from the country of origin)
Medical certificate of fitness to live in Romania
Health insurance policy (valid for the whole period of the residence permit)
Proof of the company's registered address (original and copy)
Proof of accommodation (rental agreement or title document registered with ANAF)
Statement confirming that tax payments are up to date
Technical opinion from ARICE (the Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade) or the Ministry of Economy confirming that the business plan matches the declared activity

How the process runs

The whole process takes 2-4 months from filing the visa application to receiving the plastic card.

1
Preparing documents and registering the company
2-4 weeks
Obtain the technical opinion from ARICE, register the SRL with the trade register and collect all the required documents.
2
Filing the D-visa application at the embassy
1-2 weeks
You file the documents at the Romanian diplomatic mission in your country. The D-visa is valid for 90 days.
3
Receiving the D-visa and travelling to Romania
1-2 months
The embassy processes the application (usually 1-2 months). Once the visa is issued, you travel to Romania.
4
Filing the online residence permit application through the IGI portal
Within 60 days
After entering Romania on the D-visa you file the documents online through https://portaligi.mai.gov.ro/portaligi/ . The deadline for filing is no later than 60 days after entry.
5
Examination of the application by the IGI
Up to 30 days (sometimes +15 days)
The immigration office (IGI) processes your application within 30 days; if additional checks of the documents are required, the period may be extended by a further 15 days. You may remain in Romania lawfully while it is being processed.
6
Attending the IGI office in person and collecting the card
1 day
Once approved, you are invited to have your fingerprints and photograph taken. You receive the biometric plastic residence card.

Who you can bring with you

Spouses and minor children may obtain a residence permit through family reunification (reîntregirea familiei) provided the income requirements are met.

Spouse

Proof of a legal marriage is required (a marriage certificate, legalised and translated). The sponsor must show additional funds at the level of the Romanian guaranteed minimum wage for each family member for at least 3 months, on top of the funds for their own maintenance.

Minor children

A birth certificate (translated and apostilled) is required, together with proof that the accommodation is sufficient for the whole family. The same financial requirement applies to children (the guaranteed minimum wage per person for 3 months).

Renewal and the grace period

The residence permit must be renewed no later than 30 days before the current permit expires. The application is filed through the IGI portal (portaligi.mai.gov.ro) or in person, with updated documents (company statement, proof of financial means, medical certificate). Examination takes up to 30 days, or up to 45 days if additional checks are needed. With an investment of EUR 500,000 or the creation of 50+ jobs, the residence permit is issued for 3 years without annual renewal.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Business residence permit	Digital nomad	Work and residence authorisation
Visa term	Usually 1 year, renewable while the company is trading	D-visa for up to 90 days; the first residence permit for 6 months, then 1 year at a time	The employment residence permit is usually 1 year; the Blue Card 2-4 years
Grounds	Investment / jobs	Remote income	Employment
Money	Minimum capital/investment, funds for living costs; for investors, hundreds of thousands of euros	Income of at least three times the Romanian average gross wage over 6 months (about EUR 3,700-4,200 a month)	Salary no lower than the threshold for the occupation (Blue Card about 1.5-2 average wages)
Work	Yes, managing your own company; employment requires a different basis	Only for a foreign employer or one's own business abroad	Yes, for a specific employer
Residence	Actual residence, with an address in the country	Actual residence for most of the year (183+ days)	Actual residence, with an address

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After 5 years of continuous residence permits

Route to citizenship

After permanent residence, about 8 years from first residence

Frequently asked questions about Business residence permit

What is the minimum investment needed to open a business in Romania?

There is no single minimum capital for registering an SRL. However, to obtain the residence permit you must show income of at least EUR 700 a month (as a shareholder) or EUR 500 a month (as a partner). For the longer residence permit (3 years) an investment of EUR 500,000 or the creation of 50+ permanent jobs is required; with an investment from EUR 150,000 or 25+ jobs, monthly income may be evidenced by alternative documents.

Can I work for another company while holding the residence permit for commercial activity?

The business residence permit (D/AC) is tied to your company. You may work only on managing and developing that company. Employment with another organisation requires a separate work authorisation or a different category of residence permit.

How long does the whole procedure take from the start to receiving the plastic residence card?

Usually 2-4 months. The D-visa is processed by the embassy in 1-2 months; you then arrive in Romania and file the online residence permit application, which is examined within 30 days. Additional time may be needed to register the company and collect documents — usually 2-4 weeks.

Can I bring my family and obtain permanent residence or citizenship under this programme?

Yes. Your spouse and minor children may apply for a residence permit through family reunification. After 5 years of continuous lawful residence you are entitled to permanent status. Citizenship is available after 8 years of continuous residence, subject to knowledge of Romanian (level B1) and other integration criteria.

What happens if I do not apply to renew the residence permit in time?

You must file the application no later than 30 days before the residence permit expires. If you miss the deadline and remain in Romania after it expires, you may be fined between RON 600 and RON 1,200 and may receive an entry ban of between 6 months and 5 years covering Romania and the whole Schengen area.

Other ways to move to Romania

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Romania.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.