RomaniaFamily residence permit

Family reunification with a resident in Romania

The programme allows third-country nationals holding a residence permit in Romania to bring their spouse and children to live with them. Sponsors may be holders of a valid temporary residence permit, an EU Blue Card, refugee status or subsidiary protection. Family members are the spouse, minor children and, in exceptional cases, dependent adult relatives. The process involves approval by the General Inspectorate for Immigration followed by a long-stay visa application through a consular post.

Source: igi.mai.gov.ro — family reunification

How to apply for family reunification

The process has two stages: obtaining approval from the Romanian immigration authorities and then applying for the long-stay visa through a consular post abroad.

Who can be a sponsor

A third-country national holding a valid temporary residence permit for at least one year
A holder of an EU Blue Card or an ICT mobility permit
A person holding permanent residence in Romania
A beneficiary of refugee status or subsidiary protection

Family members entitled to reunification

The sponsor's spouse
Unmarried minor children of the sponsor or the spouse, including adopted children
First-degree relatives in the ascending line (parents, grandparents) if they cannot support themselves and have no adequate family support at home
The sponsor's adult children who are unable to work because of disability or illness

Financial requirements

The sponsor's income must be at least the national gross minimum wage for each sponsored family member
The source of income may be any lawful one: salary, self-employment, pension, social benefits
Written confirmation of the ability to support the family without state assistance is required
Where there are dependants, the required income is recalculated according to the number of people

Accommodation and insurance requirements

Suitable accommodation meeting the standards of habitability for a family
Proof of the right to use the premises: a rental agreement, title deed or other document
The floor area must correspond to the size of the family under the standards applied in Romania
Health insurance for family members: state cover at the place of residence or private cover of at least about EUR 30,000

When the programme will not work

The sponsor has no valid residence permit in Romania, or the permit is valid for less than one year

The residence permit (temporary or permanent) must first be obtained or renewed

The family members are brothers, sisters or distant relatives

They are not on the list of persons entitled to reunification; other types of visa or migration routes may be possible

The sponsor does not have income at the level of the minimum wage for each family member

Income must be increased or the number of sponsored family members reduced

There is no suitable accommodation in Romania

Adequate living space must be secured before filing the reunification application

What it costs

D/VF visa (long-stay visa for family reunification)The consular fee under the single tariff for long-stay type D visas, in force since April 2026	300 EUR
Temporary residence permit (Permis de ședere)About RON 259 (roughly EUR 55) when arranged in Romania after arrival	259 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	559 EUR

Paid separately

Examination of the application by the General Inspectorate (IGI) — A state service; no separate payment is required when the application is filed through the established channels

Documents to gather

To apply for family reunification the sponsor must prepare a set of documents, and the family members provide further documents.

Passport or travel document of the sponsor (valid) and of the family members
Marriage certificate or marriage registration, translated into Romanian and apostilled
Children's birth certificates with translation and apostille
Written declaration by the sponsor of the family's intention to live together in Romania
Copy of the sponsor's valid residence permit for Romania
Document confirming the right to use the accommodation (rental agreement, title deed, etc.)
Certificate of the sponsor's income for the last 3-6 months (bank statement, employer's certificate, income declaration)
Criminal-record certificate for the sponsor and the family members (from the country of origin or residence over recent years)
Health insurance policy or a certificate confirming that health insurance can be obtained in Romania
Where applicable: consent of the minor child's other parent to residence in Romania
Where applicable: medical certificates for family members (tuberculosis and HIV test results as required by the Romanian authorities)

How the process runs

Family reunification has two main stages: examination in Romania and issue of the visa abroad.

1
Preparing and filing the application with the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI)
Up to 2 weeks to prepare the documents
The sponsor collects all the necessary documents, including the application, proof of income, documents on the family relationship and accommodation. The application is filed with the territorial IGI office in Romania or through an authorised representative.
2
Examination of the application by the General Inspectorate
3 months (standard); up to 9 months if additional checks are required
The IGI checks the documents, the sponsor's financial capacity, the housing conditions and the information on the family members. Where necessary, the IGI may request further documents or explanations. The decision is sent to the sponsor in writing.
3
Receiving the approval and giving biometric data
Up to 1 week after approval
If the decision is positive, the IGI issues the approval document to the sponsor and the family members. Family members (where the law requires it) must give biometric data at a Romanian consular post.
4
Applying for the long-stay visa (D/VF) at the consular post
60 days from receipt of the approval
Family members apply for the D/VF long-stay visa at the competent Romanian consular post in their country of residence. The application is accompanied by a copy of the IGI approval, passports, marriage/birth documents and other required material.
5
Examination of the visa application and issue of the visa
From a few days to 2 weeks
The consular post examines the application, checks the documents and, if there are no obstacles, issues the D/VF long-stay visa. The visa is usually issued as a stamp in the passport.
6
Arrival in Romania and obtaining the residence permit
30 days from arrival
The family member arrives in Romania on the D/VF visa. Within 30 days of arrival they must register with the local IGI office and obtain the residence permit (Permis de ședere) on the basis of family reunification. This permit is valid for up to 5 years or until the sponsor's stay ends, whichever comes first.

