RomaniaWork residence permit

Intra-corporate transfer in Romania

A programme for managers, specialists and trainees transferred within a single company. The transfer must take place between units of the same legal entity or group of companies. The permit is issued by the host entity on the basis of a contract and a secondment aviz. The worker may stay in the country for no more than three years (for managers and specialists) or one year (for trainees).

Source: igi.mai.gov.ro — extending the residence permit for ICT workers

How employees are transferred to a Romanian entity

The programme covers three categories of transferred worker, with different requirements on experience and different maximum periods of stay.

Managers

6 months of continuous work at the company before the transfer
A maximum of 3 years in Romania under one contract
The contract is signed both with the sending company and with the host entity

Specialists

At least 3 years of professional experience in the field
6 months of continuous work at the company before the transfer
A maximum of 3 years in Romania under one contract

Trainees

3 months of continuous work at the company before the transfer
A maximum of 1 year in Romania under one contract
Training within the same company where they worked before the transfer

When the programme will not work

Freelancers and self-employed specialists

Self-employed people apply for the self-employed visa or the Digital Nomad Visa. These visas do not require an employment contract or an employer.

A specialist transferring to a new company

If the transferring worker changes company, they must apply for the general work visa rather than an ICT permit. ICT works only within one legal entity or group of companies.

Less experience than required

If the specialist has not accumulated the required years of experience or months at the company, the documents will not be accepted. You must wait until the conditions are met.

Documents to gather

The documents are filed by the worker through the host company. Some material is required in advance, before the full application for the secondment aviz.

Valid passport with a copy
Employment contract (original and copy) between the worker and the sending company
Extension letter or amendment to the contract (for renewals) from the host company
Proof of income: a certificate of means of subsistence no lower than the guaranteed minimum basic wage
Criminal-record certificate
Medical certificate of health (in some cases tuberculosis vaccination is required)
Civil status documents (birth, marriage or divorce certificate, depending on the situation)
Secondment aviz (issued to the host company; the worker uses it to obtain the permit)
Proof of accommodation (rental agreement, title deed)

How the process runs

The process has two main stages: first the host company obtains the secondment aviz, then the worker completes the remaining documents.

1
The host company files a request for the secondment aviz with the IGI (General Inspectorate for Immigration)
30 days for examination, extendable by 15 days
The company prepares the complete set of documents: the employment contract with the worker, proof of registration and a financial statement. It sends them to the IGI. During examination the IGI may request additional documents.
2
The IGI issues the secondment aviz to the host company
The company receives the aviz confirming its right to second the worker to Romania. The aviz is valid for a set period (usually the term of the contract or slightly longer).
3
The worker collects their documents and applies for the residence permit
On the basis of the secondment aviz the worker prepares their documents: passport, criminal-record certificate, medical certificate and proof of income. These are filed at an IGI office or obtained at a consulate (if filing from abroad).
4
The IGI issues the worker a temporary residence permit for an ICT worker
30 days for examination
The worker receives the temporary residence permit, valid for the term of the contract (a maximum of 3 years for managers and specialists, 1 year for trainees). The permit names the employer and the conditions of stay.

Timelines and rights

Work

You work only at the host company to which you have been transferred. The basis is the secondment aviz obtained by that company.

Who you can bring with you

Family members of an ICT worker may claim the right to family reunification. They receive their own residence permit for the period of the sponsor's stay or less.

Spouse

May obtain a residence permit for the same period, or for the shorter of the two: the worker's period of stay or the validity of the passport. Financial support must be evidenced.

Minor children

May obtain a residence permit if the sponsor evidences financial support. It is valid for the worker's period of stay.

Adult dependants (parents, other family members)

May obtain a permit only in exceptional cases, where it is documented that they are fully dependent on the sponsor and have no other source of income.

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.

The residence permit may be renewed once, but only up to the maximum for the category: 3 years in total for managers and specialists or 1 year in total for trainees. Renewal requires the same documentation as the initial application: proof of the contract extension from the host company, an income certificate and an updated criminal-record certificate. The renewal documents must be filed before the current permit expires, at least 30 days in advance. If the worker wishes to stay in Romania after the ICT permit expires, they must move to another type of visa (for example long-term residence after 5 years of continuous residence), which requires a separate procedure and documents.

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.

	Intra-corporate transfer	Digital nomad	Business residence permit
Grounds	Transfer of an employee to the Romanian branch of the same company	Remote income	Investment / jobs
Money	Means of subsistence no lower than the guaranteed national minimum basic gross wage	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
Work	You work only at the host company to which you have been transferred	Only for a foreign employer or one's own business abroad	Yes, managing your own company; employment requires a different basis

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

The long-term right of residence is granted after 5 years of continuous stay, whereas an ICT transfer lasts a maximum of 3 years. A single transfer cannot build up the required period.

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 Intra-corporate transfer

Can an ICT worker take another job in Romania or work as a freelancer?

No. The residence permit is strictly tied to the host company that sponsored the secondment. Changing employer requires a new secondment aviz and a new residence permit. Freelancing or working without an employment contract on the same permit is prohibited and breaches the conditions of stay.

What minimum salary must an ICT worker have?

The worker must have income no lower than the country's guaranteed minimum basic wage. For 2026 that is RON 4,050 until 30 June and RON 4,325 from 1 July. The figure is taken from the gross salary and checked against the certificate of means of subsistence. If the contract states a lower amount, the aviz will not be issued.

Can an ICT worker move to long-term residence once the programme ends?

Not directly. Long-term residence requires 5 years of continuous residence in Romania. Since ICT lasts a maximum of 3 years (for managers and specialists), a single transfer is not enough. To stay longer, the worker must either obtain a second ICT contract from another company (or extend the existing contract, where possible) or move to another type of permit. After 5 years of continuous lawful residence (whatever the type of visa), the worker may apply for the long-term residence title.

Can an ICT worker obtain Romanian citizenship?

Yes, but the standard route takes 8 years of continuous residence. Since ICT is limited to 3 years, one contract will not suffice. However, if the worker has been in Romania on various permits (ICT, long-term residence and so on) and has spent 8 consecutive years without long absences (no more than 6 consecutive months, and no more than 10 months in total over that period), they may apply for naturalisation at the end of the 8-year period. Faster routes exist for investors (4-5 years with an investment from EUR 1 million) and for spouses of Romanian citizens (5 years), but these carry additional conditions.

What costs are involved in arranging an ICT permit?

The Romanian authorities do not publish a single official table of fees for the ICT permit. The costs usually include: the state fee for the secondment aviz (paid in parallel by the host company), the state fee for the residence permit (paid by the worker), postal and administrative costs, and consular fees where the application is filed through a consulate. Some consulates charge extra for processing. The exact amounts depend on the consulate and on any change in tariffs. It is advisable to check the specific figure with the IGI or the consulate.

Can an ICT worker bring family members to Romania at the same time, or must they wait?

The family may apply for reunification at the same time or later, once the worker has received the permit. There is no compulsory waiting period. Each family member must, however, file their own separate application and show that their financial support is secured by the sponsor. Filing in parallel is advisable to speed things up, but you must make sure the sponsor has sufficient funds to support the whole family.

What is short-term mobility and how does it work for ICT workers?

Short-term mobility allows an ICT worker holding a permit to work briefly in another EU member state without filing a separate request. The maximum is 90 days in any 180-day period in each of the other EU states. For a short secondment it is enough to notify the authorities of the second state; a separate permit is not required. If the worker spends more than 90 days in 180 there, they must move to long-term mobility with a separate permit.

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.