RomaniaDigital nomad

Digital nomad in Romania

A programme for remote workers and owners of foreign companies. The visa is granted on the basis of documented income earned outside Romania. It suits those who work for a foreign employer or develop their own business abroad. You will need to prove financial independence and hold health insurance.

Visa term

D-visa for up to 90 days; the first residence permit for 6 months, then 1 year at a time

Processing time

Consular processing of 2-3 months (preliminary reply in about 2 weeks)

Work

Only for a foreign employer or one's own business abroad

Residence

Actual residence for most of the year (183+ days)

Source: igi.mai.gov.ro — residence permit for other purposes, “Nomazii digitali” section

Who may apply

The programme is open to remote workers and entrepreneurs with a foreign source of income.

Employee of a foreign company

You work remotely for a company registered outside Romania
You have received salary into a bank account for at least 6 consecutive months
You can provide the contract with your employer and bank statements

Owner of a business abroad

You own or manage a company registered outside Romania
The company has been operating for at least 3 years at the time of filing
You receive income from your business, supported by documents

When the programme will not work

You are looking for a job in Romania after arrival

You need an ordinary work visa (long-stay visa for employment purposes)

Your income is below three times the Romanian average wage

Consider other visa programmes or wait until your income increases

What it costs

D-visa (long-stay)Consular fee for the long-stay visa; paid in the country where the application is filed	120 EUR

Paid separately

Health insurance — Purchased separately; minimum EUR 30,000 of cover for the whole period of stay

Documents to gather

Documents must be originals or officially certified copies. All foreign documents require translation into Romanian with an apostille.

Passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of the intended stay)
Completed D-visa application form
2 passport-size photographs (4x6 cm)
Contract with a foreign company or registration document of your own company abroad (proof of remote work through information technology)
Bank statements for the last 6 months (proof of monthly income of at least EUR 3,700)
Criminal-record certificate (apostilled)
Tax compliance certificate from the country of origin (if the consulate requires it)
Health insurance (a policy valid in Romania with at least EUR 30,000 of cover)
Proof of accommodation (rental agreement, hotel booking or an invitation from a host)
Payment of the consular fee (EUR 120)

How the process runs

The procedure has two stages: obtaining the D-visa at the consulate and applying for the residence permit after arrival in Romania.

1
Preparing documents and filing at the consulate
Depends on you
Translate all documents into Romanian with an apostille, assemble the full set and file it at the Romanian consulate in your country (online or in person, depending on the consulate). Pay the consular fee of EUR 120.
2
Processing and issue of the D-visa
10-14 working days
The consulate processes your application. Once approved, collect your passport with the D-visa. The D-visa is valid for 90 days and gives the right to enter Romania and the Schengen countries.
3
Arrival in Romania
Within 90 days of the D-visa being issued
You must enter Romania before the D-visa expires (90 days).
4
Applying for the residence permit
No later than 30 days before the end of the stay allowed by the D-visa
Apply to the territorial unit of the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) in the town where you will live, either in person or through the portaligi.mai.gov.ro portal. Attach copies of your documents and pay the residence-card fee (RON 259, about EUR 51). The application is examined within 30 days; if additional checks are needed, the period may be extended by up to 15 days.
5
Receiving the residence permit and registering
Up to 30 (sometimes up to 45) days after filing
Once approved, you receive a biometric residence card. From that moment you are officially a resident of Romania for the validity of the card (as a rule, 12 months).

Who you can bring with you

Family members cannot come directly on the Digital Nomad Visa, but they may join through a separate family reunification procedure (reîntregirea familiei) after the main applicant has obtained the residence permit.

Spouse and dependent children

Once you hold the residence permit, your family may apply for reunification at the territorial unit of the IGI. You must prove maintenance 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 your own maintenance) and suitable accommodation for the whole family. The IGI examines the application within 3 months. Family members may not work in Romania without a separate work authorisation.

Renewal and the grace period

The first renewal of the residence permit for digital nomads is granted for 6 months (not a year). The income requirement is NOT reduced on renewal: you must prove at least three Romanian average gross wages a month for the period for which the extension is requested, exactly as on the initial application. Further renewals are possible if the same level of income and the other conditions of the programme are maintained. The application is filed with the territorial unit of the IGI (in person or through the portaligi.mai.gov.ro portal) no later than 30 days before the current permit expires; examination takes up to 30 days.

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.

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

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

5 years of residence (time on the digital nomad permit counts only to a limited extent)

Route to citizenship

Normally about 8 years of residence, with language and a test

Frequently asked questions about Digital nomad

Will I be able to work for a Romanian company or take on clients in Romania?

No. The programme allows only remote work for foreign employers or the management of your own company registered outside Romania. Working for a Romanian company or providing services to Romanian clients is not permitted. A breach may lead to deportation and loss of the visa.

If I spend less than 183 days a year in Romania, will I pay Romanian tax?

No. If you are not in Romania for 183 days or more in a calendar year, you are not treated as a tax resident. Foreign-source income is not taxed in Romania. It is nevertheless advisable to consult a tax adviser in your country of origin.

What minimum monthly income do I need?

At least EUR 3,700 a month over the last 6 months before filing — three Romanian average gross wages. The requirement is not reduced on renewal: you must prove the same level of income (three average wages) for each month of the extension period.

Can my family come with me?

No, they cannot come on the Digital Nomad Visa itself. However, once you have received the residence permit (for 12 months), your spouse and children may apply separately for family reunification. Each family member will receive their own residence permit but will not be able to work in Romania without a separate authorisation.

How long does it take to obtain the visa?

The D-visa is usually processed at the consulate in 10-14 working days. The total time from filing to receiving the passport with the visa is often 30-45 days, depending on the consulate. After arrival in Romania, the residence permit application is examined over several weeks.

What health insurance should I choose?

The insurance must be valid in Romania (not travel insurance), cover at least EUR 30,000 of medical expenses and include hospital treatment. International policies (for example SafetyWing, Allianz, GeoBlue) and local Romanian policies are both suitable. A copy of the policy must be attached when filing the documents.

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.