Who you can bring with you

Romanian law defines precisely who may be included in family reunification. The list of family members is exhaustive.

The sponsor's spouse

The marriage must be registered in accordance with the law of the country where it was concluded and recognised in Romania. It does not extend to partners living together without official registration (although some countries recognise civil unions).

Unmarried minor children

Age: under 18 (or under 21 in certain cases, depending on the national law of the country of origin). Biological, foster and adopted children are included. If the sponsor divorces, the child may remain in Romania if the other parent raises no claim.

First-degree relatives in the ascending line (parents, grandparents)

They may be brought only if they cannot support themselves in the country of origin and have no adequate family support. Written confirmation of their financial dependency and documentary evidence are required.

Adult children unable to work because of disability

Age: 18 and over. A medical opinion on the inability to work and proof of financial dependency on the sponsor are required. Disability is assessed against Romanian social protection standards.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

A stay counts as continuous if you have been absent for less than 6 consecutive months and no more than 10 months in total.

A residence permit obtained through family reunification is renewed for a period not exceeding the validity of the sponsor's permit, and in any event for no more than five years. If the sponsor has obtained a permanent residence permit, the family member may also claim a permanent permit after five years of continuous residence in Romania. If circumstances change (for example divorce or the sponsor's death), the family member may obtain an independent residence permit for up to six months in order to resolve their status. Once they hold a permanent residence permit, family members may apply for Romanian citizenship after eight years of continuous residence (or five years if married to a Romanian citizen).

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After 5 years of continuous stay you may apply for the long-term right of residence. The application is examined within 6 months, and the period may be extended by a further 3 months.

Route to citizenship

Citizenship under article 8 of Law 21/1991 is requested after 8 years of lawful residence. The interview tests Romanian, the Constitution and the national anthem.

Frequently asked questions about Family reunification with a resident

What minimum income must a sponsor have to bring their family?

The sponsor's income must be at least the Romanian national gross minimum wage for each family member. For example, if the national minimum wage is RON 3,000 and you are bringing a spouse and two children, the required monthly income is roughly RON 12,000 (about EUR 2,400). The income may come from any lawful source: salary, self-employment, pension or social benefits.

How long does the whole family reunification process take from filing to arrival in Romania?

The process usually takes four to five months. Examination of the application by the General Inspectorate for Immigration takes about three months; receiving the approval and filing the visa application, two to three weeks; obtaining the visa at the consulate, from a few days to two weeks. The overall time may vary with the workload of the authorities and the completeness of the documents.

Are there restrictions on the type of accommodation I can offer my family?

The accommodation must meet the standards of habitability laid down by Romanian law. It must be safe and healthy and have sufficient floor area for the family. Rented flats, owned houses and other property are all acceptable. The key requirement is to provide proof of your right to use the premises (rental agreement, title deed, etc.) and confirmation that it matches the family's needs.

What happens if my residence status in Romania changes (for example, I obtain a permanent permit)?

If you obtain a permanent residence permit, your family members' permits will be renewed for the maximum period (up to five years) or for the whole period of your stay, whichever is shorter. If you lose the right of residence (for example, the permit expires and is not renewed), family members will be notified and will receive a transitional permit for up to six months to regularise their status in Romania.

May family members work in Romania once they have the residence permit?

Yes, family members who have obtained a residence permit through family reunification have the right to work in Romania. In employment they are subject to the same labour law as Romanian citizens. The right to work is automatic and included in the residence permit; no separate work authorisation is needed.

How long must I live in Romania to obtain a permanent residence permit?

Family members in Romania on the basis of family reunification need five years of continuous residence to obtain a permanent residence permit. Once they hold it, they may apply for Romanian citizenship after a further three years (eight years of continuous residence in total). If the spouse is a Romanian citizen, the period required for citizenship may be reduced to five years.

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: 7 August 2026.